ArchivedBaptism required?
Again we are faced with the contradiction of having an OPTIONAL command! Far from making the cross nothing, baptism is a beautiful illustration of the cross. Have you ever read what Paul said in 2 Thess. 1:8? ". . dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (emphasis mine) How do you obey the gospel of Jesus? First, what IS the gospel of the Lord Jesus? Good news? No, that is simply the definition of what the word gospel means. What IS the gospel? If you don't know what it is, how can you obey it? Listen to Paul in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also your are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (emphasis mine) There it is in inspired words. The gospel of Christ is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I can believe it, I can preach it, but how do I OBEY it? Read Rom. 6:3-4, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." How do you obey the gospel (death, burial, and resurrection) of Jesus? You die to sins. You are buried with Him by baptism. You are raised in newness of life. So, if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death (by our baptism) then we will be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Does that mean that the opposite must also be true? If we have NOT been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we will NOT be also in the likeness of His resurrection? Either both are true, or neither. If both statements are true, then they are in perfect harmony with 2 Thess. 1:8. Those who think the birth by water is unnecessary and do not do it (do not obey the gospel) are subjects of God's wrath. Too strict? Not really. How was Naaman's leprosy cleansed? Was it by the waters of the muddy Jordan? He showed faith in God by simply showing up on the prophet's door with many gifts. Was God wrong to demand that he baptize himself seven times to receive a cure for his disease? When was he cleansed? When he decided to obey the prophet or when he actually obeyed the prophet? Not until he came out of the water the seventh time. (2 Kings 5:14) Who is really trying to dissect the salvation of those who seek to obey the gospel? It is the one who says you can stop short and still be saved. It is the one who admits that baptism is a command, but just not one you and I have to do. We ought to. We should want to. But if a person says we HAVE to, somehow we forget it is really GOD'S command, not man's. Is it not His right to demand both repentance and baptism? And, who in their right mind really thinks that letting someone dip you into water EARNS their salvation and a reward in heaven? No one I know! Scripture is very clear to make certain we do not confuse an outward act that lacks inward conviction with actions that result in salvation. Taking conviction away from baptism robs it of any meaning. Taking baptism from those who are convicted of their sins is to leave Israel with our leprosy still clinging to our skin. Peter sums it up well, "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 3:21) |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame