Before deciding what we should be doing to please God, there are a few basic principles that should be established, that each of us must decide. First that there is a God; that the Bible is His Word; that Jesus is His Son; that we should pattern ourselves and our practices after what is taught in His Word. We would probably have to agree with these basic principles before looking at the practice of baptism.
Baptism is one of those things that man would not have ever come up with. It is a part of God's plan for man. But on a practical level, it doesn't seem necessarily reasonable to man. It is like the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Read this; it is great! He had leprosy, went to the prophet Elisha to be healed, was told to wash in the river Jordan 7 times and he would be healed. "He turned and walked away in a rage." Naaman thought this was ridiculous, but did it anyway, and he was healed on the seventh dip. Baptism is like that for us. We do it because He set the example...
The word "baptism" is "baptiso" in the Greek, meaning to submerge. When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water. When the Ethiopian Nobleman in Acts 8 was baptized he came up out of the water. There is no instance of sprinkling in the Bible. We should do what they did and be submerged. Romans 6 describes it as a burial and a coming up as a new creature. Take time to read that; it is so interesting. And baptism is always described as a cleansing of sins. Note Acts 22:16, where Paul was told: "Why do you wait? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins." Acts 2:38 says: "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...."
For purposes of not being too lengthy, I am taking excerpts. But take the time to read the context of these passages and you will see that there is a lot of teaching about the importance and even the method of baptism, that it had to do with Spiritual cleansing, removal of sins, and salvation.
This is very controversial subject matter in the religious world today. Feel free to let's talking more on this in detail if you disagree. My position is that the Bible is very clear on it, but you may want to disagree. Thanks for reading. You are important.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Baptism 1
Let's do two sessions on baptism. The first is to discuss its importance and really the necessity of it for salvation. I know that many do not agree with what is to follow. But it is biblical, straight out of God's Word.
John the Baptist was baptizing people all over (Matthew 3:5,6). Jesus insisted on being baptized (Matt. 3:13). At the end of Jesus' life He said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned," (Mark 16:15-16). Then in Acts 2, after Jesus has ascended into Heaven, Peter preached hard to the Jews in Jerusalem saying they crucified the Lord. Peter said, "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." In Acts 8, God sends Philip to join an Ethiopian Jewish nobleman on a chariot. It says in verse 35, he "preached Jesus to him." That is all that we know that was said. But we know the result. "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the Eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' " The importance of baptism cannot be ignored. And in Acts 22:16, God sent Ananias to Paul. Ananias said, "Why do you wait? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins." Then read the first verses of Romans 6. This is talking about sin and tells how baptism cleanses sin. And finally, I Peter 3:18-22 tells us that just as Noah and his family were "saved through water (the flood)....baptism now saves us."
As stated before, I know that this is controversial with some people. But it isn't a controversial subject in the Bible; the Bible is very clear on the connection between salvation and baptism. It is interesting that God's word uses different expressions in regard to salvation. It clearly says that one must "believe" to be saved. Elsewhere it emphasizes the importance of "repentance" for salvation. We are saved by "faith," but we also know that we are only saved by the "blood of Jesus." All of these things are involved in salvation. But note that the blood of Jesus, while it is for everyone, isn't going to save everyone; it will save those who believe. It will save those who are willing to repent (change their lives). It will save those who obey Jesus. And it will save those who have been baptized, brought forth as new creatures as we read in Romans 6.
Thank you for reading. See you next week!
John the Baptist was baptizing people all over (Matthew 3:5,6). Jesus insisted on being baptized (Matt. 3:13). At the end of Jesus' life He said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned," (Mark 16:15-16). Then in Acts 2, after Jesus has ascended into Heaven, Peter preached hard to the Jews in Jerusalem saying they crucified the Lord. Peter said, "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." In Acts 8, God sends Philip to join an Ethiopian Jewish nobleman on a chariot. It says in verse 35, he "preached Jesus to him." That is all that we know that was said. But we know the result. "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the Eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' " The importance of baptism cannot be ignored. And in Acts 22:16, God sent Ananias to Paul. Ananias said, "Why do you wait? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins." Then read the first verses of Romans 6. This is talking about sin and tells how baptism cleanses sin. And finally, I Peter 3:18-22 tells us that just as Noah and his family were "saved through water (the flood)....baptism now saves us."
As stated before, I know that this is controversial with some people. But it isn't a controversial subject in the Bible; the Bible is very clear on the connection between salvation and baptism. It is interesting that God's word uses different expressions in regard to salvation. It clearly says that one must "believe" to be saved. Elsewhere it emphasizes the importance of "repentance" for salvation. We are saved by "faith," but we also know that we are only saved by the "blood of Jesus." All of these things are involved in salvation. But note that the blood of Jesus, while it is for everyone, isn't going to save everyone; it will save those who believe. It will save those who are willing to repent (change their lives). It will save those who obey Jesus. And it will save those who have been baptized, brought forth as new creatures as we read in Romans 6.
Thank you for reading. See you next week!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Sieze the Moment
Here is a departure from my usual article, but I want to bring something a bit different this week.
First, note that Jesus was one to "sieze the day," to do things now that needed to be done. I'm sure that many important activities were planned ahead. But much of what we read shows that Jesus' deeds were momentary ones. The healings are an example. He didn't go out and seek people to heal; He reacted to people who were around Him, like the leper in Matthew 8 who said to Him, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." And He was sleeping in the boat when a great storm arose. Jesus "arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." And Zacchaeus was sitting in a tree when "Jesus...looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." And, of course, we could go on and on with the momentary service events of Jesus, even to the telling of the story of the good Samaritan. But it brings me to the point of this entry.
I found this poem on the door of a professor's office, Dr. Torbert, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1970. I'm sure by now he is dead or at least not aware that the poem lives on. But I really liked it and need to post it here.
"Small change, my Lord," I say
"This that you ask in pay,
When I could give the livelong incandescent day
Could it my debt defray.
Nay I'd include the range
Of weeks and months, the change
Of seasons, not one moment only; strange
To lifetime bounty you prefer small change.
Why, not to disavow
My debt, I'd servile bow
Beneath thy yoke for eons, take a vow
To serve eternally." He smiled,
"I'll not allow
Such tribute; give one moment only,
But that moment NOW."
2/15/57 Alice C. Torbert Dallas, Texas
Feel the love. Spread the love. See you next week!
First, note that Jesus was one to "sieze the day," to do things now that needed to be done. I'm sure that many important activities were planned ahead. But much of what we read shows that Jesus' deeds were momentary ones. The healings are an example. He didn't go out and seek people to heal; He reacted to people who were around Him, like the leper in Matthew 8 who said to Him, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." And He was sleeping in the boat when a great storm arose. Jesus "arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." And Zacchaeus was sitting in a tree when "Jesus...looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." And, of course, we could go on and on with the momentary service events of Jesus, even to the telling of the story of the good Samaritan. But it brings me to the point of this entry.
I found this poem on the door of a professor's office, Dr. Torbert, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1970. I'm sure by now he is dead or at least not aware that the poem lives on. But I really liked it and need to post it here.
"Small change, my Lord," I say
"This that you ask in pay,
When I could give the livelong incandescent day
Could it my debt defray.
Nay I'd include the range
Of weeks and months, the change
Of seasons, not one moment only; strange
To lifetime bounty you prefer small change.
Why, not to disavow
My debt, I'd servile bow
Beneath thy yoke for eons, take a vow
To serve eternally." He smiled,
"I'll not allow
Such tribute; give one moment only,
But that moment NOW."
2/15/57 Alice C. Torbert Dallas, Texas
Feel the love. Spread the love. See you next week!
Friday, June 5, 2009
A Personal Relationship
Being a Christian is much about having a personal relationship with Jesus. I often enjoy the quips in front of church buildings. I passed one the other day that said, "Truth is not a doctrine, it is a person." Certainly there is truth in this statement, though doctrine cannot be avoided, since Jesus said, "If you love me, keep My commandments," (John 14:15). But Jesus and His followers taught the importance of having our heart connected to the Lord and to His people. Let's do a sampling of some of the teachings of Jesus, focusing on the sermon on the mount.
We see in Matthew 5 that much of Jesus' teaching had to do with relationships. "Let your light so shine before men.." (vs 16), and "Agree with you adversary quickly.." (vs 25). He says in verse 41, "whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two," and "love your enemies" (vs 44). Chapter 7:3 tells us, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in you own eye." There is much teaching about dealing with others. He gave us this rule to help us with these challenges, "..whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.." (7:12)
There is a lot about personal character in the teachings of Jesus. "I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (vs 28). And, ".. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except.." (vs 32). He said in Matt. 6:1, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them." And, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.." (6:19). The Lord knew these things would be a problem for us so He went right to the point.
And there is much in the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) regarding our relationship with our Lord. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.....how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!", (7:7 & 11). He shows us that He loves us with the greatest of Fatherly love, that He takes care of the grass and the birds, "And are you not of more value than they....Therefore do not worry..." And He taught us to pray, and to pray in secret. (6:5), and not to make a show of it like the "hypocrites."
Finally, He concludes all of this teaching by saying, "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock..." and it stands firm under the greatest of storms. Yes, we need a personal relationship with Jesus....and we need to do what He says.
I saw this quip on a billboard: "A clear conscience is a soft pillow." How true. See you next week.
We see in Matthew 5 that much of Jesus' teaching had to do with relationships. "Let your light so shine before men.." (vs 16), and "Agree with you adversary quickly.." (vs 25). He says in verse 41, "whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two," and "love your enemies" (vs 44). Chapter 7:3 tells us, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in you own eye." There is much teaching about dealing with others. He gave us this rule to help us with these challenges, "..whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.." (7:12)
There is a lot about personal character in the teachings of Jesus. "I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (vs 28). And, ".. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except.." (vs 32). He said in Matt. 6:1, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them." And, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.." (6:19). The Lord knew these things would be a problem for us so He went right to the point.
And there is much in the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) regarding our relationship with our Lord. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.....how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!", (7:7 & 11). He shows us that He loves us with the greatest of Fatherly love, that He takes care of the grass and the birds, "And are you not of more value than they....Therefore do not worry..." And He taught us to pray, and to pray in secret. (6:5), and not to make a show of it like the "hypocrites."
Finally, He concludes all of this teaching by saying, "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock..." and it stands firm under the greatest of storms. Yes, we need a personal relationship with Jesus....and we need to do what He says.
I saw this quip on a billboard: "A clear conscience is a soft pillow." How true. See you next week.
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