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.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Jonah and Us
We've talked a lot about God & Jesus. Let's talk about you and me this time. I'm not perfect. I have sinned. And, frankly, I feel terrible about it. I often feel as Paul said, "I am the chief of sinners" (ITimothy 1:15). But I am not alone in this confession. Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned...". Without Jesus we would all be in the same boat. Speaking of boats, it reminds me of Jonah. God said to Jonah, "go preach to Nineveh" (Jonah chapter 1). Nineveh was East. Jonah thought this was a very bad idea since Nineveh was a very powerful and evil city, capital of the Assyrian Empire. So instead of traveling by land to the East, Jonah got on a boat going West. Everybody on that boat was in danger, headed in the wrong direction, with a storm brewing. Aren't we like that sometimes; headed just opposite from where we should be headed. But God saved Jonah because He loved him and had a plan for him. And God saved us (Jesus) and has a plan for us. But while He wants us all to be saved (I Peter 3:9), and He made a plan for all of us to be saved, He left it to us to obey and follow Him, to follow Jesus. The choice is ours not His. He did His part, but what about us? Have we made that good commitment. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "
Jonah was slow to come around to God's way. But he finally did what God wanted. We can be just as stubborn. We can run from God, but we cannot hide. He must be followed and honored and worshiped.
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)
Jonah was slow to come around to God's way. But he finally did what God wanted. We can be just as stubborn. We can run from God, but we cannot hide. He must be followed and honored and worshiped.
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Response--Hagar and Ishmael
I will use this week's blog entry to respond to a question posed by Steve S a couple of blog entries back, and a very good question it was. The question had to do with Hagar and her son Ishmael being cast away from the family because Ishmael was not the child of promise (Isaac was) and there was great dissension between Sarah, Abraham's wife, and Hagar, the handmaiden. The question had to do with the fact that God saved Ishmael who went on to be the father of the Arab nation. Restated, the question asks if we then should be tolerant of the Islamic faith since God is responsible for creation of the Arab nation.
The Bible is very clear on some points that relate to this:
1. It is true that God played a key role in Ishmael's reestablishment (Gen. 21:17) and growth as a nation (Gen. 21:18).
2. Ishmael was promised 12 princes (Gen. 17:20). This compares to the 12 tribes of Israel.
3. The descendants of Ishmael settled into the areas that we now refer to as the Arab world.
4. Galatians 4 uses this story in a symbolic way to compare bondage (Hagar) under the Jewish law to freedom (Sarah) that we find in Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Here are what I consider to be necessary conclusions to all of this:
1. God never encouraged anyone to form a separate faith, and certainly did not do so with Ishmael. God saved him, sent him off to form a separate nation, but never wanted them to form a new faith and never gave any support to the Islamic faith. Ishmael was the father of the Arab nations, but the Islamic faith followed of their own creation.
2. God is no longer "tolerant" of the Jewish faith, nor should we be. Galatians chapter 3 gives a good summary of the God's plan through the Bible, how the Promise was given to Abraham, then the Law to the Jews and finally Faith came through Jesus. Note Gal. 3:24 on, "Therefore the law (Jewish) was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith (in Jesus) has come, we are not longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek...." The Jewish age is over, and the Bible is clear on that. Acts 2:36 says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." We now must follow Jesus.
Finally, I would like to state that "tolerance" sounds like a beautiful word and is practiced widely in our country today. But the Bible never condoned tolerance in regard to various religions that man creates. The world is full of various religions that fit the desires of man but do not follow the teachings of God. We need to be kind to one another for sure, but not tolerant. Revelation 22:16 says, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And vs 18, "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life." The only way is through Jesus..........On a brave day you might mess with Texas, but don't mess with God. See you next week.
The Bible is very clear on some points that relate to this:
1. It is true that God played a key role in Ishmael's reestablishment (Gen. 21:17) and growth as a nation (Gen. 21:18).
2. Ishmael was promised 12 princes (Gen. 17:20). This compares to the 12 tribes of Israel.
3. The descendants of Ishmael settled into the areas that we now refer to as the Arab world.
4. Galatians 4 uses this story in a symbolic way to compare bondage (Hagar) under the Jewish law to freedom (Sarah) that we find in Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Here are what I consider to be necessary conclusions to all of this:
1. God never encouraged anyone to form a separate faith, and certainly did not do so with Ishmael. God saved him, sent him off to form a separate nation, but never wanted them to form a new faith and never gave any support to the Islamic faith. Ishmael was the father of the Arab nations, but the Islamic faith followed of their own creation.
2. God is no longer "tolerant" of the Jewish faith, nor should we be. Galatians chapter 3 gives a good summary of the God's plan through the Bible, how the Promise was given to Abraham, then the Law to the Jews and finally Faith came through Jesus. Note Gal. 3:24 on, "Therefore the law (Jewish) was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith (in Jesus) has come, we are not longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek...." The Jewish age is over, and the Bible is clear on that. Acts 2:36 says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." We now must follow Jesus.
Finally, I would like to state that "tolerance" sounds like a beautiful word and is practiced widely in our country today. But the Bible never condoned tolerance in regard to various religions that man creates. The world is full of various religions that fit the desires of man but do not follow the teachings of God. We need to be kind to one another for sure, but not tolerant. Revelation 22:16 says, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And vs 18, "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life." The only way is through Jesus..........On a brave day you might mess with Texas, but don't mess with God. See you next week.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friends
I have to stop the flow of this series of Bible thoughts by inserting this entry about friends. People are so important to us in this life, to me personally and to you as well.
The Bible tells us of such great relationships. The two people who stand out to me as I look at the Bible are David and Jesus. And it seems appropriate to look at the personal friends of these two because Jesus was known as the "Son of David" (Mark 12:35). David, who would become the greatest King of the Old Testament, loved his best friend so much. Note I Samuel 18 & 20 for more on this, but I Sam. 18:3 says Jonathan "loved him as his own soul." These two were bonded.
In the New Testament we see the love that Jesus shared with Martha, Mary and Lazarus, three siblings. John 11 and the first part of 12 show us the depth of love and emotion that these four people shared. It was over in Luke 10:38-42 that Jesus said "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part..." But in John 11:5, Martha is named first, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." It was Martha who invited Jesus into their house in the first place (Luke 11:38). But it was Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with costly oil, using her hair (John 12:3). This was right before Jesus' death and the fragrance likely stayed with Him throught the death process; such love. And we see that through the sequence of events where Lazarus dies and Jesus raises him, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). The bond between these four was amazing. And we share these kinds of bonds in this life..........(There are other examples in the Bible such as Jesus and the disciple whom He loved, John. And there was Paul and Barnabus, Paul and Timothy and more.)
As we get older we realize more and more that it isn't where we are but who we are with. It isn't places and things that matter, but it is people that matter. My mother loved the beach more than any place on earth. But late in life we couldn't get her to go because she wanted to be close to her friends. That is how it is. And we all know that sometimes the people who matter the most to us are those we don't even see or talk to very often.
And finally it is important to remember that the best friend of all is Jesus. And one of these days, and not very long, we will all get to be together....with Him.....forever......if we have truly been His friend. Feel the love.
__________________________
I want to do what's right,
For already Heaven's in sight.
Come and go with me; I want you there
In that beautiful home so fair. mw
The Bible tells us of such great relationships. The two people who stand out to me as I look at the Bible are David and Jesus. And it seems appropriate to look at the personal friends of these two because Jesus was known as the "Son of David" (Mark 12:35). David, who would become the greatest King of the Old Testament, loved his best friend so much. Note I Samuel 18 & 20 for more on this, but I Sam. 18:3 says Jonathan "loved him as his own soul." These two were bonded.
In the New Testament we see the love that Jesus shared with Martha, Mary and Lazarus, three siblings. John 11 and the first part of 12 show us the depth of love and emotion that these four people shared. It was over in Luke 10:38-42 that Jesus said "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part..." But in John 11:5, Martha is named first, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." It was Martha who invited Jesus into their house in the first place (Luke 11:38). But it was Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with costly oil, using her hair (John 12:3). This was right before Jesus' death and the fragrance likely stayed with Him throught the death process; such love. And we see that through the sequence of events where Lazarus dies and Jesus raises him, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). The bond between these four was amazing. And we share these kinds of bonds in this life..........(There are other examples in the Bible such as Jesus and the disciple whom He loved, John. And there was Paul and Barnabus, Paul and Timothy and more.)
As we get older we realize more and more that it isn't where we are but who we are with. It isn't places and things that matter, but it is people that matter. My mother loved the beach more than any place on earth. But late in life we couldn't get her to go because she wanted to be close to her friends. That is how it is. And we all know that sometimes the people who matter the most to us are those we don't even see or talk to very often.
And finally it is important to remember that the best friend of all is Jesus. And one of these days, and not very long, we will all get to be together....with Him.....forever......if we have truly been His friend. Feel the love.
__________________________
I want to do what's right,
For already Heaven's in sight.
Come and go with me; I want you there
In that beautiful home so fair. mw
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