Most people who are converted to Mormonism are not converted because they examine the evidence and decide that Mormonism is the truth. Mormon missionaries ask you to pray and ask if you should become a Mormon. Many people have become Mormons because they prayed and felt that they had been called to Mormonism. Probably every religion around the world is full of people who say they have had some kind of religious experience. I say that not to say that God doesn’t speak, but to point out that it is possible to be sincerely wrong. Christians are to check every message we hear against the Bible.
Acts 17:11-12
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.”
Galatians 1:8-9
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”
If you are sure that God is telling you you are saved and the Bible says you are not, then the god who is talking to you is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and His word never changes.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Baptism is important, but isn't it over emphasized and taught?
If baptism is for salvation than it is part of the gospel and cannot be over taught. I think that often we are afraid that by discussing baptism we may offend people, but how can we expect our churches to grow if we are not telling people how to be saved?
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-16
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.’”
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-16
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.’”
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Why do most biblical scholars say that baptism isn’t necessary?
First, I think we could all agree that just because a majority holds an opinion does not make it correct. Biblical scholars can be wrong. When Christ began His ministry the majority of biblical scholars did not believe that He was the Messiah. They were wrong.
Second, I do not believe that God’s word is so murky that you need a PhD to understand it. It is not safe to simply believe what scholars tell us; we need to study it out ourselves. If you do, you will find the gospel is plain and understandable.
Third, I am not sure if it is safe to say that most biblical scholars do say that baptism isn’t necessary. I am not aware that today’s biblical scholars have been polled on the subject. It is certainly true that for the first 1500 years of the Church most biblical scholars believed that baptism was necessary.
It may also surprise you that most people who identify themselves as Christians today belong to a denomination that officially teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. The Church of Christ, as well as those of the Anglican Communion, Apostolic Brethren, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Roman Catholics, many Pentecostal groups, and others all officially teach that baptism is for salvation. These groups represent well over two-thirds of people who call themselves Christians. They disagree about how or when to baptize or who is eligible, but they all read the same Bible and came to the conclusion that baptism is necessary.
Second, I do not believe that God’s word is so murky that you need a PhD to understand it. It is not safe to simply believe what scholars tell us; we need to study it out ourselves. If you do, you will find the gospel is plain and understandable.
Third, I am not sure if it is safe to say that most biblical scholars do say that baptism isn’t necessary. I am not aware that today’s biblical scholars have been polled on the subject. It is certainly true that for the first 1500 years of the Church most biblical scholars believed that baptism was necessary.
It may also surprise you that most people who identify themselves as Christians today belong to a denomination that officially teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. The Church of Christ, as well as those of the Anglican Communion, Apostolic Brethren, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Roman Catholics, many Pentecostal groups, and others all officially teach that baptism is for salvation. These groups represent well over two-thirds of people who call themselves Christians. They disagree about how or when to baptize or who is eligible, but they all read the same Bible and came to the conclusion that baptism is necessary.
Isn't it true that the Bible never says that baptism is for salvation, it's only a few obscure passages that are twisted to say that?
No. The opposite is true. The concept of baptism for the remission of sins is all over the Bible. In fact, if you were to throw out all of the New Testament authors that teach baptism is for salvation than all you would be left with is James and Jude. And even James says that Faith isn’t enough by itself. (and Jude is only 25 verses long) Here are just some of the scriptures. I encourage you to look them up and read them in context; see for yourself what the Bible says:
Mark 16:16
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Acts 2:38
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 22:16
“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”
Romans 6:4
“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
I Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
Galatians 3:27
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Colossians 2:12
“...having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
I Peter 3:21
“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…”
Even without these passages there are enough others to conclude that baptism is an essential part of salvation, not to mention the Old Testament precedent and the practice of the early Church. But even if there were just one verse in the Bible that said that baptism is for salvation than we ought to sit up and take notice.
If baptism is not necessary or has another purpose, than where are the scriptures that say so? It is significant that the New Testament never tells of someone being baptized for anything other than the remission of sins.
Mark 16:16
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Acts 2:38
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 22:16
“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”
Romans 6:4
“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
I Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
Galatians 3:27
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Colossians 2:12
“...having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
I Peter 3:21
“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…”
Even without these passages there are enough others to conclude that baptism is an essential part of salvation, not to mention the Old Testament precedent and the practice of the early Church. But even if there were just one verse in the Bible that said that baptism is for salvation than we ought to sit up and take notice.
If baptism is not necessary or has another purpose, than where are the scriptures that say so? It is significant that the New Testament never tells of someone being baptized for anything other than the remission of sins.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Did the Early Church Believe Baptism was for Salvation?
Yes!
The Epistle of Barnabas 11:11, between 70 and 131 AD:
“We go down into the water full of sins and pollutions; but come up again bringing forth fruit; having in our hearts fear and hope which is in Jesus Christ by the Spirit.”
Clement, Fragment from Eusebius, Book IV, chapter 62, around the close of the First Century AD:
“A Christian is one who knows God, who believes in Christ, who possesses the grace of God, and who has been dipped in the sacred laver.”
Hermas, Pastorals, Similitude ix, 16, around the beginning of the Second Century AD:
“The water in which men go down bound to death, but come up appointed unto life.”
Tertullian, On Baptism, Chapter 1, AD 155-215:
“Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life!”
Council of Nicaea, AD 325:
“He who is baptized descends indeed, obnoxious to sins, and held in the corruption of slavery; but he ascends, free from the slavery of sins, a son of God, heir-- yea, co-heir-- with Christ, having put on Christ, as it is written, ‘As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ’.”
The Epistle of Barnabas 11:11, between 70 and 131 AD:
“We go down into the water full of sins and pollutions; but come up again bringing forth fruit; having in our hearts fear and hope which is in Jesus Christ by the Spirit.”
Clement, Fragment from Eusebius, Book IV, chapter 62, around the close of the First Century AD:
“A Christian is one who knows God, who believes in Christ, who possesses the grace of God, and who has been dipped in the sacred laver.”
Hermas, Pastorals, Similitude ix, 16, around the beginning of the Second Century AD:
“The water in which men go down bound to death, but come up appointed unto life.”
Tertullian, On Baptism, Chapter 1, AD 155-215:
“Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life!”
Council of Nicaea, AD 325:
“He who is baptized descends indeed, obnoxious to sins, and held in the corruption of slavery; but he ascends, free from the slavery of sins, a son of God, heir-- yea, co-heir-- with Christ, having put on Christ, as it is written, ‘As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ’.”
Why Not Just Get Baptized?
If baptism is when we die to sin (Romans 6:2-5), and if it is when we become clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27), and if it saves us (I Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16) then why not do it? Why not preach it?
Isn’t it kind of like when Elisha told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan if he wanted to be healed and Naaman got mad and left? In the story Naaman’s servant says “Wouldn’t you have done some great thing if he had asked? Why won’t you go when he says ‘wash and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:1-14) Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” (John 14:15)
So why are we always trying to get out of it? Why not just do it? The Ethiopian Eunuch asked, “What’s to stop me?” (Acts 8:36) Ananias asked Saul, “Why do you delay? Get baptized.” (Acts 22:16)
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