Salvation and Baptism… Are They Related? March 29, 2007
Posted by Nate in Christianity, Culture, Religion, Society, Truth, Uncategorized.17 comments
Last night, at the end of services, a girl of 14 came forward and confessed her belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. She had grown up attending our congregation, so it was an especially happy moment for the rest of us.
After her confession, we sang another song or two, after which, the curtain to the baptistry opened, revealing Aileen (the girl) and Randy, our preacher. Randy said, “Aileen, based on your confession that Jesus is the Son of God, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins.” He lowered Aileen completely into the water, then brought her back up. A new Christian was born!
Now, I know some of you might be thinking that the baptism was completely unnecessary; that once she confessed her faith in Christ, she was saved. The baptism was just an outward sign of something that had already occurred. But think back to the scriptures that deal with baptism. What do they say about it?
I’ll try not to make this post too long, but when taken as a whole, the Bible paints a very clear picture that shows baptism is definitely required for salvation. Let’s look at a few of those key passages now:
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – Mark 16:16
According to this passage, what is required for salvation? Belief and baptism.
19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d] – Matt 28:19-20
Jesus gives his disciples a command in the first phrase of this passage: “go” and “make.” What follows are participles that explain how to fulfill that command. In other words, how do you make a disciple? By baptizing them and teaching them (verses 19-20).
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:38
What is salvation? It’s the forgiveness of sins, or the remission of sins. This passage tells us that in order to obtain that, we have to repent and be baptized.
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. – Romans 6:3-7
This passage might be one of the clearest. It shows us why baptism is important and what it represents. It symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Isn’t it fitting that God would provide something like that for us to take part in in order to have our sins “washed away!” It’s only after baptism that we are able to rise to “walk in newness of life.” It’s through baptism that we are able to “put to death” that “old man” of sin.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ – 1 Pet 3:21
Here’s another passage that is pretty clear, once you understand what an antitype is. This passage (including the surrounding verses) makes the point that Noah and his family were saved by the ark, and in the same way, baptism saves us today.
These are not the only passages that deal with baptism, but I think they are enough to make a compelling case for its necessity. However, this is a concept that is rejected by much of the religious world today. Hopefully, seeing these passages will at least encourage more study from those who may have always held a different position on the subject.
I certainly welcome any discussion on the topic, and if you would like to look over a discussion that was held about it last year, go to groups.myspace.com/thegreattriumvirate and click on the thread titled “Religious Understanding.” It’s pretty lengthy, but well worth the read for anyone who’s interested. You can also check out the thread “Six Months to Change an Eternity” if you would like.
The Mystery Revealed March 20, 2007
Posted by Nate in Christianity, Culture, Religion, Society, Truth.1 comment so far
…by revelation He made known to me the mystery… 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel – Eph 3:3, 5-6
What Paul says here is very powerful, and to many people at that time, it was still somewhat controversial. Remember, the religious climate at that time was rather tumultuous. Pagan and emporer worship was widely practiced, Judaism was still a powerful force in Israel, and Christianity was spreading quickly, Jesus having recently been crucified (within 30 years, or so).
What Paul explains here in Ephesians is that God has finally revealed his entire plan: everyone (Jews and Gentiles) have access to salvation.
To the Jews, this was still a sore point. They had always been God’s chosen people, and giving up that status was difficult for many of them. Nevertheless, giving the Gentiles that access is what God’s plan had been all along, and when it was first revealed by the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10, it finally illuminated the thread that unifies the whole Bible. In other words, the mystery was finally revealed.
The Bible teaches us that God’s plan was in existence before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), and when Adam and Eve sinned, our need for that plan became apparent. Their sin separated mankind from God’s presence, and we needed an avenue back to him. That avenue is Christ.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,”[i]who is Christ. – Galatians 3:16
The promise that Paul refers to here in Galatians is one of three that God made to Abraham. God promised that Abraham would father a great nation, that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, and that all nations of the earth would be blessed through his “Seed.” In other words, that last promise referred to one who would be of Abraham’s lineage and would save all nations. As Paul tells us here, that Seed is Christ.
The promise of Christ was made very early on, but it was thousands of years before he came. So, in the meantime, God set up a law. This law was never intended to be a substitute for the salvation in Christ, but was meant to guide Abraham’s descendants in righteous living. In addition to that, it served to teach the Israelites who God is and established prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, the Seed, Christ.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made… 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. – Gal 3:19, 23-25
The passage above explains why the Law of Moses was given. It was never meant to save us; only Christ’s sacrifice could do that. The Old Law was meant as a bridge to carry us to Christ, and once we’ve made it to him, the bridge has served its purpose.
What Paul talks about in Ephesians 3 (and what Cornelius’s conversion exemplifies) is the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham thousands of years ago: that one would come through his line who would bless all nations of the earth. Christ has come, he has lived a perfect life on this earth, and he has died for every person who has ever existed, including you and me. He has died so that we can live…
Let’s make sure we don’t waste that sacrifice.
Getting Back Up March 12, 2007
Posted by Nate in Christianity, Culture, Religion, Society, Truth.3 comments
It’s not all about you.
If people could learn that, I think they’d be a lot happier. You can’t go anywhere today without hearing about depression or people being victimized. I’ve found myself wondering if depression was this prevalent years ago. Maybe it was, but just didn’t get talked about as much. But I usually get the impression that people just rolled along – took things in stride.
I don’t doubt that depression is a valid illness or affliction that sometimes needs counseling or medication to overcome. But I really think that our society has almost turned it into some kind of badge of honor. People have fallen in love with playing the victim and turning problems that might be a small hill into Mt Everest. The problem is, that Mt Everest is much harder to climb. Therefore, getting over problems and overcoming obstacles almost becomes impossible.
I think that’s why truly religious people can often see past the things that so often weigh us down in this life. When we focus on larger things, eternal things, it’s hard to place as much emphasis on the petty. One of the best passages that deals with this is in Matthew 6:
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matt 6:25-34
I know that’s a little lengthy, but it’s such a good passage.
And when we get down and start feeling pity for ourselves, we need to remember the examples God’s given us in the Bible. When David sinned with Bathsheba, he was told that one of the consequences would be the death of the child that she was carrying. When the baby was born, it was very sick, and David refused to eat or do anything else, but spent his time in prayer and meditation. When the baby died, he arose, cleaned himself and ate. His servants were surprised, and questioned him about it. His reply is as follows:
22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD[a] will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” – 2 Sam 12:22-23
Did David not love the child? Shouldn’t he have been more upset when it died? I think it’s obvious that David loved that child very much, and he pleaded with God to spare it. But once the child was dead, nothing would bring him back. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t show grief when we experience loss, but I think it should be a lesson to us that we have to go on with our lives too. We can’t stop living just because someone else has.
Peter is another great example. Here’s a man that denied Christ on the night of his crucifixion; the same man who had publically sworn to accompany Jesus to his death. When he realized what he had done, he was horribly upset. Yet, Peter still went on as one of the pillars of the early church, he preached to the first Gentile convert, and he even became a martyr. This is someone who did not let his sorrow overcome him (basically the opposite of Judas).
But today, people often become severely depressed over things that aren’t even as traumatic as death: financial problems, weight gain, relationship difficulties, etc. We have not been promised a perfect life. Our purpose in living this life is not happiness, it’s serving God. And while God does want us to be happy, it’s not the priority. We are going to experience hardships. We are going to experience pain, loss, and disappointment. If God had set things up for us to have perfect lives here on this earth, then there would have been no point in heaven.
Remember these passages:
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content – Phil 4:11
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. – Col 3:2-3
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all. – Ecclesiastes 12:13
When we feel depressed and feel pity for ourselves, then Satan is winning. Those feelings father doubt, worry, inadequacy, and faithlessness. Understand that Satan will expoit every chink in your armor, and he won’t let up until he’s won.
If you have spent years and years on medication for depression, then you’re seeking the wrong fix. Again, there are people who really do need medication because of some chemical imbalance or other medical reason, but I honestly believe that most people take medication for no good reason. If you want to be cured of feelings of depression, then read your Bible everyday and pray without ceasing. It’s really that simple. You don’t need a change in prescription, but in perspective.
