In our day and time there are so many varied religious beliefs. People speak that we are all one despite the differences of doctrine. It seems that all ideas regarding God are meshed together under one umbrella that accepts it doesn't matter what one believes only they believe with all their heart.
When one begins to speak about there is only one standard from the Lord, one teaching of salvation immediately people being piping up, "Are you saying you're the only one to have it?" That's not what is being said. The Scriptures when looked at with an open and honest heart reveals there is only one standard to be saved and those who uphold that one standard of doctrine line up with the Lord. We see it in Acts 2, the first sermon preached by the apostles after the resurrected Christ and in Acts 8:26-40 as well as many other places.
When we speak of worship, it must be acceptable to God and according to the truth. Jesus taught that to the woman at the well (John 4:21-24) as also the Hebrew writer pointed out to those Jew's who wanted to return to their former worshipping ways (Heb. 12:25-29).
When we speak of our lives it must line up with His righteousness and holiness as Paul instructed Titus (Titus 2:11-14).
The point of all of this is to show that it matters about baptism, why one is baptized. It matters about our worship if is based in the truth revealed or based in our culture. It matters if we substitute men's creeds and rules in the place of Scripture. It matters if we follow man-made religious seasons rather than God-spoken truth.
There has to be a standard that is shining! It is impossible to tell the difference between a sheep and a wolf without a standard (Matt. 7:15). Peter warned not to be carried away by the error of unprincipled men (II Pet. 3:17). There are doctrines of deceitful spirits and demons Paul warned the preacher Timothy (I Tim. 4:1). What we believe must be according to Christ and not according to ideas of culture or traditions (Col. 2:8).
It really does make a difference what you believe. Isaiah spoke to God's people under the first covenant: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." (Isa. 8:20) All colors look the same in the dark!!
11 comments:
That is something lost in the church sometimes. Thanks for your insight.
Brent wrote "People speak that we are all one despite the differences of doctrine."
What doctrines keep us from being one? Are there differences of doctrine that would still allow us all to be one? Does grace cover doctrinal error?
Brent wrote "The point of all of this is to show that it matters about baptism, why one is baptized."
What does one have to understand about why they are baptized? Do you have to know you are being baptized into Jesus' death? Do you have to know you're being baptized for forgiveness of sins? Do you have to know you're joining the church by being baptized? Do you have to know your flesh is being circumcised during baptism? If I didn't know my flesh was being circumcised when I was baptized (which I didn't) does that mean it didn't happen?
I understand there is a standard and I know I've fallen short of that standard and I'll continue to fall short of it which is why I'm thankful that the blood of Christ cleanses me.
Something very important is being overlooked. Baptism is extremely important to know why! From the ascension of Jesus, the first message spoken to a lost Jewish nation was the purpose of baptism (Acts 2:37-38). It is true we don't have to come with a complete knowledge of everything tied to baptism, i.e. cirucumcision made w/o hands, but we must know why! Baptism is in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. At Paul's conversion, Ananias to him to be baptized for the washing away of sins while calling on the name of Jesus (Acts 22:16). When Paul met the 12 men in Acts 19, in his inquiry about the Holy Spirit asked them into what were they baptized? They understood the baptism of John and they were baptized into the name of Jesus. As Paul taught the Roman brethren who had been baptized, he asked them if they did not know that being baptized into Christ was being baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3)? They might not have known about the death part and he was teaching them but they knew it was into Christ. The churches of Galatia were reminded when they were baptized into Christ they were clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). It matters and if one comes to Jesus and doesn't know that, then what were they putting their faith in? Was baptism just a religious act? We've got to be more careful in our study. Ignorance is one thing (I Tim. 1:12-14) but error in doctrine when it is presented before us is another.
So if someone gets baptized because Jesus commanded it and didn't realize it was for forgiveness of sins do their sins get forgiven?
If one doesn't know why other than Jesus commanded it, how could they know it was forgiveness of sin? They weren't baptized with faith in His death. That's why ever single instance in the NT baptism was always associated with the death where one contacts the blood. In each case, they were taught that. One doesn't come to that knowledge later and it's acceptable. Just ask the 12 in Acts 19. They weren't acceptable even though they had been baptized. Thanks.
Brent wrote:
That's why ever single instance in the NT baptism was always associated with the death where one contacts the blood.
Where does the Bible say that one contacts the blood in baptism?
Brent then wrote:
In each case, they were taught that.
I haven't read any conversion account that mentions anyone being taught that. I don't see anything about Jesus' blood in Peters speech in Acts 2, or really anywhere else in Acts except when Paul is talking to the Ephesian elders. You bring up the 12 in Acts 19 - I don't see where Paul says that they need to be baptized so they can contact the blood. They didn't have the Holy Spirit so they were re-baptized. In Acts 18 there is the account of Apollos who only knew John's baptism too, but he had received the Holy Spirit and there is no mention of him being re-baptized.
Brent then wrote:
One doesn't come to that knowledge later and it's acceptable.
So it is acceptable to come to the knowledge after one has been baptized that baptism circumcises us without hands - but not that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins? So when an inmate starts reading the New Testament and they get to the end of Matthew and decide to be baptized because Jesus tells the apostles to baptize people his sins won't be forgiven?
You say you have to know why you are baptized, but part of the why is the circumcision without hands. Why is it OK not to know that why but not OK to know other whys?
Thank you
With your reasonings it make me wonder what you were taught in regard to the gospel?
Burnt seems to want to argue about everything. He doesn't seem to want to read the Scriptures but 'reason' his way through things. I am sorry if I seem attacking because I am not. It just troubles me he would respond the way he responds and not look closely at Scriptures. You must know Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him when you are being baptized. Not just doing it because Christ commanded it! "Go and preach the gospel" and baptism was the response to that preaching. Thanks Brent. Keep up your good work!
Brent wrote:
With your reasonings it make me wonder what you were taught in regard to the gospel?
I'm not sure what "reasonings" you are referring to but I was taught that the gospel is that Jesus died for my sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried and raised on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures.
If you don't want to answer my questions that is fine but don't read into them "reasonings" that aren't there.
Thanks
Anonymous wrote:
Burnt seems to want to argue about everything.
Do you have evidence for this? I don't respond to the majority of the posts here and I haven't argued anything on this post until you made this baseless comment.
Anonymous then wrote:
He doesn't seem to want to read the Scriptures but 'reason' his way through things.
Again I'm going to ask for evidence. Brent made the comment "That's why ever single instance in the NT baptism was always associated with the death where one contacts the blood. In each case, they were taught that." which doesn't appear to have any evidence in scripture. If it does then perhaps you can provide that evidence instead of making comments about whether or not I'm reading the Bible.
Anonymous also wrote:
You must know Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him when you are being baptized.
That's great - now all you need to do is show where that is stated in the Bible.
Thanks
You got it my friend burnt!
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