October 08, 2010
Beach House
The study material in my Sunday school class is on the beginnings of the New Testament church. Interestingly our relatively new church has been so focused on what unites us that we’ve somehow avoided those doctrines that cause division. One element of our discussion last week was baptism. While some folks want to put in the same ordinance category as the Lord’s Supper, I am of the persuasion that baptism comes under the category of salvation. For me personally, if I gave the salvation message without including immersion I’d be speaking only partial-truth. Jesus wants us to put into practice all that He has spoken. “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matt 7:26-27 NIV)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The Savior had no need for baptism but did it because it was part of His plan. He is our example. And it was by immersion.
Gail;
-----I agree with your categorization. Referring to Noah’s riding out the flood in the ark, Peter wrote, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (I Pet 3:21) And before Jesus began His ministry, not during His ministry periodically, He went down into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized by John. Baptism is obviously an “entry” event, not a “state of being” event as is communion. And it can not be said any clearer or more succinctly than Lisa’s statement, “...it was part of His plan. He is our example.”
-----But if we try to focus upon technicalities involved in enacting doctrine as the substance of our unity, then we are not going to have unity. We find mentioned in the New Testament unity of the Spirit, faith, and knowledge of God’s Son. But we do not find unity of doctrines. There is plenty warning to adhere to sound doctrine, holding “...firm to the sure word as taught,” (Titus 1:9) and not departing, “...from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” (I Tim 4:1) Indeed John wrote, “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.” (II John 1:9) But these warnings can not be pretext for disunity amongst those holding Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, the crucified and resurrected Savior of all who call upon His name.
-----They pour a small handful of water over the head to baptize at the church I presently attend. And I chuckle inside at the little box containing a wash bowl of water the preacher calls a “baptistery”. But I understand from where their thinking flows, “...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” (Heb 10:22a) Yet, I tend to think immersion, rather than sprinkling, better effects having, “...our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:22b) And yes, the pouring of water does effect a washing, which is evidently the point of symbolism for them. But for you, Lisa, myself, and others, beyond just washing, immersion adds the symbolism of our old life’s burial and our resurrection into a new life.
-----And this new life is just the point of our unity. It is difficult to understand how two people disagreeing completely can have unity, but Romans 14 calls for that to be the case. Although one man thinks to abstain and another thinks to partake, each is to be convinced in his own mind and not judge the other. Certainly our lives in the Lord are very personal and individual between himself and the Lord. It is in our sincerity towards this new life that in that Great Day we will not go, “But, Lord, Lord, did we not do this or that?” And although sincerity does effect much technical accuracy of doctrine, it does not effect it all, because indeed, we still have imperfect minds while we yet live in this day. So, for now, our unity and agreement with one another is in our sincerity of love for the Lord and for one another which bears the same forgiveness towards one another for not only sins, but also for inaccuracies, as does the Father’s love bear towards us all in Christ Jesus.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Post a Comment