November 04, 2009
Accepting the Gift
Before my sister Shelly passed away she told the pastor that she knew Jesus was the Son of God and that all of us are sinners. However, she also told him, “We don’t agree with each other on baptism.” Shelly’s not alone, many people argue that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation and they avoid looking at baptism as an act of obedience. Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 ESV) Personally I want all that the Lord can give me, whether in this life or the next. I can’t imagine wanting ‘just’ salvation. I have to wonder if folks who refuse and reject baptism are in essence forfeiting the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (that indwelling presence of the Spirit) while on earth.
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Gail;
-----It is obvious that none of us obey the Word completely. Many of us even do things we know it tells us not to do, or don’t do things we know it tells us to do. All that comes with being imperfect, and it is why our salvation depends upon grace. Without grace Jesus is the only human who gets to heaven. What is important is to acknowledge the wrong in the things we should not do but do and in the things we do not do but should. That is confession. And when we know the Word states a case against what we do wrong, we must especially confess the wrong that we do, lest we would tend towards claiming the Word is wrong and what we do is alright. Since the Word is inspired by the Spirit, and since claiming the Word is wrong is to pass judgment upon it, then by judging the Word we judge the Holy Spirit. That it blasphemy. Very dangerous.
-----Although I am willing to call people on significant actions which are obviously and simply wrong, I am very reluctant to pass a judgment on their standing with God and their attitude towards the Word. But those who claim baptism is unnecessary give me considerable confusion, because the Bible is so clear about the importance of baptism. The verse you quoted for us demonstrates its importance, and so does Jesus’ baptism. When He was baptized, at John’s reluctance to baptize Him, Jesus did not tell John, “Oh, I really, really want to be baptized, John, it would be so nice to be baptized!” No! Jesus said, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” And to this importance Peter adds, “Baptism...now saves you...” (I Peter 3:21) Paul, speaking universally of those who follow Christ says about our new lives, “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4) He adds, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...” (I Cor 12:13) and “For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal 3:27) It is not as if the Word outright states, “You must be baptized,” in such simple terms, unless one understands, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...” to be so clear and straight forward. It is more that the Word speaks about baptism in all the terms that logically lead to such a conclusion. And Mark 16:16 at least testifies to the understanding of that conclusion in saying, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved...” I suppose the Lord may be gracious towards one’s reception of the Word and rejection of logic. That seems to me about what it would take for one who states faith in Christ yet refuses baptism to be considered as anything less than passing judgment upon the Word.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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