Baptism. Some thoughts….
Feb 22nd, 2007 | By Jeff | Category: TheologyI want to write a short entry just to clarify my belief on Baptism. I am currently involved in a very in-depth study of Baptism and Salvation and am writing my findings as they occur on this site. But I want to make some things very clear since I do not want anyone to read more into what I am saying than what I am intending to say. I believe that followers of Christ are Baptized. I believe this is an essential teaching and if someone does not teach Baptism then they are not teaching what the Lord has asked. This said I am unable to state so boldly that someone who is not Baptized or that someone not Baptized under a given method is not saved, or not a follower of Christ. My current study has revealed verses that clearly identify faith/belief as the deciding factor in a person’s salvation. And verses that appear to claim that belief plus baptism are the deciding factor in a person’s salvation. (read previous blog entry) However, I have serious questions for someone who claims to believe in Christ yet will not be Baptized. The big one is “What is preventing you from being Baptized and following Christ in this?”. If someone does not want to be Baptized they have a Lordship issue, not a theological issue. So as I am writing and studying know this: I believe in Baptism. I believe that Jesus clearly taught that we are to make disciples, baptizing them, and teach them to obey the teachings of Christ.
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I agree that Christians as a general rule get baptized. I myself have been baptized, and I am glad that I have been. I know some denominations and other people believe that if you are not baptized you aren’t going to be saved. I have a very close Catholic friend and I think he believes that if you don’t get baptized you aren’t saved. I don’t believe this is biblical. When the thief on the cross next to our lord was dying. All he said was Jesus remember me when you get to your kingdom. That was all that was needed and our lord told him that he would be in paradise. I think if you are able that a person should be baptized, but god knows our hearts and that is what is important.
This topic reminds me of an incident I had with my co-worker the other day. I was at work and was told earlier in the day that there had been a man from Sri Lanka in town trying to raise money for his church “The Unification of world Christianity church”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church
I decided to do a little research on what this “Church” was all about. I quickly learned that this was not a church at all, but rather a cult started by a Korean guy who thought he was the Messiah and he believes that Christ died before he could complete his mission. He also believes that Jesus was not god in the flesh, and that he was not devine in any way. I was shocked. With the name of Unification of world christianity who would have guessed. I then began to talk with my Co-worker I will call “Bob” about it. Bob was a self professing Christian that rarley missed church services on Sundays. I told him wow that is crazy huh. I said that guy is doing a lot of harm by professing these lies. Bob then said naw not really. I said what? Bob said well they believe in god. I said yes, but they are missing out on the big picture. Jesus died for our sins. He died on a cross, he was God made flesh. He was the devine sinless sacrifice for our sins. I then told my co-worker that if they did not believe this fact that I did not think they were saved, and this person who is preching the lies is leading people to hell. ( Everyone has the right to say anything they want and I am not advocating anything to hinder free speech.) , but I wish I could have witnessed to him. My Co-worker said well they believe in god and they believe Jesus existed. I told my friend Bob that it wasn’t enough to believe they were just people who lived a long time ago. That was all we said about it that night.
The next day I was listening to Dr. adrian Rogers message Three things you can’t learn in school.
http://www.oneplace.com/common/player/oneplace/CustomPlayer.asp?bcd=3/7/2006&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/swn/oneplace/wm/lwf/lwf20060307.wax&mediaID=1645555873&MinTitle=Love+Worth+Finding&MinURL=http://www.oneplace.comhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love_worth_finding/&MinArchives=http://www.oneplace.comhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love_worth_finding/archives.asp&Refresh=&AdsCategory=MINISTRY.LWF&Show_ID=119
I could tell the holy spirit was using me to speak the truth to Bob’s heart. Bob said nothing but soon He came into room I was in and he was clearly upset. His face was red and he almost appeared to be in tears. He told me angrily ” this is why I don’t listen to those radio preachers. They only dwell on How Jesus died, He said I think we should concentrate on how Jesus lived. I told him I believe that we should live as Christ lived, But I also feel that if we don’t believe that Christ died and rose again to pay our sin debt.
The next statement that came out of his mouth shocked me to the very core. Bob told me that all we need to do is treat people nicely and the rest of it will take care of itself. meaning our sins will be forgiven through our nice works. Bob was clearly upset, so I said nothing more to him about the subject. He was almost in tears, I believe it was because the holy spirit had convicted his heart. He knew that he was wrong, but he was too proud to say he needed Jesus to be saved. I am glad and proud to say that I don’t deserve The perfect gift of grace given by our lord through his son Jesus Christ. I know I need Jesus , because even our good works are as filthy rags without Jesus. I thought since he was a professing Christian and a church goer that he was saved. How could he be so lost. I think Pride gets in the way of so many from them accepting the gift god has given to us. This is why I believe Jesus said the last will be first and the first will be last in the kingdom of heaven, and in order to get to heaven we must become like a little child. How is that? I believe it is that we have to trust as the little children do. I pray for Bob a lot and I want him to accept the gift that god has for him. I wonder what they teach at his church. I am so very afraid that many are being led astray by ministers not teaching the truth.
Matt,
Have you had any more conversations with your co-worker?
Here is one way to describe the gospel to Bob.
The hardest thing in America is a majority of the population calls themselves Christian. And for the most part they have no idea what this means. People are convinced if they are a ‘good’ person then they will go to heaven when they die. However, Jesus makes it clear that we have all sinned and even one sin makes it so we are no longer qualified to go to heaven. There is nothing we can do. We can feed the poor, heal the sick, give all of our money to the needy and when we die we have still sinned and are found unworthy to be with God. So we have a real dilemma. It appears all is hopeless. But God then sacrificed his Son, Jesus, on the cross. Someone who was perfect and had never sinned. He sacrificed Him in our place. Since we were deserving of death, someone had to pay that price. Jesus died so that we can live. Through this sacrifice we can now be with God for eternity, not because we deserve it, or because we are a good person. But because Jesus is perfect, and he was killed in our place. This is true grace. God gives us the greatest of gifts that we will never deserve, and eternity with Him. All God asks of us now is to have faith in Jesus. To truly believe that Jesus died for us and rose again. And through our faith we are to be obedient to Jesus teachings as best we can. So Christians should be ‘good’ people but it is not the goodness that allows a Christian into heaven, it is the death of a perfect man dying in our place when we should be put to death.