Water Baptism (Church of Christ)
WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?
He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved--you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to
him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the
jailer took them and washed their ounds; then immediately he and all
his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and
set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to
believe in God--he and his whole family." (Acts 16:30-34)
ZEAL FOR GOD MEANS NOTHING!
The Baptists twist and distort this passage. The Church of Christ
makes this a dead law. The Pentecostal flavor de-value it's importance
over a minor gift called tongues. Still other groups play law with God
and say you must be baptized only in the name of Jesus. And some play
while they baptize. But for those who listen to the quiet voice of the
Holy Spirit we can hear the Holy Spirit say "Obey this gospel call by
the power and grace of God". But like the Israelites of old, men always
seek to make God's plan of salvation fit their own ideas. They build
their "golden calves" (Exodus 32) in the name of the Lord. Yet church
after church will cry out that they "love God" - that they serve God
with great zeal. Yet the truth is that if we do not submit to God's
righteousness we will not be saved. Paul says of his fellow Jewish
brethren that they too are zealous but unsaved.
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is
that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are
zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they
did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to
establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness."
(Romans 10:1-3)
Anytime we will not submit with a full heart to the God's plan of
salvation we run the great risk of our labor for God being nothing more
than vanity. How churches have "established" their own way to come to
God just as the foolish Israelites did. Baptists tell you just to "ask
Jesus into your heart". The Church of Christ makes water baptism law by
removing the power of the Holy Spirit from it. Methodists sprinkle you
at birth calling that baptism. The Catholics give you confirmation
classes. The Assembly of God would have you be saved twice. They save
you by having you ask Jesus into your heart, then forcing everyone to
speak in tongues in order to have some power. On and on we could go
while the Vineyard baptizes at pig roasts. The more churches we have
the more ideas we seem to have concerning how someone is to get saved.
Oh, these churches boast of their "children of God", but God says that
he will ignore all their "children"! Hosea warned us long ago! "...my
people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
"Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my
priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will
ignore your children. The more the priests increased, the more they
sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something
disgraceful." (Hosea 4:6-7)
PREACHING THE GREAT COMMISSION
Let us return to God and His Word and submit ourselves willingly and
with joy to God's plan of salvation. And if our church or opinion be
wrong, then let it be so! Let us be wrong that God might be right!! In
the great commission God tells us what to preach. "Then the eleven
disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to
go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus
came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)
So many of you are waiting to hear God's Word at the wrong mountain.
For you notice that Jesus told them to meet him at a certain mountain,
(verse :16). Again, unless we submit to God's righteousness we too are
unsaved. Jesus tells us to "baptize" them. Jesus does not say, "Now,
boys, have them ask me into their hearts.". For as we shall see it is
obedience that comes from Jesus being in our hearts that Jesus is
placing importance on. God is saddened! God is saddened that men for
any number of prideful reasons have chosen to ignore or change the
meaning of baptism in water. For when discussing water baptism several
complaints are often uttered. "You're making this salvation by works"
"Our sprinkling symbolizes this command" "Better watch out for
legalism" Remember what Jesus just said in Matthew 28. "teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded" Only then can we be sure that
Jesus is "with us always, to the very end of the age". For those who
obey God's Word with a true heart and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
it is never an issue of "legalism". It is a matter of joy and what is
proper in the Lord. In fact, when John the Baptist tried to stop Jesus
from being water baptized Jesus said...
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and
do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for
us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented."
(Matthew 3:13-15)
ALWAYS PROPER
It is always "proper" to do God's will as God has set it down. When
others try to stop you, simply say it is always proper to obey the Word
of God. For Jesus didn't have to do it and yet was water baptized. And
you who need to have it done refuse to be baptized? How unlike Jesus
you are! Do you not know that for faith to be of God it must be matched
with works or actions. Oh, not a works that earns salvation. Rather, an
action that shows someone is truly receiving grace. For grace produces
actions or works. Besides, what utter hypocrisy of church/Christians
who say that water baptism makes it salvation by works! For they too
have their work. Their work is to raise your hand and say the
"believers prayer". At best this is a watered-down gospel call and at
it's worst the wide road gospel call that leads to hell. For James
tells all you hypocrits..
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has
no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (James 2:14)
The obvious answer is "No". And again James flatly states, "You see
that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."
(James 2:24) You see, that a person is justified (saved) by obeying
(work) the Word of God. But only as God has set it down. Are you ready
to say with Jesus, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to
fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:13-15) Remember the passage at
the beginning of this tract,
Acts 16:30-34? When the jailer asked Peter, "What must I do to be
saved?" Peter told him what it means to "believe in the Lord Jesus". It
says, "They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in
his house." What was the context of the "word of the Lord"? It wasn't
to say the "believers prayer" or to attend some special class or to
even speak in tongues. The result of speaking the word about the Lord
Jesus Christ is seen in the fact that "immediately he and his family
were baptized". With everyone that says, "What must I do?", do you
speak the Bible to them and then they cry to be baptized? Why not!? 3,
000 people on Pentecost knew this was God's plan of salvation.
AGAIN, WHAT SHALL WE DO?
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter
replied, "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. The promise is for you and your children and
for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." With
many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save
yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his
message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their
number that day. (Acts 2:37-41)
Those willing to "accept" the grace of God will be baptized. No
waiting to speak in tongues, no foolishness like bowing your head and
saying the believers prayer. No, none of man's ugly gospel calls. But a
true full gospel call that says to believe on Jesus is to obey God.
WE, *ORDER* YOU TO BE WATER BAPTIZED!!
Now, some will yell with rebellion in their hearts, "But I have
already received the Holy Spirit". Good, we rejoice with you that you
have already received the Holy Spirit. Now we "ORDER" you to be water
baptized. Yes, "order" you! At least that is what the apostles did. And
you of course go to a "New Testament" church; right?
"For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then
Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with
water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he
ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they
asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:46-48)
How many churches are in need of the deep repentance and they don't
even know it. For they don't even have the first step right on how to
receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. We can only wonder how many other
things they have wrong. And God's anger burns against those who change
the clear gospel call into a wide road Christianity. If your gospel
call is not authorized by God you have best shut your mouth and burn
your simple one, two, three steps to salvation tracts. After all,
Aaron's sons got killed for doing something that God did not authorize.
"Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them
and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD,
contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD
and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10:1-2)
JESUS CAME BY WATER
It is not this tract you are rebelling against, but the Lord
Himself. Let us ask you some basic questions. Would you think of
leaving the blood of Jesus out your gospel call? Of course not. But
don't you realize that the blood and water are equal in value? At least
in God's sight - that no more than God will be pleased with those who
leave out the blood of the lamb will he be pleased with those who leave
out the water of Jesus. John, the apostles whom Jesus loved, said
this...
"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus
Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it
is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there
are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the
three are in agreement." (IJohn 5:5-8)
Again, look closely, what does it mean to "believe" in Jesus? It
means to accept the testimony of the "blood", "Spirit" and "water". Why
do you keep leaving out part of the gospel? For the love of God
preaches the "full" message.
""Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the
full message of this new life." (Acts 5:20)
You really can't hear the gospel call the apostles preach that are
telling that baptism now saves you? Peter puts it plainly in 1 Peter
3:21 when he compares how Noah was saved through water and so are we.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but
made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the
spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in
the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few
people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water
symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt
from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves
you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and
is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in
submission to him." (I Peter 3:18-22)
Peter says that as we come to God with a "pledge of a good
conscious" (that is, asking Jesus into our hearts) that water baptism
saves us by the "resurrection of Jesus Christ"!
JEWISH BAPTIST
Why even the Israelites were not saved from the Egyptians without
being baptized in water. They had to pass through the sea with a cloud
above them. They were surrounded, immersed, baptized in water.
"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that
our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed
through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in
the sea." (ICorinthians 10:1-2)
Wake-up Baptist and many others! Jesus did not come just by blood.
Wake up Church of Christ and many others! It is not the law of water
baptism, Jesus also came by the Spirit. Wake up you ministers who offer
a wide easy road gospel call that says just ask Jesus into your heart.
Just picture yourself with Moses at the parted Red Sea with the whole
Egyptian army behind you coming to kill you. Can't you just see a First
Baptist Jewish Israelite standing at the part Red Sea debating with
Moses? "Gee Moses, you are making this salvation by works. I wll not
go." Or a Second Assembly of God Pentecostal Apstolitic Jewish Rabbi
saying, "I just don't have the power till I can speak in tongues.
Sorry, I can't go." Or better yet, a New Testament Church of Christ who
doesn't believe in musical instruments or miralces saying wth
self-righteous pomp to Moses, "Oh, Moses, Moses, you poor fellow, don't
you realize that miracles stopped after father Abraham died? Sorry, I
don't see any parted Red Sea so none of us can go." Then of course you
have the Jewish Catholic friend praying with a set of rosary beads
hoping the dead will help. And the Methodist member who is saying "It's
ok with me as long as you believe it strong enough." And so never acts
or understands the truth. Of course we must give credit the where
credit is due. The Vineyard group would probably be leading the way.
They just can't wait to party around the godlen calf, while they wallow
in "sour grapes"* about the past. (*ask for the free tape and tract
"Inner Healing or Sour Grapes") You would also see the First Jewish
church of Faith and Prosperity being so busy counting how much gold of
this world they have that they cannot see the message of a divided Red
Sea. And last you have the wider roaders who are promising everyone
that just on the other side of the part Sea is the promised and.
IMPORTANCE OF WATER BAPTISM
We must submit to God's Word or be destroyed in our own folly. The
Spirit must come first for it gives life and power to all other actions
in Jesus. The water must come next that pledges a "good consciouse"
toward God. Then as a man turns to God in water baptism the blood does
it's work. John tells us this is so.
"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus
Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And
it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For
there are three that testify:the Spirit, the water and the blood; and
the three are in agreement. (I John 5:5-8)
They must count the cost, (blood) and see a Jesus that died with all
three on the cross. The same cross we are called to pick up. "But when
they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not
break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a
spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it
has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells
the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe." (John
19:33-35)
Wake up and accept him whose testimony is true. Baptism is not for
infants. For an infant cannot choose wrong from right; darkness from
light; Satan from Jesus. (Isaiah 7:15-16) Baptism is not for the
purpose of joining the local church. There are no scriptures that agree
with this watered down Baptist doctrine. Baptism is the "sinner's
prayer". It is not of God to teach that you "ask Jesus into your heart"
and then later to be baptized in water. When the "full message" is
peached both happen at the same time. Baptism in water is where you
receive the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" if you were taught right,
(Acts 19:1-7). God never intended for them to be a separated, (John
3:5). Those who teach a separate baptism of the Spirit are confusing
the fact that all true believers will be baptized with the Spirit many
times during their walk with God, (Acts 2:37-38, John 20:21-22, Acts
1:5, 2:1, 4:8 and 4:31). For those who idolize tongues and practice
emotional "slaying in the Spirit" will probably fight hard against God
at this point. Be that as it may, obey Godinstead of man.
The Baptists who try and say that when Jesus says in John 3:5 that
being born of "water" means natural child birth, just throw them out of
your house! Should we listen to such men who make the spiritual gospel
of Jesus into something worldly? For Jesus is indeed speaking the Truth
when he says,
"In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he
is old?"Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his
mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no
one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit." (John 3:3-5)
Jesus is telling Nicodemus what the gospel call is. He is telling
him how a man is "born again". And you have of course noticed it is not
by "saying the believer's prayer". Let us say with Mark the following...
"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to
all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)
Don't you dare say, "But this passage was added in later." For, even
if it was, the writer knew what he was writing about because the rest
of scripture proves it true.
MEANING OF WATER BAPTISTM
What is all the fuss about water baptism you may be asking? Well, it
is equal to being crucified and resurrected with Jesus Christ. Remember
what Peter told us? "it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"?
And Paul tells us in Romans that water baptism is where we are buried
and resurrected with Jesus.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any
longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new
life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will
certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that
our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because
anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with
Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that
since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no
longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for
all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." (Romans 6:1-10)
We hope you read that passage with slowness and great thought. For
it holds the keys to understanding the power that is in water baptism.
Don't be like so many who twist what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:17
when he says,
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the
gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be
emptied of its power." (I Corinthians 1:17)
Those who would use this passage to tell you that water baptism is
not crucial are emptying the cross of it's "power". They are offering
you a worldly gospel. All Paul is saying here is that baptism is not a
law or a pride trip of outwardly being baptized by some person. He is
saying baptism is something much more spiritual than that! Paul is not
doing away with water baptism, he is simply dealing with pride! For the
same Paul who wrote Romans and Colossians about the powerful effects of
water baptism also wrote this passage. Peter warned you to be on guard
against such men who so cleverly distort what Paul says.
"Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our
dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He
writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these
matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand,
which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other
Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since
you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried
away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (II Peter 3:15-18)
What an utter venomous way to distort the beauty that is in water
baptism. Be on guard against their poison. After all, how did Paul get
rid of his sins?
"'A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of
the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood
beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that
very moment I was able to see him. "Then he said: `The God of our
fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One
and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of
what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up,
be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'" (Acts
22:12-16)
How accountable these men who twist 1 Corinthians will be before
Paul. For when Paul "had received his sight" and could now see the
gospel plan he was told to "wash away his sins". And how did he wash
away his sins? By saying the believers prayer? A resounding "No" echoes
through the corridors of heaven! No, he was "baptized" and that
"washed" away his sin. For it is where we receive the "new life". If
you are still questioning if this is water baptism let us remind you of
Philip and the Ethiopian. Let's read Acts 8:26-39
"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the
desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out,
and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in
charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This
man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting
in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told
Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to
the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you
understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I, " he said,
"unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and
sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was
led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is
silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was
deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was
taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who
is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip
began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news
about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water
and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be
baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and
the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Whenthey
came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip
away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way
rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about,
preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." (Acts
8:26-39)
Got the picture? Here is this preacher of the gospel (Philip)
minding his own business when God tells him to run up to a chariot. In
this chariot is a Ethiopian eunuch who is reading the Old Testament.
The Ethiopian eunuch doesn't understand about the cross and so Philip
explains it to him. As Philip is explaining the gospel he is telling
the eunuch about water baptism. For all of a sudden, without any
mention in scripture that this is what they are talking about, the
eunuch says, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?". So
the eunuch orders the chariot to stop and they both "went down into the
water" and Philip baptized him. So instead of that sloppy altar call in
you're church with whatever scripture your sharing it should get around
to the glorious righteousness of God. Water baptism! At least it did
with Philip. For out of the clear blue we see a man out of excitement
and joyous anticipation say, "Stop everything and water baptize me".
Not just asking Jesus into your heart. Not saying you must speak in
tongues. Not anything else but the simple gospel call of God! Salvation
by grace alone! But God's plan, not yours. Paul puts this together in
perfect unity and with the wisdom only the Holy Spirit can bring. Paul
tells us that Jesus holds all power to deliver us from sin as we submit
to water baptism in faith.
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every
power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting
off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of
men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with
him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of
God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and
in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with
Christ. He forgave us all our sins," (Colossians 2:9-13)
AN ISSUE ONLY FOR THE MATURE
The following discussion is for those who understand the need to
preach the "full message" of the gospel. Do not read this section if
you do not understand the full importance of water baptism and the
gospel call. Now, the Church of Christ (and other groups) place so much
importance on water baptism that they say you cannot go to heaven if
you are not waterbaptized. Just like the Pentecostal groups who say you
are not complete in Jesus till you speak in tongues. Now we don't want
to be Baptisty here. We do not want to quote the scripture of the thief
next to Jesus in such a way as to distort the gospel. The situation is
this. A man is hanging on the cross next to Jesus and asks Jesus to
save him. Jesus does and says today you will be with me in heaven. Luke
23:40-43 tells the story.
"But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God, " he said,
"since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we
are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing
wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be
with me in paradise." (Luke 23:40-43)
It is true that you can go to heaven without being water baptized
because God sees the heart. God saw that this thief on the cross would
if he could have gotten down off the cross and ran to the water to be
baptized. Yet you are not on a cross. You live in a land of freedom
that allows you the freedom to be baptized. There is nothing stopping
you. Meanwhile, those in other countries who do not have freedom of
religion are going to jail because they meet secretly to be baptized!
What good hearts they have! How hard hearted you are! They are willing
to preach a full message at the risk of their lives and you are
unwilling to live out the full message in a land of ease. To be sure,
if the heart is right, those who have not been water baptized will get
into heaven ahead of those who were water baptized, for they had bad
hearts. Those with good hearts who have yet to be water baptized are
more pleasing to God than those who water baptized but deny the power
of the Holy Spirit or disobey the Word. For in Romans Paul is
discussing the issue of circumcision and since water baptism is like
circumcision we can see God's wisdom, (Colossians 2:11). Simply
substitute "water baptism" for "circumcision" and you shall see what
the Holy Spirit is pointing to.
"You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit
adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about
the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written:
"God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the
law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. If those
who are not (water baptized) circumcised keep the law's requirements,
will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who
is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you
who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a
lawbreaker. A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is
circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is
one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the
Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men,
but from God." (Romans 2:22-29)
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Many others are going to condemn the Church of Christ, who, though
they water baptize outwardly have denied the power of the Holy Spirit,
even though they have never been water baptized. So let us throw out
our lousy arguments like, "What if you were in the North Pole", "What
if you were on your death bed and could not be water baptized" or "What
if there was no water around". God sees the heart. God knows those with
good soft, teachable hearts. God knows those that when they see a
command in God's Word will change whatever mistakes they have made.
They will preach the "whole" will of God. Will you? Don't hesitate
because of church or other Christians to preach and live the "whole"
message of God. Instead, be filled with the Spirit so that through the
autority of the Holy Spirit you can say with Paul, ..."For I have not
hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God." (Acts 20:27) Now,
"what are you waiting for"? Count the cost (Luke 14:33) and get up and
be baptized for the removal of your sins!
"And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your
sins away, calling on his name.'" (Acts 22:16) ../ |