HOW
MANY BAPTISMS?
Robert
E, Hanna
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:5
Should the Christian believer be
sprinkled or immersed? Should the ceremony be performed as a means to salvation
or as a testimony for Christ or to "follow Christ's example?" Should
the water be drawn from a tap or imported from the river Jordan for the sake of
authenticity? Such questions have been the source of much contention and conflict
among and between church organizations for centuries. It is one of the most
divisive issues in the history of Christianity. John the Baptist baptized the
Lord Jesus Christ in water. The apostle Peter declared, "Repent and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins" (Acts 2:38).
But another apostle spoke of water
baptism. To a congregation of saints of God, he declared, "Christ sent me
not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (I Cor. 1:17). Shall we be disobedient
to Peter and refuse water baptism? Or shall we ignore the statement of Paul,
minimizing the significance of the practice, and submit to it?
In considering the instruction by
Peter to "be baptized every one of you", let us ask ourselves whether
we are members of the house of Israel who "dwell at Jerusalem". Were
we present in Jerusalem "when the day of Pentecost was fully come"
and "that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" was miraculously
fulfilled in part? Of course, we were not. Therefore, Peter was not speaking to
you and to me.
On the other hand, the apostle Paul
made his statement as "the apostle of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:13). He
explained his ministry as being "according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, which was kept
secret since the world began" (Rom. 16:25).
Peter did not mislead the Jews at
Pentecost. Paul was faithful in his words of instruction to his hearers who
were not of the house of Israel but were saved under the dispensation of grace,
even as you and I are.
Video
- On Bible Study on - "CHRIST the ROCK'
How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s
SALVATION.
Read Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
https://www.facebook.com/cecil.spivey
E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment