Thursday, March 8, 2012

HOW MANY BAPTISMS? - Robert E, Hanna



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.


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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


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