BREAD & WATER?
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
On Sunday, July
15th I wrote: During the final year of our USA Civil War a British
minister and his wife founded a ministry that to this day is compassionately
effective there, here, and elsewhere. Their doctrinal statement is as with other
Christian groups but with 2 exceptions. They don’t list the practice of baptism
or communion nor do they offer or practice either. How do you respond to this
fact?
Only one reader
responded: I expect to
see members of Salvation Army Church in heaven and see no reason to break
fellowship with them on earth because they don't practice baptism or
communion. These practices are important to me but Salvation Army's main
emphasis is reaching the lost for Jesus and meeting the needs of people in
crisis. I respect them and the work they are doing for the Kingdom of
God.
Salvation is not dependent on baptism or communion. We are saved by our faith in Jesus. John 1:12 " But to all who believed him and accept him, he gave the right to become children of God."
Romans 10:10 "For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
Galatians 3:26 "We are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Phillip baptized the eunuch as an act of his faith. He confessed his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Then they looked for water, stopped the chariot, went into the water and Phillip baptized him. See Acts 8:37-38.
Young's Analytical Concordance and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance each list only one scripture (1Corinthians 10:16) which uses the word communion meaning partaking of the bread and wine. The Gospels (Luke 22:14 - 20; Matthew 26:20 - 29; Mark 14:22 - 25) tell about Jesus instituting the Lord's Supper.
Baptism and Communion are New Testament ordinances which we practice as an expression of our love and commitment to Jesus. We can love and accept other believers in Christ whose practices differ from ours. We would be happier more productive people if we focused more on what convictions we share and less on our differences. Different may not be wrong -- only different.
Salvation is not dependent on baptism or communion. We are saved by our faith in Jesus. John 1:12 " But to all who believed him and accept him, he gave the right to become children of God."
Romans 10:10 "For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."
Galatians 3:26 "We are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Phillip baptized the eunuch as an act of his faith. He confessed his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Then they looked for water, stopped the chariot, went into the water and Phillip baptized him. See Acts 8:37-38.
Young's Analytical Concordance and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance each list only one scripture (1Corinthians 10:16) which uses the word communion meaning partaking of the bread and wine. The Gospels (Luke 22:14 - 20; Matthew 26:20 - 29; Mark 14:22 - 25) tell about Jesus instituting the Lord's Supper.
Baptism and Communion are New Testament ordinances which we practice as an expression of our love and commitment to Jesus. We can love and accept other believers in Christ whose practices differ from ours. We would be happier more productive people if we focused more on what convictions we share and less on our differences. Different may not be wrong -- only different.
srf
My position is: Biblically baptism and communion should be offered and practiced. However, they are not essential to salvation. Why did General Booth in founding the Salvation Army set the policy of not doing so? He saw multitudes of professing Christians relying on baptism and/or communion for salvation; man’s doctrine nowhere found in God’s Word. Though I see Salvation Army’s then and now reason, I do believe they should offer baptism and communion. I would not however break fellowship or support over this difference.
My position is: Biblically baptism and communion should be offered and practiced. However, they are not essential to salvation. Why did General Booth in founding the Salvation Army set the policy of not doing so? He saw multitudes of professing Christians relying on baptism and/or communion for salvation; man’s doctrine nowhere found in God’s Word. Though I see Salvation Army’s then and now reason, I do believe they should offer baptism and communion. I would not however break fellowship or support over this difference.
If not by baptism and/or communion then what
must we do to be saved? I share summary provided by GotQuestions.org. EBB4
Question: "How can I be
saved?"
Answer: This simple, yet profound, question is the most important question that can be asked. "How can I be saved?" deals with where we will spend eternity after our lives in this world are over. There is no more important issue than our eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible is abundantly clear on how a person can be saved. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
How can I be saved? Why do I need to be saved?
We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23). We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). Sin is what makes us unsaved. Sin is what separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction.
How can I be saved? Saved from what?
Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).
How can I be saved? How did God provide salvation?
Because the just penalty for sin is infinite and eternal, only God could pay the penalty, because only He is infinite and eternal. But God, in His divine nature, could not die. So God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. God took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us. When the people rejected Him and His message, and sought to kill Him, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, allowing Himself to be crucified (John 10:15). Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value. Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 John 2:2). He took the consequences we deserved. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead demonstrated that His death was indeed the perfectly sufficient sacrifice for sin.
How can I be saved? What do I need to do?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16). God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).
Answer: This simple, yet profound, question is the most important question that can be asked. "How can I be saved?" deals with where we will spend eternity after our lives in this world are over. There is no more important issue than our eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible is abundantly clear on how a person can be saved. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
How can I be saved? Why do I need to be saved?
We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23). We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). Sin is what makes us unsaved. Sin is what separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction.
How can I be saved? Saved from what?
Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).
How can I be saved? How did God provide salvation?
Because the just penalty for sin is infinite and eternal, only God could pay the penalty, because only He is infinite and eternal. But God, in His divine nature, could not die. So God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. God took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us. When the people rejected Him and His message, and sought to kill Him, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, allowing Himself to be crucified (John 10:15). Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value. Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 John 2:2). He took the consequences we deserved. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead demonstrated that His death was indeed the perfectly sufficient sacrifice for sin.
How can I be saved? What do I need to do?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16). God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).
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