BAPTISM PROTECTS?

 

BAPTISM PROTECTS?

Acts GW 17:11-12 The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. Many of them became believers, and quite a number of them were prominent Greek men and women. [2Tim.2:15-16; 3:16-17]

1Peter 5:8 Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;

  As with many beliefs on angels, the matter of baptism is often much the same, unbiblical.

  I read a spiritually errant public statement. Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley’s Dad, bemoaning loss of family, stating that “… the Cyruses and their six children were all baptized before leaving Tennessee for Los Angeles to protect themselves against evil and he believes Satan is attacking his family.”

   It most certainly is dreadful when a family suffers deterioration.

  When observed or encountered personally or reading of family tragedies, it should be a learning experience for us.

  Does Satan attack people, families?

  Indeed he does.

Job, with God’s permission: for latter day edification on maintained integrity with Him and before fellow man.

Most commonly, individuals and groups (including families) that:

Ignorantly live other than according to God’s Word; not studying and relying upon.

Deliberately live other than according to God’s Word; knowing Truth, but rejecting.

Combination of ignorance and deliberation.

  In ignorance as result of un-Berean-ness; casually or intentionally accepting what we assume correct or have been taught as proper, we live weak and vulnerable to our adversary the Devil.

  If we consider baptism as shield against evil, we live at risk.

  Were we to bath 3 times a day in baptismal pool or shower often at church fount, we would gain nothing beyond thrice wetness and toweling.

  Baptism is public testimony of John 3:3 inner event symbolically illustrating identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. (Rom.6:3-4)

  We all absolutely do need protection from self and Satan. It is readily available, but not by binary compound H2o; it is gained and maintained by agreeing with God’s thorough regenerative washing and renewal of the Holy Spirit, poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Tit.3:5-6) . . . and by daily donning the rust-free whole armor God’s provides: “Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph.6:10-18)

  Knowing this Truth, let’s be subject to Christ in everything; that He might sanctify and cleanse with the washing of water by the Word; without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that we should be holy and without blemish. (Eph.5:26-27)

  What’s in our spiritual WC? A ringed tub, or clean godly togs? 

EBB4