THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM

 

What is the importance of Christian baptism?

  Christian baptism is one of two ordinances that Jesus instituted for the church. Just before His ascension, Jesus said, “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 28:19–20). These instructions specify that the church is responsible to teach Jesus’ word, make disciples, and baptize those disciples. These things are to be done everywhere (“all nations”) until “the very end of the age.” So, if for no other reason, baptism has importance because Jesus commanded it.

Baptism was practiced before the founding of the church. The Jews of ancient times would baptize proselytes to signify the converts’ “cleansed” nature. John the Baptist used baptism to prepare the way of the Lord, requiring everyone, not just Gentiles, to be baptized because everyone needs repentance. However, John’s baptism, signifying repentance, is not the same as Christian baptism, as seen in Acts 18:24–26 and 19:1–7. Christian baptism has a deeper significance.
  Baptism is to be done in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit—this is what makes it “Christian” baptism. It is through this ordinance that a person is admitted into the fellowship of the church. When we are saved, we are “baptized” by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, which is the church. First Corinthians 12:13 says, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Baptism by water is a “reenactment” of the baptism by the Spirit.
  Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, a person says, wordlessly, “I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification.”
  Christian baptism illustrates, in dramatic style, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, it also illustrates our death to sin and new life in Christ. As the sinner confesses the Lord Jesus, he dies to sin (Romans 6:11) and is raised to a brand-new life (Colossians 2:12). Being submerged in the water represents death to sin, and emerging from the water represents the cleansed, holy life that follows salvation. Romans 6:4 puts it this way: “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.”
  Very simply, baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer’s life. Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation; although baptism is closely associated with salvation, it is not a requirement to be saved. The Bible shows in many places that the order of events is 1) a person believes in the Lord Jesus and 2) he is baptized. This sequence is seen in Acts 2:41, “Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized” (see also Acts 16:14–15).
  A new believer in Jesus Christ should desire to be baptized as soon as possible. In Acts 8 Philip speaks “the good news about Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch, and, “as they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’” (verses 35–36). Right away, they stopped the chariot, and Philip baptized the man.
  Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Everywhere the gospel is preached and people are drawn to faith in Christ, they are to be baptized. GotQuestions.org

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

 

 

FREEDOM

 FREEDOM

  John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

  Romans 6:14-18 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

 I have many passages marked in my Bible with the margin note “Security of the believer”. My father called it “Once in grace, always in grace.” And would add that it could be dangerous doctrine because some would think it gave them license to do anything they wanted to do after they responded to an altar call and made a profession of faith.

  But today’s passages do not mean any such thing. The Word says we are “free from sin”, not that we are free to sin. There is a vast difference! [Look at David as an example.]

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928 – 3/1/2020)

R.I.P.?

 

Is it biblical to say ‘rest in peace’ (RIP) in regards to someone who has died?

  The acronym RIP (or R.I.P.) is often seen carved on tombstones, and the words rest in peace are often heard at wakes and funerals. It comes from the Latin blessing requiescat in pace (literally, “may he begin to rest in peace”). Is it biblical to say, “Rest in peace”? The expression “rest in peace” is never used in Scripture in connection with a person who had died. So, in that sense, saying “Rest in peace,” is not expressly biblical.
  At the end of the book of Daniel, an angel speaks of Daniel’s death, saying, “You will rest” (Daniel 12:13). And the prophet Isaiah says, “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death” (Isaiah 57:2). These two passages are the closest the Bible comes to the idea behind RIP. Still, the exact words rest in peace are not used.
  Because the thought of death can be frightening, people through the years have invented some platitudes with which to comfort themselves. When someone dies, we often hear unbiblical statements such as “She’s an angel now” and “God needed another angel in heaven”; sometimes, we hear the bromide “He’s in a better place,” spoken with no thought that he might actually be in a worse place. People who never have time for God suddenly grow religious at a funeral. They try to assure themselves and others that, regardless of the deceased’s relationship with God while on earth, he or she is in heaven now. But we must not ignore what Scripture teaches.
  The Bible is clear that physical death is not the end (Hebrews 9:27; John 3:16–18). Jesus taught that there are only two options for every human being: heaven and hell (Matthew 10:28; 25:46; Mark 9:43;). He gave a vivid picture of those two options in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19–31. In this account, the rich man, who had given no thought of God during his earthly life, went to hell when he died. Lazarus, who possessed nothing on earth but a pure heart, was taken to paradise. Hell is described as a place of torment (verse 23), not a place of rest. According to Scripture, a person who dies without Christ is not “resting in peace” (see John 3:18). “‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isaiah 57:21).
  However, death is entirely different for those who are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30). First Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that, while it is natural to grieve for loved ones who have died, we do not need to grieve for believers in Christ as though we will never see them again. There is hope mixed with the sorrow. The Bible often refers to the dead in Christ as “those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20; Acts 13:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). The biblical writers used sleep as a metaphor because death for a Christian is only temporary. Paul said that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Those who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior are with Him in paradise when they die (Luke 23:43). So, after death Christians do enter a “rest,” and it is “peaceful.” However, is saying, “Rest in peace,” biblical?
  The problem with saying, “Rest in peace,” is that it is framed as a prayer. In Latin, it is literally “May he begin to rest in peace.” Of course, praying for the dead is unbiblical. At the moment of death, a person’s fate is sealed. The Bible never teaches or even suggests that we should pray on behalf of those who have passed away. Saying, “Rest in peace,” writing “RIP,” and other forms of prayers for the dead are rooted in Catholic tradition, not the Word of God.  GotQuestions.org

 LOOKING ELSEWHERE 

Acts [GW] 4:12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person." 

  Reading God’s Word (the Bible) we see that trusting Jesus is essential to present and eternal salvation. Jesus emphasized this Himself. (Jn.14:6)

  Though this is plainly explained in Scripture, people do look elsewhere. The list is long compared to “Christ alone”. I share two contrary ones I most often see:

  Worshipping idols. Romans chapter 1 presents examples of looking elsewhere other than Sovereign Jehovah God Almighty, Creator.

  Then there’s religion without a personal trusting relationship with Lord Jesus Christ; Religion based in works. I share 2 passages explaining this false way:

Ephesians [ESV] 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace [undeserved favor and spiritual blessing] you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Emphasis mine. Also, In the following verses, 24-27, Jesus explains the foundational will of the father.)

  Are you looking to Jesus, or elsewhere?

  As for me, I trusted Him and began looking to Jesus in the Autumn of my 28^th year when Bud Bond in God’s Holy Spirit graciously pointed me to the Word (Jn.1:1; 17:17; 1Thes.2:13; 1Pet.1:2-3).

EBB4

 

BEING A JOSEPH

 

BEING A JOSEPH

 

1Peter 5:5a-8 [MKJV] Put on humility. For God resists the proud ones, but He gives grace to the humble. Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety onto Him, for he cares for you. Be sensible and vigilant, adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;

 

  Joseph was dear Ann’s favorite example, and it showed in her life until her final breath.

 

  Oh to be like Joseph during what we see as counter-times!

  Compare his life with the NT Scripture above.

  Compare our life with what is therein seen.

  Joseph was cast aside by family, sold into slavery, falsely accused and cast in prison, suffered tremendous tragedy.

  And yet through it all “The Lord was with Joseph” (Gen.39:45:7-8)

EBB4

WAIT UPON THE LORD

 WAIT ON THE LORD

James 1:3-6 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (Note Isaiah 30:41)

  I was 25 when Hugh and I were married. I had always wanted to be a “mother” so I was bitterly disappointed when months and years went by without my becoming pregnant. I continued to pray for a child and after 5 years God answered my prayers. We were able to adopt a beautiful baby boy. I continued to pray and wait. Two years later God answered my prayers again and I had a sweet baby girl.

  How good God is!

Leslie Nivens (12/12/1928 – 3/1/2020)