This is a letter sent with kindness and respect to the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL concerning their inconsistent beliefs regarding salvation and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This letter was sent and meant to be posted here and read by all. May God bless every reader. Your kind and respectful comments and questions are welcome.
January 24, 2013
To the members and leaders of the First Baptist Church,
Seeing your confession of the deity of Christ and confession of the virgin birth is an encouragement of faith in a world of skepticism. Because of these convictions and your confession of the “Inerrancy and Completeness of Scripture”, I urge you that though one’s labors and works are good Christ may still have something against a church (Rev. 2-3). Let us all be aware. Therefore, I must encourage you to reconsider and look again at some of the words of Jesus Christ and those of His Apostles and prophets. You openly profess your belief that salvation comes by faith, trust, and receiving Jesus as one’s personal Savior before a believer is conformed to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I plead with you to rethink this teaching, and may your ministers give themselves wholly to reading, exhortation, and doctrine (1 Tim. 4:13-16). I write this letter by the Apostle Paul’s example of speaking to those, who are seeking God and His Christ.
Here is my plea. With your open confession that 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is true, you also confess that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Gospel by which believers are saved. I assume that you also confess the Gospel to be the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16, 1 Cor. 1:18). Please, recognize that believers must conform to Christ’s death to be resurrected with Him (Phil. 3:10-11, Rom. 6:3-8). Why then do you not teach that one must die and be buried with Christ to be resurrected with Him? The Holy Spirit described the saved believer, who was, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). Without being resurrected with Christ, one cannot be brought to life with Christ and forgiven of all sins as Colossians 2:13 states, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” (Col. 2:13). Why do you not openly recognize that being raised with Christ in baptism is when one is forgiven of all sins? The Scriptures show that Jesus died in order that each believer must die to one’s sins, and that by being buried with Christ, that believer can be raised with Him and be forgiven of all of one’s sins. Why then do you believe that one is saved before dying, being buried, and resurrected with Christ? Why place baptism after salvation when Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16)?
This is a misleading belief to overlook that one is saved when raised with Jesus Christ. Instead of teaching a believer to be saved when one is resurrected with Christ, your words are clear from your tract, “Life’s Greatest Question”, that you believe that you are saved when you trusted in Christ before you have died, been buried, and resurrected with Him. In teaching others how to become a Christian, your tract comes short stating, “only through trusting in Christ’s payment can our sins be forgiven. That means from the moment we trust in Christ, God sees us not as sinners but justified (just as if we had never sinned)” (emp. added. <fbcjax.com> 22 January 2013). You are not clear and do not indicate that this trust is when one conforms to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Yet, you also provide a “Spiritual Birth Certificate”, which states for when one has “received Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord” rather than when one is raised with Christ from being buried with Him in baptism. When you confess that believer’s baptism is a conformation to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in your tract, why do you place baptism after salvation?
When are we truly saved by grace? Let us not misapply God’s grace. Being dead to sin, Christians are alive and their souls are hidden in Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-3). Those who have not died with Christ and have not yet been raised with Him are still dead and are not yet saved. Christ’s Spirit states, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Eph. 2:5-6). God’s grace is when we are raised with Christ. Therefore, grace is “not of yourselves” (Eph. 2:8), but in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, we cannot boast (Eph. 2:9). Baptism is not a work invented by men, and no one baptizes oneself. If you so believed in grace through one’s conformation to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, would you not instruct immediate baptism upon confession of faith and repentance? Were not the converts of the Book of Acts all baptized immediately? Why baptize immediately if baptism can wait until another time? Should you not also instruct others, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)? Should you not inform these believers saying, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38)?
You are right to confess belief in “The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus from the Grave” (22 January 2013). Yet, you are not confessing the resurrection of Jesus Christ through your baptism when you believe that you have already been saved by His grace implying that you have already been resurrected with Him? Do you not see that the scriptures teach that one is raised with Jesus after being buried with Him in baptism (Rom. 6:3-8)? Does not Colossians 2:12-13 teach clearly that when one is raised from the burial of baptism “through faith” that this person then has the forgiveness of all sins (Col. 2:12-13, cf. 3:1-11)?
By placing salvation before the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, I find that you are twisting Jesus’ words about being born of the water and the Spirit to exclude the baptism that Jesus commanded after His resurrection (John 3:5, cf. 1 Cor. 6:11, Titus 3:5). Yet, rising from the waters of baptism is the moment when the believer is reborn and regenerated. Peter affirmed, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Pet. 1:3, cf. 1:22-23). How are believers begotten by God by the resurrection of Christ? Peter affirmed, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Pet. 3:21). This is my plea to you in short.
For good measure so that my plea does not come short, note that this baptism is water baptism in Jesus’ name. As you recognize the Scriptures, Jesus established baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit after His resurrection (Matt. 28:19). This baptism is the baptism in Jesus’ name taught on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2:38). The baptism in Jesus’ name is baptism in water (Acts 11:47-48). This is the one baptism by which Jesus washes His Church by water (Eph. 4:5, 5:26). This is the baptism taught in 1 Corinthians 12:13 when one is baptized into one body, the Church, by the one Spirit (cf. “body” in Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18, 24). First Corinthians 1:11-13 show that this is the one baptism in Jesus’ name and 1 Corinthians 6:11 shows this baptism to be the moment when the believer is washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus’ name. We also see that the Lord adds believers to His Church rather than men consenting to add others to a church (Acts 2:41, 47).
Therefore, I must remind you. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21, cf. Heb. 5:9, Jas. 2:24). After the resurrection, Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”.
Please, consider the claimed Baptist founder, Thomas Helwys, who wrote repeatedly about salvation and baptism. Helwys wrote in his book, “The Mystery of Iniquity” (1612),
“And therefore please not yourselves so much in those things, although we acknowledge they are worthy of great commendations in you, and our souls are much affected to you for them. But if you follow not Christ in the regeneration, that is, if you be not ‘born again of water and of the Spirit, and so enter into the kingdom of heaven,’ all is nothing, as you see by the example of this ruler. And Cornelius (Acts 10), if he had not been baptized with the Holy Ghost and with water, for all his prayers and alms he had not, nor could not have entered into the kingdom of heaven.
Thus entered all the people of God of whose entrance the scriptures give testimony, either by rule or by example, and thereof if there be any other entrance found out, it is not, nor cannot be of God. This only is the door which Jesus Christ has set open for all to enter in at, that enter into his kingdom. (John 3:5) And the Lord sanctify all your hearts with grace that you may enter therein. For no other way of salvation has Christ appointed but that men first believe and be baptized. (Mark 16:16).”
Therefore, listen also to the famous Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who noted in his lesson, “Baptism – A Burial” (October 30, 1881),
“Baptism sets forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and our participation therein. Its teaching is twofold. First, think of our representative union with Christ, so that when he died and was buried it was on our behalf, and we were thus buried with him. This will give you the teaching of baptism so far as it sets forth a creed. We declare in baptism that we believe in the death of Jesus, and desire to partake in all the merit of it. But there is a second equally important matter and that is our realized union with Christ which is set forth in baptism, not so much as a doctrine of our creed as a matter of our experience. There is a manner of dying, of being buried, of rising, and of living in Christ which must be displayed in each one of us if we are indeed members of the body of Christ. […]
We are buried with him in baptism unto death to show that we accept him as being for us dead and buried. […]
His death is the hinge of our confidence: we are not baptized into his example, or his life, but into his death. We hereby confess that all our salvation lies in the death of Jesus, which death we accept as having been incurred on our account.”
In conclusion of my plea, I urge you by the name of Christ to reconsider your beliefs and teachings concerning salvation, baptism, and the Gospel of Christ in the light of the inerrant and complete Scriptures. Remember “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:23). I welcome your response. I am willing to reconsider in all honesty. I plan to present this as an open letter. You can contact me at ScottJon82[at]yahoo.com or if you prefer by mail.
May God bless you all in the study of His Word,
Scott Shifferd, minister, Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL
The Breath of God 
Fascinating example of Protestant sociology, and how unknowingly futile each camp is in determining what is “true” or not. Blog posts such as this truly saddens me.
Neither CofC nor Baptist can settle any of this because:
1) Neither sect has any authority to interpret the scriptures. All your experts, minister, and leaders are self-appointed (having a form of godliness…).
2) Both sects have divorced themselves from the body that has authority to interpret.
3) Both sects deny the history (reality) of how the Church has always understood the rite.
4) SolA scriptura can only mean solO scriptura (All protestants are self-appointed popes).
5) Both sects are (and can only be) incapable of explaining why their interpretation is more sound, because nobody can correct people who “see” different “things” in the scriptures.
6) The Spirit of truth was not promised to either sect–it was promised to guide the Catholic Church into all truth. It is a fact; scriptural and historical reasoning prove it no matter how rebellious one’s spirit is, or how badly one wants to surround himself by people who will say what their itching ears want to hear.
7) Neither sect can develop any coherent argument explaining why their sect is the Church Jesus built–every argument is summed up as, “because I me my me I mine I me my mine I feeeeel like it is because I say so.”
Watching the Protestant sects argue with themselves is like watching a pack of wolves fighting each other. As papa Benedict said, “Whenever Sacred Scripture is removed from the living voice of the Church, it becomes the victim of the experts’ disputes.” And boy as this blog proved the Holy Father right (again)!
pax
Yet, you’re arguing constantly on your site and making a case in which you cannot convince us, because you do not follow the teachings and practices of Christ and Apostles. The irony is somewhat humorous that the Roman Catholic hierarchy would say such and yet cannot resolve its differences with Eastern Orthodox. Which came first? You could show some respect.
Cannot Christ and His Spirit interpret their own words without anyone having a Pope besides the Father?
Don’t you agree with the Gospel being the death, burial, and resurrection?
Following the teachings of Christ and his apostles is what being Catholic means. To be a Protestant means to follow luther, Calvin, Shifferd, etc. Your self-importance is absolutely amazing.
The Orthodox is orthodox when it is in communion with Rome. I don’t think you even understand your own question, Scott. Which came first??? Both are apostolic, but the fullness of apostolicity includes two components: office and teachings. So the Orthodox are fully Catholic when they are in communion with Rome. Our differences are very little and exagerated by the Protestant sects to make it seem like the Protestants aren’t divided. In fact, every comment you’ve ever left me is “I know you are but what am I?”. In other words, my list here is still true and you cannot deny it.
And as far as convincing you… many people are willingly ignorant, and many people are more interested in self-popery. Self-appointed Protestant ministers (such as yourself) are typically as prideful as they are ignorant, so I don’t plan on convincing you of anything. What I’m hoping for is that you have some readers/lurkers who are not simply looking to reinforce heretical ideas, but learn a thing or two.
Scott, if you are ever interested in learning more about the Bible, let me know.
Pax
Pax,
Can you not join in the actual conversation about baptism? Or are you afraid that you’ll have to defend baptizing babies who don’t have the faith necessary to be baptized (not that they need faith any more than they need to be baptized since baptism is for sinners…uh oh, there’s another topic you’d have to defend isn’t it).
What’s this “Self-popery” comment mean??? As opposed to the “self-denying-popery” of the Catholic Church I guess?
A pope? A man who has no authority from Heaven. A man who has no authority to claim such a “title” according to God’s word. A man who lives in an “ivory castle” and greets those who get to kiss his ring. A man who claims to have a “word” on equal authority with God’s word. And a good thing too, cause there is no defense to be found in God’s word for a human head to “rule” the church. Talk about “Self-popery.”
“Call no man on Earth your Father (much less “holy” father) for there is only one Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 23:9)”‘ doesn’t apply when you get to choose what does and doesn’t apply to a man-made priesthood, huh? And please don’t bring up a child calling his/her parent “father” example – that’s not what Jesus was talking about. Jesus was talking about spiritual titles and about showing people honor above that which we are called to show…like calling someone “holy father” and hanging their picture up all over the place, and having thousands cheer for you in front of your castle for their “pilgrimage” and carrying a solid gold cross/staff as a sign of humility. You know, the type of stuff the “pope” and the Catholic “Church” avoids doing. You can’t even see the plain scriptures can you? That’s how bad the “pope/holy father” blinds people to Jesus and His word.
The scriptures will be a witness against you, Pax, for in the Day of judgment, no catechism, no council or no word from a “pope” will be allowable in the court that uses only God’s word. You follow a man, while Christians follow Jesus, the real, and only Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Let me show you how bad you follow men and not God. You said, “The Orthodox is orthodox when it is in communion with Rome.” It’s always Rome with a “true and practicing” Catholic and never Heaven. The Catholic Church sacrifices its communion with Heaven because it’s too busy looking to Rome and therein lies the problem…a big problem.
Since you like quoting “papa” Benedict, tell me if you agree with something else that “papa” Benedict said: ““As she suffered and almost died together with her suffering and dying Son, so she surrendered her mother’s rights over her Son for the salvation of the human race. And to satisfy the justice of God she sacrificed her Son, as well as she could, so that it may justly be said that she together with Christ has redeemed the human race.” from Pope Benedict XV INTER SODALICIA”. Am I quoting a different “papa” Benedict by chance?
Can you tell me where in the scriptures it is said that Mary is a “co-redeemer” of the human race??? I guess it’s hard to do that with just “SolA” or “solO” scripture either one isn’t it? See what happens when you follow a man, and not The Mediator – The Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5-6), you err from the truth and you err badly; even to the point of worshipping people and giving them credit for the very thing that is rightly reserved only for God (Acts 10:25-26; John 1:29).
And before I leave, (since this will probably be my only reply due to the lack of your response with scripture) interpretation/understanding of the scriptures comes when a person reads the scriptures themselves and rightly divides them by comparing them to other scriptures (Ephesians 3:4, 2 Timothy 2:15); which happens to be something that the Catholic Church hasn’t been too fond of in times past when it came to the general public…after all, you have to protect the people from the very Gospel that has the power to set them free right? I think you can find that in Romans 1:16, but please don’t confuse that with Rome 1:16.
Listen to Rome or listen to God’s word, you decide: “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:9)
The only universal thing that the Catholic Church owns is universal error.
The death, burial and resurrection is a Spiritual movement that happens in the heart. It is not a physical action that water baptism represents. If you can convince me that a person goes under water with no spiritual understanding and then emerges with a new mind then you may have a point. But it does not happen that way. Transformation of mind happens in the heart and the death, burial and resurrection that you speak of is the actual transformation of mind that happens inwardly. Why would God require a physical action to be that which places one into a Spiritual Kingdom? A main principle of NT teaching that it is the inner that determines the outer, not the other way around.
It is clear that you judge yourself unworthy of eternal life.
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:3-6).
Scott, we should probably know better than to engage a Roman Catholic in a debate. Their entire theology crumbles upon one question, who has authority? You know the answer, I know the answer, and I’m sure Patrick here knows the answer, however, one of us has to deceive ourselves in order to continue with doctrinal beliefs that are unfounded in scripture. That’s the brutal truth.
For Patrick’s edification, the answer to the question is Jesus, and ONLY Jesus. Therefore, ONLY the Word is authoritative. Not any of your traditions or “histories” or anything else you can conjure up. The Word is Jesus (John 1:14) and has ALL authority (Matthew 28:18). Period dot bingo.
Adam,
I’m not really debating him, but I do have hope for him to open his eyes. You are right the answer is Jesus, and Jesus’ teachings does not lead us to the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
I apologize for my tone, Patrick. I sensed some arrogance coming from your posts and decided to respond accordingly. That was wrong. I’m normally a very light hearted dude and my intent is to have productive conversation.
For possible clarification of what to do to be saved – an honest seeking person may want to consider listening to this…
http://thetruthabout.net/video/what-must-i-do-to-be-saved
It is approximately 30 minutes.
Thanks for your well devoted time!
It seems that Phil and James agree to negate the Scripture Mark 16:15-16 (yes, there are other Scriptures to be cited, but this is the easiest to demonstrate). If I understand them correctly, when a person “believes” they are “saved” – why does the text say what it says then? It seems the Holy Spirit inspired writer is adding useless and unintended words to the text when stating “believes and is baptized shall be saved” – right? The conjunction “and” is vital to the text and is the reason the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to put the Greek words that particular way. I mean, why say those extra words? Is it because they are unnecessary? No! Is it because God wants the person who is already “saved” (according to Phil and James) to do something useless and unnecessary? No! It does make a person pause and reflect on the nature of Scripture – why do men seem to “pick and choose” what should or shouldn’t be true about Scripture concerning baptism? Is it because they want to decide a man-made way of beginning the walk of faith? Is it because they want to decide when a person will “arise a new creation”? Maybe.
Kevin, Mark 16:15-16 does not say that this baptism is immersion in water. Why do you assume such? What proof do you have?
Phil, What proof do you have that baptism (immersion) spoken of in Mark 16:15-16 is any other kind. Will you understand any support I might bring forth? Maybe, but I believe you have already decided that “one Lord, one faith, one immersion” is not speaking of baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, please provide proof that when Paul (and Jesus) speak of baptism that they are NOT indicating a death, burial, and resurrection through water.
Neither of us can provide proof. The individual has to discern what is more important, immersion in water or immersion into the Holy Spirit. There is no doubt in my mind that immersion into the Holy Spirit is what matters because the water does not change the consciousness of the one being immersed. But immersion into the HS is that which changes one inwardly.
Kevin, good question. I believe an answer is required for all to see. As you have already stated, the Word quite clearly calls out “one baptism” or immersion as you translated it.
So, we have proof of the Apostles and early Christians baptizing in water and commanding it be done well after John’s baptism and after Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. In fact, that water baptism was “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 10:47-48). Same language as found in Acts 2:38, where it states… “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
I don’t believe in an inconsistent Holy Spirit, do you? The Spirit inspired Peter to speak those words, so baptism in the name of Jesus IS water baptism. And if Paul says there’s one baptism, and Peter says that baptism in the name of Jesus Christ means we have forgiveness of sins and reception of the Holy Spirit, then one can logically come to the conclusion that water baptism is the “one baptism.”
Here’s another “proof” if you will. Paul’s conversion. Paul received the Spirit through the laying on of hands by Ananias, correct? There he received his vision (proof of receiving the Spirit), yet Ananias asked him why he waited any further, for him to get up, be baptized and wash his sins away. In other words, receiving the powers (gifts) of the Holy Spirit did NOT mean you had forgiveness of sins. Only obedience in water baptism could provide that as per the instruction from Ananias. The Apostles and the household of Cornelius received powers of the Holy Spirit, they still obeyed Christ in water baptism.
I hope this helps. I know that I’m not the most articulate fella out there, so I ask forgiveness on that part.
Phil: you are exactly correct. The new creation occurs the second the Holy Spirit touches our dead spirit and the Holy Spirit comes as a gift through simple faith in Jesus and His finished work. It is completely spiritual.
Water Baptism is a mere picture of what happened spiritually and there is a blessing in this one time, not to be repeated, event in the believer’s life. But it is done because the believer has been baptized, past tense, by one Spirit into the history of Jesus such that the believer has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and raised to a new creation through His resurrection.
In the same way, the Lord’s Supper is done to remember “what is” and not to create something new and there is a blessing in this event which may be repeated as often as we desire in remembrance of Him. But a believer who has been joined to the Lord through being born again, i.e. a new creation, need not be baptized or immersed in water to be saved anymore than a believer need eat the bread and drink the wine of the Lord’s Supper to be saved.
Phil has it correct. It is a revelation firmly supported by scripture but some just don’t see it. Thanks for your comments Phil.
Good job, Scott. I hope and pray that God’s word falls into some good and honest hearts.
Thank you, Eugene.
Please, do not feel like you have to reply to Phil. His comments will not be permitted anymore unless you respond to him. Thank you.
I agree Phil. I recently wrote something on my blog. I called it Religion vs. Jesus. 33 ways Religion is different from Jesus. While Scott is spending his time trying to convince us that being dunked in water saves us and drinking wine is a sin, he really is not seeing the deep things of God in Christ. I think Scott is sincere, but sincerely mistaken. I wonder how many of the 33 items regarding Religion vs. Jesus that Scott would agree with the Religion side? Check it out Phil when you get a chance.
http://www.seeinggrace.com
James
James, the deep things of God in Christ are revealed to us in the Word. And Scott may be trying to convince you that being dunked saves us, but only because that’s what the Word says (1 Peter 3:21).
You try to contrast Religion and Jesus, how about this? Make them go together. Live by the Word of God, which IS Jesus!
Here’s an example from your own blog…
“Religion is bondage. Jesus is freedom!”
Jesus is freedom from sin and death, but we must be slaves (bondage) of righteousness. That’s what the Word says and that’s what we must live. Romans 6:18 “and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
The main principle of NT teaching is that the inner aspects of Christianity are that which is of paramount importance. The inner (Spiritual) is the cause of the outer (practice), and therefore is that which of most importance. Why would God create a spiritual covenant and put the outer practical baptism as that which saves when His new covenant if founded in the inner Spirit?? It simply does not make sense. We are saved at the level of inner spiritual transformation (faith) and not at the physical level of physical water? It would be totally inconsistent with NT teaching.
Yes, I think we all realize that being buried with Christ in baptism is spiritual. Certainly, Jesus was not commanding some meaningless physical act without there being a spiritual change from within involved.
In Mathematical terms people need to learn to add instead of subtracting. Terms for salvation need to be added together instead of subtracted from one another. Faith is the foundation of salvation. Without faith there is no need to go further in your quest for salvation. But if you read your Bible you will find that repentance is also necessary for salvation as is confession of your faith. In reading further, you will find that baptism is also mentioned in connection with salvation as well as living a godly life. If you REALLY have faith you will believe everything God has said in connection with salvation, adding it all together. People of today remind me of Naaman in the OT who had decided in his mind how he would be healed. But the prophet didn’t even bother to come out to see him, sending his servant instead. He was furious about that and also furious about the commandment….Go dip in the Jordan River seven times. Fortunately his servants had better sense and talked him into obeying. He was healed! So we will be healed of our sins when we simply obey even if it makes no sense to us. But people today are furious over the baptism requirement because, like Naaman, it makes no sense to them.
In Mathematical terms, people need to learn to add instead of subtracting. Terms for salvation need to be added together instead of subtracted from one another. Faith is the foundation of salvation. Without faith there is no need to go further in your quest for salvation. But if you read your Bible you will find that repentance is also necessary for salvation as is confession of your faith. In reading further you will find that baptism is also mentioned in connection with salvation as well as leading a godly life. If you REALLY have faith you will believe everything God has said in connection with salvation, adding it all together not subtracting one from the other. People of today remind me of Naaman of the OT who had decided in his mind how he should be healed (saved). But the prophet didn’t even bother to come out to see him, sending out his servant instead. Naaman was furious about that and also furious because of the commandment — go dip in the Jordan River 7 times. Fortunately his servants had better sense and talked him into obeying. He was healed! So we will be healed of our sins when we simply obey, even if it makes no sense to us. But people today are furious over the baptism requirement because, like Naaman, it makes no sense to them.
M.J. Eckerberg
That is very true.
Water place a significant part throughout scripture. It is an element by which God uses to bring life from death, freedom from bondage, hope from despair, renewal from decay. Search through the scripture of the old covenant and see the import placed upon it. It is used as the fore-shadowing of the good things to come. All such typology in the Old Testament referenced in the New Testament regarding water would be utterly meaningless if baptism was not essential. The land forming out of the water, the global flood (death and life brought through water), Infant Moses carried to safety by water, Israel carried through water out of Egyptian bondage and enemy destroyed, the withholding of water brought drought and death, etc. etc. Peter’s words use the “typology” language which demands that these lessons from the OT directly point to baptism, that which they foreshadowed for our learning. Please consider your rejection of Christ’s command. Just as those Israelites who stood on the banks with enemy closing in and no where else to go, God provided that through water salvation from bondage would happen. It was faith that saved them through water that brought them to the other side in safety. Their enemy, the faithless, were destroyed by the very thing that brought salvation to the Israelite. This was due to their lack of faith. Please consider again and do not be destroyed because of your unbelief in Christ’s word. Believe in Christ and obey his command to be immersed for the forgiveness of sin.
Hey Kyle. Dude, I already have been baptized in the name of Jesus and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit about 30 years ago. It is a good thing to do but that dunk in the water did not save my soul dude. It was Jesus’ finished work of death, burial and resurrection and my faith in Him and His work that saved me! Read my blog. Listen to a message or two on my web site. You will be lifted to the heavens brother! Love you dude.
http://www.seeinggrace.com
James