FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
"BAPTISM"
1. Some ERRONEOUS TEACHINGS ON NEW TESTAMENT BAPTISM answered 2. Is sprinkling a Bible type of baptism? 3. Is there anything wrong with denominational baptism? Subject #1 Baptism is merely a bodily act and concerns not the heart. Romans
Baptism
is merely a "church ordinance," hence in the church's name. Acts We are not buried in baptism. Colossians 2: 12: "Buried with him in baptism." Our bodies are not washed in baptism. Hebrews 10: 22: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." There is no resurrection in baptism. Romans 6: 4: "Therefore we are burled with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." There is no need for going down into the water for baptism. Acts 8: 38: "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Much
water is not required for baptism--a little
amount will do. John 3: 23: "And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there." There are many baptisms (sprinkling, pour ing, immersion); take your choice. Ephesians 4: 5: "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." He that believes and is saved may be baptized if he chooses. Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Being previously made free from sin at the mourners' bench, you obeyed "that form of doctrine" as an evidence you were already servants of righteousness. Romans
The unsaved man has no right to be baptized. Acts
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We
get into the Lord's body first; we are bap tized afterward. 1 Corinthians 12:13: By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." Baptism does not put us into Christ. In baptism we do not put on Christ. We did that before and without baptism. Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as have beet baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Baptism does not put us into the name Christ. Matthew 28:19. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in ("into"--Revised Version) the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Baptism does not put us into the body (church) of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13: "By* one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." We are made free from sin before we obey this "form of doctrine." Romans 6:17, 18: "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." No one ever rejected the counsel of God by failing to be baptized. Luke 7:30: "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against them selves, being not baptized of him." "For the remission of sins" in Acts Matthew 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." OBSERVE Jesus shed His blood in order to
remit sins, not because they were already remitted. Baptism does not save us. 1 Peter 3:21: "Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." ‘Water" in John 3:5 does not mean water, but Spirit. Then
it would make Jesus say: "Except a man be born of the
Spirit and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the In
baptism we are washed WITH the Spirit. Ephesians 5:25, 26: "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanc tify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Philip baptized the men, women, and babies in Acts Infants, though they cannot believe, ought to be baptized. Mark.
In
baptism infants can come to God without believing. Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." subject #2 - SPRINKLING FOR BAPTISM return to top^SPRINKLING has no emblem of Christ's burial. Romans 6:4. SPRINKLING has no suggestion of your buried past. Romans 6:5. SPRINKLING has no New Testament
command to obey. Acts SPRINKLING has no New Testament precedent to imitate. Acts 8:38-39. SPRINKLING has no divine example to follow. SPRINKLING has no promise of remission for the past. SPRINKLING has no assurance of hope for the future. SPRINKLING has no divine origin for its existence. SPRINKLING
HAS 0 N L Y THE CREEDS AND TRADITIONS OF MEN FOR ITS AUTHORITY! AN INFANT IS SPRINKLED WITHOUT desire. WITHOUT faith. WITHOUT repentance. WITHOUT confession. WITHOUT love. WITHOUT expectation. WITHOUT divine authority. WITHOUT inspired example. WITHOUT consent. TO SPRINKLE AN INFANT PRESUMPTION on the part of the preacher is practiced. FORCE on the part of the parents is enlisted. REBELLION on the part of the babe Is provoked. DISOBEDIENCE on the part of all who have part in this "forced dedication" is practiced. Subject #3 - SEVEN OBJECTIONS TO DENOMINATIONAL "BAPTISM" 1. It has the wrong authority. Jesus never commanded men to be baptized into any denomination. Galatians 3:27. 2. It has the wrong subject. It is the penitent believer who is to be baptized, not the man who thinks he is already saved. 3. It has the wrong confession. Men
must confess Christ, not "feelings," if they would qualify for scriptural
baptism. Acts 4. It has the wrong purpose. It baptizes to get into a denomination instead of the church of the Lord; it baptizes "because of" remission of sins instead of "for the remission of sins. Acts 2: 38-47. 5. It has the wrong allegiance. Sectarian "baptism" bind, men to wear a denominational name; to obey and endorse a denominational creed, organization and progrkm. 6. It has the wrong order. Its order is: Repentance, faith, salvation, baptism. The Bible order is: Faith,
repentance, confession, baptism, salvation. Acts 2: 36, 38, 41; 7. It has the wrong emphasis. It attracts people to denominational names, creeds and programs instead of attracting them to the Christ, his will and his kingdom. BIRDS OF A FEATHER He who opposes baptism "for [in order to] the remission
of sins" (Acts 1. The atheists, who think baptism ridiculous and foolish. 2. The Pharisees, who rejected the counsel of God. 3. The sinners, who refuse to vow allegiance to heaven. 4. The sectarians, who make it merely a "church ordinance." 5. The hypocrites, who use it for a show. 6. The universalists, who ignore it entirely. 7. The agnostics, who just do not understand it. -from the booklet Ready Answers to Religious Errors by Williams and Dykes [copyrighted 1946]. |