The Truth about Baptism
Be Strong, Be Well — Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Everyone must take off the colored glasses.Throw aside preconceived ideas. Forget what others have told us. Open the Bible and read it with fresh new eyes. Believe that we can understand it. It is not difficult. It will reveal the truth in simple language. Then accept what it says without fear or favor. Vow to please God in obedience to the message disregarding whatever our peers may say or do.
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
TRUTH: Belief and baptism will save. Refusing will condemn.
"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” (Romans 6:3-5).
“...buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
TRUTH: Baptism is a burial and a resurrection with Christ.
“...who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20, 21).
TRUTH: Baptism in water saves just like water saved Noah. Baptism is not the washing of the body but the cleansing of the conscience.
“So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:38–39).
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16).
TRUTH: With baptism there is a sense of urgency because it washes away sin.
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:37, 38, 41, 47).
TRUTH: Baptism is for the remission of sins, thus saving those baptized. The Lord adds the baptized/saved ones to His church. —Chris