The Church of Christ at Wakulla

Salvation

ONE BAPTISM 8.27.09

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4: 1-6  

The religious world debates the meanings of these truths.  Those who profess to be Christians disagree most about the “one baptism”.  The New Testament reveals 6 types of baptism during the life of Christ and 2 types after His resurrection.  A truth-seeker honestly wanting to obey the “one baptism” may be confused as to which baptism it is – sprinkling? immersion?, Holy Spirit?, confirmation of salvation?, etc.  In order to better understand God’s “one baptism” let us examine Ephesians 4: 1-6, and each type of baptism. 

In Ephesians 4: 1-6, Paul is not giving us a “unity menu” from which to select our faith and practices.  All 7 foundational truths are essential to be in “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.  Is it intellectually honest to believe there are many bodies with varying beliefs making up the “one body”? Why would one want to fellowship in any spirit other than the “one Spirit” of God?  Does our understanding of the “one hope” affect the direction of our beliefs?  Would a believer in the New Testament recognize someone other than Jesus to be their “one Lord”?  Can a person correctly state that the Bible teaches different beliefs to different people when there is only “one faith”?  Can all of the various methods and reasons for baptism practiced by the religious world today be correct when there is only “one baptism”?  Will the believer in many gods or in a god other than the God of the Bible be saved when there is only “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”?   We cannot pick and choose.

Baptisms before Jesus’ death which enacted His New Testament (or will) as law (Hebrews 9: 16-17)

Matthew 3: 11-12 [1] John baptized with water unto repentance.  One was coming (JESUS) who would baptize with the [2] Holy Spirit and [3] fire including some who heard John preach.  The description in

vs. 12 is of future events revealing the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon believers and the baptism of fire upon unbelievers as a punishment.  Acts 1: 21-22 shows the apostles had witnessed the preaching and baptizing of John.  Acts 1: 4-5 confirms that they would be “baptized by the Holy Spirit”.    

[4] Matthew 3: 13-17 John baptizing Jesus. This was not unto repentance since Jesus never sinned.  Jesus said to fulfill all righteousness just as Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).

[5] John 4: 1-2 Jesus during His ministry directed His disciples to baptize those who desired to become His disciple (follower-student).  It seems evident that this baptism was the same as John’s since the scriptures do not reveal a distinction between the two other than Jesus was directing it to be done. 

[6] Luke 12: 50 Jesus is speaking of the baptism of suffering in His trials and death upon the cross. 

Baptisms after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

[1] Matthew 28: 18-20 Jesus commands His disciples to baptize others to make them disciples.  The apostles, being led by the Holy Spirit, were teaching this baptism in Acts 2: 38; “… be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.  How the believers were baptized is not revealed, but the gift of the Holy Spirit is received in this action.  This gift is separate and apart from the “laying on of the apostles’ hands” and praying for a believer to receive the Holy Spirit, since these events are distinguished as discussed below.  Romans 8: 12-17 describes the gift of the Spirit, and the main point is that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 

[2] Acts 1: 4-8 (baptized with the Holy Spirit), Acts 2: 1-4ff (fulfilled) The 12 apostles are baptized (filled) with the Holy Spirit with visible manifestations of “power”, and miraculously speak different languages with Peter’s sermon being recorded in scripture.  This is the kingdom of God coming with “power” to the Jews.  (Acts 10: 44-48) Peter preaches to Cornelius and the other gentiles who were with him, and “the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard”.  Peter in Acts 11: 15 shows that this event was the same as the apostles experienced at the beginning of the preaching of the gospel.  This is the kingdom of God coming with “power” to the Gentiles.  In Matthew 16: 13-20 Jesus foretells of the coming of His kingdom and identifies Peter as the one who would have the “keys of the kingdom of heaven”.  Peter preached the first gospel message to the Jews first and also the Gentiles and the baptism of the Holy Spirit confirmed that this message was authorized by the power of God.  Cornelius and the other gentiles were also baptized in water.  

Some consider another aspect of Holy Spirit baptism to be found in Acts 8: 14-17.  The Greek word for “baptized” is “baptizo”, and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible gives the meaning to be “to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:- Baptist, baptism, wash”. This word is never used of these acts of the apostles that caused believers to receive “the Holy Spirit” (vs. 17), and as recorded in Acts 19: 6 the result was that “the Holy Spirit came upon them”.  The sound of rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and the miraculous gifts of languages were absent; and the purpose was different for the baptism of the apostles and later Cornelius and the gentiles gathered with him.  The apostles were given multiple gifts, signs, and manifestations in their ministries including the unique ability to pass on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 about the different gifts and manifestations of the Spirit among the Christians, and in vs. 27-30 he makes a clear distinction between the apostles and the other believers.

[3] 1 Corinthians 15: 29 “Why then are they baptized for the dead?”  It is difficult to determine exactly what this baptism is, but we can determine from the text the necessary application for our lives. {1}The context of 1 Corinthians 15 sets forth the certainty of a future resurrection of the dead, and “the baptism for the dead” is done with that belief in mind.  {2}An examination of the pronouns in this chapter will reveal the “they” of vs. 29 are distinct from all others who are mentioned in this chapter with the exception of the noun “all” in vs. 22, since that is a reference to humankind of all time.  Those who practiced “the baptism for the dead” are not the "we" and "you" whom Paul fellowships calling them “brethren” in vs. 1.  {3}God our Father (2 Timothy 3: 16-17), through the revelation of His Son Jesus by the Holy Spirit (John 16: 12-15) provides us in His word all truth necessary to serve Him.  All that we need to know about the baptism for the dead has been revealed and it is not something that Christians should practice.

The Bible makes it clear that the baptism of Acts 2: 38 is the “one baptism” that Paul is referencing in Ephesians 4: 5, because it is the only baptism all believers are to do.  It is also the only baptism after the resurrection of Jesus that is for the “remission of sins” in order for one to be saved. (Acts 8: 26-39) Philip preaches Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch.  The baptism was in water.  Philip was not an apostle so he did not lay hands on the eunuch.  The eunuch does not receive “the Holy Spirit”.  However, the eunuch received the gift of the Holy Spirit as all do who practice the “one baptism”.  (Acts 6: 1-6) Philip had been in Jerusalem with the apostles.  He was abiding in and teaching others the “doctrine of the apostles” (Acts 2: 42) taught to those who were first baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. 

God has made His will known to us.  It’s our job to seek it with a pure heart.  God’s “one baptism” covers us in our Savior’s blood reuniting us with God. What grace!  (Romans 6: 1-7, Revelation 1:4-6)~ LRW

WHAT SAVES US? 9.13.09 

This is a question that most have asked themselves who have any concern or at least a curiosity about spiritual matters.  The answers vary greatly in the teachings of the religious world, but the Bible provides this information to anyone who seeks it.  I wanted to share some of the things the Bible says we must accept in order to be saved. 

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”  James 1: 21

The implanted word (Bible) saves us.  It is the means God has chosen to reveal His plan of providing grace to us so we can be with Him eternally.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2: 9-10

Grace saves us.  Faith saves us.  We can never do enough good works to stand before God, and say, “I am saved by my works, and I do not need the grace of God to enter heaven.”  God’s grace is the essential gift that makes the revealed word meaningful to our lives.  Without His grace, faith in God would be for this life only.  Faith saves us because our faith is the recognition and acceptance of God’s grace.

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”  James 2: 21-24

Works justify (save) us.  To be justified is to be found innocent, and in this context, innocent before God of the sins we have committed.  Works would only be relevant in this life without God’s grace.  His grace gives meaning to our good works, and the effort we put forth in serving Him is recognized, judged, and as Christians, rewarded by God as one of the aspects salvation. 

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”  1 Peter 3: 21-22

Baptism saves us just as assuredly as God saved Noah and his family from certain death in the flood by protecting them in the ark.  Baptism is not a bathing ritual.  It is the way we answer (the way we respond) to God from being convicted in our conscience that we need to submit to Him, and receive His grace.

“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”  Romans 8: 23-24

Hope saves us.  To be “saved in this hope” speaks of the one hope of “the redemption of our body”.  1 Corinthians 15: 34-50 tells us that all will be resurrected to a new body that is eternal.  Our hope is that our new body will be redeemed by God, and not face torment.

“And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”  Jude 1: 22-23

We may be in a state of living where the one thing that is going to truly wake us up to our need for God is the fear of His punishment.  By fear of the eternal “fire” of hell (Matthew 10: 28-33) we are motivated to turn towards God.  As we grow in our understanding of God’s love for us our love for God will increase, and the fear of God’s punishment will decrease (1 John 4: 18-19).

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 3: 4-7

“We are saved by God, through the Holy Spirit and through Jesus Christ.  All that is God, God the Father, His Holy Spirit, and His Son Jesus Christ saves us.  We are saved by God’s kindness, love and mercy.   According to Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible, regeneration is re-creation, and renewing is to make new.  We are re-created into something new.  This is the gift of the Holy Spirit that we receive in baptism (Acts 2: 38).

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  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.  For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying “Be saved from this perverse generation.”  Acts 2: 37-40

After hearing Peter’s sermon they ask how to be saved.  Peter tells them “Repent and be baptized.”  He further exhorts them to “Be saved from this perverse generation”.  Peter told them and tells us that we must save ourselves.  God wants us to choose Him over “all filthiness and overflow of wickedness” (James 1: 21) that is the allurements of this world.  Let us choose God and live forever with Him. ~ LRW

Why Are You a Member of a Church? 3.28.10 

The word church comes from the Greek word for an assembly.  Any assembly can be a church, but why are you a member of a religious assembly?  There are several reasons people become members of a church.  Many choose to be members of a church, because it engages in entertaining activities.  Perhaps movies are shown, musical concerts and theatrical plays are performed, Andy Griffin shows are watched as the basis for teaching a moral lesson (this actually happened at a liberal Church of Christ), etc.  Others make their choice for the social benefits provided to the members.  Perhaps the members go out regularly for movies, bowling, dinners, etc.  The sole reason may be for their children to have more peers to associate with, and the opportunity to be involved in more activities with the members.  There are many churches that assemble for the purpose of making each other feel good about who they are without prompting them with a Biblical message to improve their lives.  No judgment, no consequences, no need to stop sinning.  Some people attend a particular church because that is where their friends attend.  Some attend a particular church because that is where their family attends.  When some people are asked why they attend a certain church they will say their “pastor”, “priest”, “preacher”, etc. tells them the truth.  Some people believe very firmly in the creed of a church.  Are these good reasons?

Those who were saved on the day of Pentecost “…continued-steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayers.” (Acts 2: 42)  The apostles’ received their teaching from God.

 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you* into all the truth: for* he will not speak from himself; but whatever things he hears, these he will speak and he will declare to you* the things that are to come.”  (John 16: 13) 

Acts 2: 46a reveals that their “… continuing-steadfastly with one accord in the temple…” was a means of assembling to worship in fellowship and continue learning the apostles doctrine.  The fellowship that we are to have is the Lord’s Supper. 

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a fellowship of the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 10: 16  

To willingly forsake this assembly of fellowship is a sin, and a symptom of other sins in one’s life.   

“Let us hold onto the confession of our hope unbending; for he is faithful who promised.  And let us consider one another for inciting to love and to good works; not forsaking our own gathering together, as the custom is with some, but encouraging one another, and so much more, as long as you see the day drawing near.

For if we sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, a sacrifice is left no more for us concerning sins, but a certain fearful expectancy of judgment and a zeal of fire which is about to devour the opposite side.  Anyone, rejecting the law of Moses, dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.  How much worse punishment, do you think he will be deemed worthy of, who has trampled under foot the Son of God and has counted the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified a common thing and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay.’ {Deut. 32:35-36}  And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’{Ps. 135:14}   It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10: 23-31 

The breaking of bread refers to the hospitality we are to show one another by sharing meals together, and opening our homes to one another.  

“…and breaking bread in their homes daily, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart…”  (Acts 2: 46b) 

The first question that needs to be asked is this.  Are you a member of THE church Jesus established?  If you truly became a Christian by believing in Jesus, repenting and being baptized according to biblical teachings then you were saved.  God made you a part of the spiritual body of Christ (Acts 2: 47b).  If you did not obey these commands in faith, then you did not become a Christian.  You may be attending as a member of a religious assembly, but you are not a member of the spiritual body of Christ.  Your consideration of a church should begin with a church that teaches one’s need to believe, confess, repent and be baptized for the right reasons. 

So…why are you a member of a church? ~LRW

Do You Have Salvation?    5.16.10

 

Faith and Obedience Absolutes to Being Saved

Jesus John 3: 16	Jesus’ blood, death & life  Romans 5: 7-11	Intercession of Jesus Hebrews 7: 25
Jehovah (the LORD) saves us Isaiah 45: 21	Hope Romans 8: 23-25	The Gospel 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8
Grace-Faith Ephesians 2: 8-9	Justified by works James 2: 21-24	Justified by faith Romans 5: 1-2
Baptism 1 Peter 3: 18-22	Faith, Repentance, Baptism & Ourselves Acts 2: 37-40	Confess-Endure 2 Timothy 2: 11-13

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 4: 1-7 “There is one…”

 “One baptism?”

 Which baptism is the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4: 5 commanded by the resurrected Jesus in Matthew 28: 18-20?  I believe the following passages are among the many teaching the “one baptism” we are to obey today.  Please read and see the common teachings in these passages.

Matthew 28: 18-20	Mark 16: 15-16	Acts 2: 37-41	Acts 8: 12-13
Acts 8: 29-38	Acts 10: 44-48	Acts 16: 14-15	Acts 16: 30-34
Acts 18: 17-18	Acts 22: 12-16	Romans 6: 1-7	1 Corinthians 6: 9-11
1 Corinthians 12: 13	Galatians 3: 26-28	Ephesians 4: 5	Ephesians 5: 25-27
Colossians 2: 11-14	Titus 3: 3-7	1 Peter 3: 18-22	Revelation 1: 4-6

Have you shown your love to the heavenly Father by obeying His commands so you can also be His child forever? Matthew 7: 21-23 ~ LRW