THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES and CHURCHES OF CHRIST
Christian Military Fellowship
Fred's Facts 8 |
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THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES and CHURCHES OF CHRISTChristian Military Fellowship
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Fred's Facts includes Bible studies, Christian history studies, and hopefully provocative discussion of Bible-based subjects of interest to servicemen and women. This page also includes offers of free Bible study materials and will include many other features, as we develop them in the months ahead. Feedback on these studies from our readers is encouraged! Also, suggestions from readers on subjects to be included in these studies and discusssions are welcome. Messages should be sent to Fred at cmf@cncnet.com! Following is our eighth study: |
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One of the most misunderstood Bible subjects in today's Christian world is that of Baptism. Various church groups disagree on the Method of baptism, on who is Qualified to be baptized, and on the Purpose of Baptism. There are so many opinions on these subjects that it is a wonder that a non-Christian is able to sort out all these opinions and make a decision to be baptized! It is NOT that the Bible isn't clear on the subject of Baptism. In fact, it could not be clearer. The problem is that MAN'S OPINIONS about Baptism have for the most part replaced the BIBLE'S WORDS about Baptism. Each denomination passes on its human opinions from one generation to the next and few people ever sit down and study with an open mind what the BIBLE really says on Baptism! 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (NIV) The KJV says, "rightly dividing the word of truth." God has entrusted us with His Word. It is our responsibility to handle it---divide it---interpret it---correctly, without any human additions or subtractions. We must learn to interpret Bible passages in CONTEXT with the verses that precede and follow them. And we must learn to interpret Bible passages so that they HARMONIZE with other passages in the Bible on the same subject. But we must also come to understand WHY some church groups interpret certain Bible passages incorrectly. Only by understanding the true SOURCE of the error being made, can we lead others to the truth. And in order to understand the source of such errors, we must understand the HISTORY of the error's creation. That is why knowledge of Church history is a MUST for every serious Bible student! |
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Church groups disagree on a number of things about Baptism. The Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists SPRINKLE those being baptized. The Baptists, Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and many Pentecostal churches TOTALLY IMMERSE. The same church groups also differ on who is an appropriate CANDIDATE for Baptism. The first group baptizes BABIES, while the second group baptizes only REPENTANT BELIEVERS. The reasons for these differences would fill several studies themselves. But what I want to look at in this study is the reasons why church groups differ on the PURPOSE of Baptism. First, we are going to examine the purpose of Baptism as it is clearly revealed in the Scriptures. Second, we are going to discuss what the writings of church leaders reveal about what the church believed about the purpose of baptism from the time of the Apostles to the 15th century. Get your Bible out! We are going to look at the most important Scriptures dealing with the PURPOSE of Baptism: |
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| "First, read Matt. 28:18-20. This is one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before his ascension into heaven. In verse 19, Jesus says, "Therefore go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In this passage, Baptism is clearly something that must be done to EVERYONE WHO BECOMES A DISCIPLE of Jesus---a Christian. Jesus also makes it clear that Baptism is to be part of the process that MAKES a person a disciple---a CHRISTIAN. |
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| Now, read Mark 16:15-16. In another of Jesus' last appearances to His apostles, He says, "Whoever believes AND IS BAPTIZED shall be saved." It does NOT say that whoever believes and does nothing about it is saved. This verse clearly says that faith AND Baptism are BOTH requirements for salvation. It does NOT say that we are saved by faith ALONE and that AFTER we are saved, THEN we must be baptized. |
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| Next, read John 3:1-5. Here Jesus tells Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom of God you must be "born again." He goes on to explain that being born again involves being "born of WATER and the Spirit." To be "born again," we must be "born of WATER"---be BAPTIZED---and we must be "born of the Spirit"---receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Since these two requirements are in the SAME sentence---connected by the word "AND"---and since Baptism is mentioned FIRST---it clearly cannot be of LESS importance than being "born of the Spirit." There can be no question that to be "born again"---be saved---WE MUST BE BAPTIZED. |
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Now, read Acts 2:36-41. On the Day of Pentecost, when Peter convinced 3000 people that they had put the Christ---the Messiah---to death, the now believing people asked the Apostles (verse 37), "Brothers, WHAT SHALL WE DO?" Peter told them (verse 38) to (1) repent and (2) be BAPTIZED. And they were to "repent and be Baptized FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS" (KJV: "REMISSION OF SINS"). There could be no clearer statement that the purpose of Baptism is the REMISSION OF SINS. The text does NOT say, "Repent for the forgiveness of sins and THEN be baptized. In this passage, Faith, Repentance, AND BAPTISM are clearly ALL REQUIREMENTS we must meet if we are to be forgiven of our sins. And, if our sins are unforgiven UNTIL we are baptized, how can it be said that we are "saved" BEFORE Baptism as many denominations say we are? This verse makes it abundantly clear that BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION. |
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| Next, read Acts 22:12-16. At Paul's encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, he was blinded and told to go to Damascus. A Christian named Ananias was told by the Lord in a vision to go to Paul. GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, Ananias tells Paul, "Get up, BE BAPTIZED AND WASH YOUR SINS AWAY, calling on His name." Even though the Lord had come to Paul on the road and told him he had been chosen to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 26:15-18), HIS SINS WERE NOT YET FORGIVEN! That didn't happen UNTIL he was baptized. This passage says that BAPTISM WILL WASH OUR SINS AWAY. How then can it be said that we are "saved" BEFORE Baptism? If we believe the Scriptures, we can't! |
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| Now, read 1 Peter 3:18-21. Here is one more crystal clear passage. Peter says, "Baptism now saves you." It doesn't save you by itself. Baptism "saves you by the resurrection of Christ." Without Jesus' death and resurrection, Baptism would be useless. But with it, BAPTISM DOES SAVE YOU! |
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There are several more passages in the New Testment which clearly support the idea that the purpose of Baptism is remission of sins: Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:9-12, and Titus 3:4-6. Please take the time to read them now. The total witness of these 12 Scriptures makes it absolutely clear that Baptism IS for FORGIVENESS OF SINS and that Baptism is NOT just something you are required to do AFTER you have been forgiven. Let me say it one more time: BAPTISM IS FOR REMISSION OF SINS! |
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| Now let's take a quick look at what church leaders wrote about this subject during the first 15 centuries of the church. Justin Martyr (110-165 A.D.) was put to death for his faith and our English word "martyr" is derived from his name. Martyr writes that candidates for baptism "are brought by us where there is water and THEY ARE REGENERATED. For they then receive the WASHING WITH WATER." He says that "we have learned FROM THE APOSTLES THIS REASON" for Baptism, that is, "IN ORDER THAT WE MAY OBTAIN IN THE WATER THE REMISSION OF SINS." So Justin Martyr confirms that the APOSTLES taught that BAPTISM IS FOR REMISSION OF SINS! |
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| Tertullian (145-220 A.D.) wrote, "Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, BY WASHING AWAY THE SINS OF OUR EARLY BLINDNESS, we are SET FREE and ADMITTED INTO ETERNAL LIFE." The baptismal waters, he says, WASH AWAY DEATH and GIVE LIFE. "The act of Baptism is carnal, in that we are plunged in water, but the EFFECT IS SPIRITUAL, in that WE ARE FREED FROM OUR SINS." So Tertullian confirms that BAPTISM WASHES AWAY SINS! |
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| Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386 A.D.) gave this charge to candidates for Baptism: "Great is the Baptism that lies before you: a RANSOM to captives: a REMISSION OF offenses; a DEATH OF sin; a NEW-BIRTH OF the soul; . . . a CHARIOT TO Heaven; . . . a WELCOME INTO the Kingdom; the GIFT OF adoption!" So Cyril of Jerusalem confirms very repetitiously that BAPTISM IS FOR REMISSION OF SINS! |
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| Augustine (354-430 A.D.) is one of the most revered theologians in Church history, revered by both the Roman Catholic Church and by Martin Luther, the greatest leader of the Protestant Reformation. Augustine wrote that Baptism is "the sacrament of REDEMPTION." It "BRINGS SALVATION." We are "SAVED BY BAPTISM." "The salvation of man is EFFECTED IN BAPTISM." He also refers to the "APOSTOLIC TRADITION, by which the Churches of Christ maintain it to be an inherent principle, that WITHOUT BAPTISM IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY MAN TO ATTAIN TO SALVATION and everlasting life." So Augustine strongly confirms that Baptism BRINGS SALVATION and IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SAVED WITHOUT IT! |
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| Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 A.D.) is considered to be the leading theologian in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. He wrote, "But for this end is Baptism conferred on a man, that BEING REGENERATED THEREBY, HE MAY BE INCORPORATED IN CHRIST," and "WITHOUT BAPTISM THERE IS NO SALVATION FOR MEN." So Thomas Aquinas strongly confirms that Baptism is the act which INCORPORATES US INTO CHRIST and that WITHOUT BAPTISM THERE IS NO SALVATION! |
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Martin Luther (1483-1546 A.D.) is the man most responsible for the Protestant Reformation. He championed the doctrine of Justification by Faith as opposed to the Works Justification of the Roman Catholic Church of his day. Even so, Luther did NOT downplay the importance of Baptism. In his "Small Catechism," in answer to the question, "What gifts or benefits does Baptism bestow?," Luther says, "IT EFFECTS FORGIVENESS OF SINS." Also: "THROUGH BAPTISM (the sinner) IS BATHED IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST and IS CLEANSED FROM SINS." So Luther, the champion of Justification by Faith, states firmly that BAPTISM EFFECTS FORGIVENESS OF SINS and CLEANSES US FROM SINS! This is just a small sampling of the writings of Christian leaders over the first 15 centuries of the church. But it is representative of the entire body of writing from those centuries possessed by us today. THE OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS OF THE CHURCH FOR ITS FIRST 15 CENTURIES WAS THAT BAPTISM IS THE TIME WHEN GOD BESTOWS UPON THE PENITENT, BELIEVING SINNER THE BENEFITS OF THE REDEEMING WORK OF CHRIST. This is the doctrine of Baptism found in the New Testament and it was the virtually UNANIMOUS view of the Church as a whole for more than 1500 years! |
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However, in spite of 15 centuries of Christian scholarship and the New Testament itself, some of the largest Protestant denominations today do NOT hold this biblical view of Baptism. Many are "FAITH ONLY" and look at Baptism as merely something Christians are commanded to do and NOT something which is essential for salvation. What could have caused such an incredible thing to happpen? What could have caused the majority of Protestant churches to abandon the 1500-year Church consensus that Baptism is for Forgiveness of Sins? The answer is found in the teachings of two of the most influential leaders of the Protestant Reformation---Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin. But I'm going to save that discussion for our next Bible study, Fred's Facts #9---"Baptism for Remission of Sins---a Lost Doctrine is Found!" Anyone wishing to explore this subject further should consult "Baptism and the Remission of Sins," edited by David Fletcher, College Press Publishing Co., Box 1132, Joplin, MO, and "Baptism, a Biblical Study," by Jack Cottrell, College Press, Joplin, MO. The Fletcher book contains extensive foot-notes on the original documents quoted in this study. |
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| Fred invites you to send him some feedback about this Bible Study. Did you agree with the conclusions? Are other conclusions more appropriate, in your opinion? Did you find this Bible study useful? Did it provide you information you didn't already possess? What additional information would you have liked to have seen included? Will you continue to read future studies? Comments and questions may be sent to Fred at PO Box 2408, Oroville, CA 95965, or E-mailed to cmf@cncnet.com. |