The Significance of Baptism
(2)

 Faith in the Gospel

If one desires baptism, it signifies that he has faith in the gospel of Christ.  In Mark's version of the Great Commission, our Lord's final instructions to the future apostles before His ascension, it says, “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes [the gospel-inserted cma] and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe [the gospel-inserted cma] will be condemned” (Mk 16:15-16).

Baptism signifies faith in that gospel, in the saving power of God.  When the Lord said, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved," He meant, "He that believes what you have preached---the gospel." Paul, in Romans 1:16, said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” The gospel is the power used by God to convert people.  So, belief in this gospel to save one's soul from the guilt of sin is signified by the act of baptism.

Baptism Signifies the Means of Being "In the Body"

We learn from Eph 1:22-23 that the "body" is the church:  “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all”.  Note also 1Cor 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” So baptism signifies this relationship of being a member of His body, the church.  Through this teaching (the doctrine of Christ), leading up to his obedience, and his action of submitting to baptism as a means of becoming a part of that relationship, Paul signifies the importance of being in the body in this passage.  "By one Spirit" simply means by the instructions given by the Spirit, in obedience to His teachings.  When one is baptized into Christ, he becomes a part of that body of which Christ is the head, just as surely as my hand or my arm is a part of my body.  The body is important. Please read 1Cor 12:14-27 to find out how Christ regarded it.

Baptism Signifies Being in Christ

This point is almost parallel with being in the body, as we have discussed.  But this is a new relationship we have with Jesus Christ, and I think worthy of mention in this category. Paul shows that by the action of baptism we have this new relationship with Christ. In Gal 3:26-27 he says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The phrase “have put on” is defined as follows by Strong’s Dictionary: 1746  enduo (en-doo'-o); from 1722 and 1416 (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively). Therefore, to put on Christ is to put on His thoughts, His actions, His way of life, His doctrine. When you put on certain clothing it is for a certain reason.  Painting, garden work, going to work . . . when we put on Christ it is to live and do as He does.

Baptism Signifies a Cleansing

All of us need the cleansing power of God.  We feel unworthy, we want our sins forgiven, we want to stand justified, pure and holy, before our God. We read in Titus 3:5, “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.”

What is this "washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit"?  The answer is found in Heb 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.” This is not a physical bath for the removing of impurities from our physical bodies.  But it is an action performed by our being buried with Him by baptism into death.  As further proof, look at Acts 22:16. Paul, on his way to Damascus to persecute and imprison Christians, had an experience that resulted in his obedience to the gospel.  Ananias was sent to him by the Lord to tell him what to do.  Ananias sought him out, found a man who had acknowledged Christ, as the Lord in the way, was penitent, and to him Ananias said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Baptism, therefore, signifies a washing, a cleansing process, a cleansing of our spirits, our souls, that we may stand justified in the sight of God.

Baptism Signifies A Death:

We wonder sometimes at the omniscience of God.  What does He see in baptism that we do not see?  Much, I am sure; and He chose this action to signify these things. One of these is it that it signifies death. Romans 6:3-4 says, “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.” In this action of baptism, we contact the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed in His death.  John 19:33-34 says, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”  Christ shed His blood in His death.  He was already dead when the soldier pierced His side.  In the action of baptism, we signify His death.

   To be continued…

~Carlos Aguilar

Home and Family:

Do Not Sin Against The Child  (1)

When the brothers of Joseph journeyed to Egypt in search of grain, they never dreamed they would see their long lost brother whom they had sold into slavery many years before. Their younger brother was now second in command in Egypt and adorned in Pharaoh's royal raiment and gold chains.

While unknown to his brothers, he accused them of being spies and threw them into prison (Genesis 42). As these boys "simmered" in jail, they remembered the cruelty they had shown Joseph when he pleaded for his life. Reuben reminded them how he had warned them to "not sin against the child," but they had refused to listen (Gen. 42:22, KJV). Though it had been many years since they sold their brother, their "sin against the child" still haunted them. The lingering consequences of sin remained years after the act itself.

Parents today often sin against their own children. The effect of their sin is not always immediate. Sometimes it takes years to see the consequences of sin. But, as Paul warned the Galatians, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Esau sold his birthright for "one morsel of food" (Gen. 25:29-34). The Hebrew writer tells us when Esau wanted to inherit his father's blessing "he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears" (Heb. 12:17). Those who sin against their children will regret it later. Though rivers of water flow down their cheeks, it will be too late. 

~by David Padfield

Faithful Sayings
www.Padfield.com

Christ Came Into The World To Save Sinners 1 Tim. 1:15

Purpose of His Birth Matt. 1:21 and His death Rom. 5:8

"He was manifested to take away our sins" 1 John 3:5

He finished His work John 17:4; 19:30; Propitiation 1 John 2:2 

Curse and Effect

"When angry, count four; when very angry, swear." 
~ Mark Twain

"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth." 
~Colossians 3:8

In the Monday, January 12, 1998 edition of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, an article on the subject of Cursing appeared in the Life & Arts section. The article is a good example of unbiased reporting, as it just reports the societal trend of increased cursing and swearing, while not commenting on the appropriateness of the trend. I do not intend to be unbiased however, in commenting on the trend. The use of obscenity is condemned in scripture, and unworthy behavior for one who would please God.

One individual quoted in the article is a psychologist in Ft. Worth by the name of Richard Citrin. He said, "Clearly, the permissiveness of today's culture allows this. It's undeniable that things never said in public even a generation ago have become part of our language. I don't say that common usage makes these terms appropriate, but they are in large part accepted." He is right on in this. Common usage does not make cursing right! Common usage is characteristic of the world, not the child of God. The Bible clearly states that we are to " ... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). Christians are to " ... walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

But, why has cursing increased? Why is culture more permissive of such obscenity? According to the article Richard Tallingen, a Media scholar in New York , said, " ... it became clear that younger people, as they began to have more money to spend, liked to spend it on things that would shock their parents and teachers and ministers. So TV, music, books, all those things that help shape our culture, got racier and racier. It hasn't really stopped since." Furthermore, Toni Taylor, a fourth grade teacher in Arlington, believes that even very young children are learning to curse at home. She said, "I've had parents come to school and start swearing during conferences."

It seems that these things are cyclical in nature. No doubt the pagans of the first century were every bit as corrupt as a people as our society seems to be today. Paul spoke of them as "being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:29-32). American society today is very much characterized by the same ungodliness. In fact, if I were not aware of the date of Paul's writing, I would think this scripture to be directly pointed to our day. Paul warned Timothy of this cycle of ungodliness, and instructed him as to how to deal with it. He said in 2 Timothy 3:13-14, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of ... "

An example of these "evil men" is found in the Telegram article. A Fort Worth "poet/essayist" by the name of William Bryan Massey III is said to frequently use profanity in his writing. In fact, the article states, "Few of Massey's poems or essays could be even partially reprinted in a family newspaper, but he thinks this is a mark of distinction, not dishonor." Notice his rationale for using such obscenity, "I choose the words that best express the idea or feeling I'm trying to get across to the reader. Some people say that poems or whatever could be just as good without [obscenities]. But when I'm using the language, I want to take advantage of every word." Such absurd drivel would be laughable if it were not such a sad commentary on our times.

Educated people have always considered obscenity the haven of the coarse, uneducated and immoral man. It is the language of the drunken sailor, not the poet; of the tramp, not the businessman; of the law breaker, not the law maker. If that is now changing, we are saddened. However, we as Christians must refuse to be influenced by this ungodliness. We are called to a higher standard. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

~by Stan Cox

Some of you may have noticed we are currently running short articles on the “church” page of the Saturday paper. This is another effort to reach out to our community. We all need to be prepared to meet and greet any visitors and make them feel welcome.  Ads and articles can’t save souls, that’s OUR JOB.

RDT,sr