The Significance Of Baptism
(3)

Baptism Signifies A Burial
The Bible abounds in analogies, like-nesses.  We draw pictures from many sources.  This is one of them.  When a person dies, he is buried.  When Christ died, He was buried.  When we die to sin, we are buried in baptism. There is a further analogy in this same picture that we will mention later, but for our point at this time we stress the verse again. Romans 6:4, “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.” We die to sin when we, through repentance, determine out future course of action, are buried. The old man of sin is dead. He must be buried. In the watery grave of baptism we see the analogy perfectly portrayed. Notice the picture of Rom 6:5-8. “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Picture with me a man who is laying a foundation for a house. He builds a form for that foundation and pours the concrete.  When it hardened, he removes the forms, and has the finished product, exactly like the form. So it is with this analogy.

Baptism Signifies A Resurrection:
To complete the picture given let us also read verse 3 along with verse 4 of Romans. This will make the picture complete. The whole gospel, the facts of the gospel, is preached in these two verses, namely the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ. And we, by submitting to baptism, signify all phases of that gospel. In this portion, the resurrection, we know that by the power of God, and His victory over Satan's power, Christ was raised from that tomb. We signify, in conforming to this analogy by baptism, that we are raised from that watery grave of baptism to walk in newness of life. We become a new creature. This agrees with the idea of our receiving a washing of regeneration, or our being cleansed from the guilt of sins. As Jesus Christ arose from the tomb to die no more, we arise from our grave as new creatures in Christ, cleansed from sin. But these actions are not the whole of being a child of God. This merely begins a life of action. We are now new creatures, and begin our service to God here.

Baptism Signifies Nobler Affections:
The action of baptism sets us on higher plane of living. Our affections are now set on better, nobler, more wonderful things than the lower, earthly, degrading things of our past lives. We find that now, since we have become children of God, have been raised from the dead, that we desire to seek better things. In Col 3:1-3 it says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our act of baptism, which signified the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, now signifies our new aspirations for serving God faithfully in this life.

Baptism Signifies Being in the Family of God:
Being in the church, the family of God is not something that men decide.  We do not "join it”, as one would some organization of a worldly nature. In becoming a member of this family, we attain a relationship with God, each of us, by obeying the gospel.  It is a relationship by virtue of the fact that you have been taught the truth, and have obeyed it from the heart. Then God performs the action of adding, putting you into this body of people that make up the saved of the universe, the family of God.  Man has nothing to do with adding. Though man is active in obedience, and has done that which God has authorized, God is the only One who performs the act of addition. A person will not be voted upon by men to see if you are a candidate for baptism or for church membership. God is the One who decides, with infallible knowledge, if you are deserving of fellowship in this family. We will find our authority for this in Acts 2.  After Peter's sermon, 3,000 souls obeyed the gospel. Note Verse 41, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Now verse 47, “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Baptism Signifies Salvation:
The apostle Peter, in describing baptism in a likeness of Noah and the flood, said, 1 Pet 3:20-21, “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.” Jesus Christ, was buried, and was raised again.  When we go through this form of teaching, we are raised to walk in newness of life with Him.  So baptism has its part in saving one from the guilt of his sins just as much as any other commandment the Lord has given. Baptism is the beginning of a new life; won’t you join the many others who have given themselves over to Christ?

Carlos Aguilar

Home and Family:

Do Not Sin Against The Child  (2)

[From Part 1] 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).

Corrective Discipline
When parents withhold corrective discipline, they sin against their children. Solomon said "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:24). This is a very strong statement, but we have God's assurance it is true. Parents who do not discipline their children hate them! Many parents think letting a child "do his own thing" is healthy. God says the parents are guilty of child neglect.

One application of this can be made in the public assembly. In nearly every congregation there are children who are unruly during worship services. Some parents claim they love their children too much to spank them. The truth of the matter is they are showing hatred towards their own flesh and blood. When a child disrupts the public worship service, they need to be taken out and disciplined immediately (whether they are a toddler or a teenager). It might take a few times before the child catches on to the "cause and effect," but in time they will learn if the discipline is prompt, loving and consistent.

Solomon also admonished parents to "chasten your son while there is hope, and do not let set your heart on his destruction" (Prov. 19:18). He gave parents hope when he said, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6). Timothy is a great example of one who was properly trained as a child, and did not depart from God's way (2 Timothy 1:5) z

~by David Padfield

SEASONED SPEECH

The story is told of two preachers trying out for the same preaching job in a certain congregation. On one Sunday, one of the preachers came and preached a sermon of hell and how many of this particular congregation would go there if they did not "straighten up and fly right." On the very next Sunday, the other preacher came, and in like manner, preached a sermon on hell and how many of this particular congregation would go there if they did not change their ways. Both of these men preached on hell and both did a very fine job; but the later of the two was chosen for the job. The other preacher who was not chosen asked the leaders in this certain congregation why they had chosen the one man over him. They replied, "Both of you preached a great sermon on hell, but you seemed to be glad we were going to hell, while the other preacher seemed sad we were headed that direction."

Both of these preachers proclaimed the same message – both preached truth, but both were received differently. I am sure we all realize that we can mean to say one thing, but it can be taken to mean something else by the way it is said. For example, I could tell my sweet wife, "Honey, when I look at you time stands still." My wife would be very appreciative of such a comment. But what if I said the same thing in this fashion, "Honey, you’ve got a face that would stop a clock." Needless to say, my wife would not be pleased with such a statement. The message in the two statements is very similar, yet, for one statement I would be hugged and for the other I would be "clobbered!"

Consider seriously these words of the apostle Paul, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one" (Col. 4:6). This exhortation instructs us in two vital areas in our communication with one another.

In the first place, as we communicate with one another our speech must "be always with grace." In other words, anytime we desire to successfully communicate to one another we should be kind, gracious, and courteous. If we are mean spirited and vicious in our conversation we will likely not accomplish the desired result. To have speech full of grace is to show forth the principles of Christianity and our genuine piety of heart that will in turn make us mild, courteous, agreeable and polite in our conversation with one another.

Paul also says that our speech should be "seasoned with salt." Food, when seasoned with salt, becomes pleasant and palatable for our partaking. Likewise, our speech should be arranged in such a way so as not to be unpleasant, course or unwholesome. It is important for us, then, to realize that we should want to say things in a way that will do the most good. We need give more serious thought to our words.

Paul also said "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear" (Eph. 4:29). One "sure fire" way to help us know what and how to say something is to consider whether or not what we are saying will edify. Paul tells us that the main purpose behind our ability to communicate is to uplift and encourage one another. Therefore, how we say something is very important in getting our desired message across to one another.

In religion, or in any thing for that matter, speaking the truth is a must! But we must also realize that many will not listen or will be "turned off" because of our speech not being "seasoned with salt." May be never, Never, NEVER compromise the truth, but may we never, Never, NEVER speak until we consider the best way something should be said. That is, "know how ye ought to answer every man."

~ By Tom Moore

Have You Insured Your Soul ?

A little boy once asked his father this heart-searching question: "Daddy, do you have your soul insured?" His father inquired what made him ask such a question and what he meant by it. The child replied, "I heard the preacher at church last night say that the soul is worth more than all the world, and I heard you tell Uncle Tom this morning that his house is worth too much for him not to carry insurance on it. I was just wondering if you had insured your soul."

This little boy was not old enough to understand all about when and how souls are really insured, but he was sharp enough to put two and two together and realize that insuring one's soul must surely be important. He father had taught him that one should insure his valuables, and the preacher had taught him that the soul is the most valuable of valuables.   

What kind of answer would you have given if that little boy had been your son?

You realize the importance of carrying insurance to protect you and your loved ones against the loss of your valuables. Your house represents a sizeable investment and you carry insurance to protect you in case of an accident. You keep your health insurance premiums paid up to protect you from having to pay a huge hospital bill in case you get sick. You pay life insurance premiums to protect your family's security in case you are no longer around to provide for them. Yes, your house, car, business, health and life are important to you, and you think they are too valuable for you to fail to carry insurance on them.

"For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26. Do you have your soul insured? Have you obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ to have your sins forgiven and to be added to the Lord's church? Are you living right should you die tonight? Is it well with your soul?    

~James E. Cooper

Sentence Sermons

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.
~Theodore Roosevelt

 Quit trying to see how close you can live to the world and still be saved. It is time to get the sin out of your life.