May 27, 2001 Volume 2 Number 21
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Back To “The Way”
Through Bible Authority XIII The NT Church Description: Membership We have been examining church membership for the last few weeks. To this point we have examined what those of NT times did. We have learned that God put a great deal of emphasis upon his revealed will. From the very beginning God has always communicated His express will to mankind. The New Testament was such a communication. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). Once that see (God’s Word) is heard and received it creates faith in the individual. This leads to a series of events. Once God’s Word reveals man’s condition, that we are all sinners, the person with a good and honest heart that has been affected by the teaching/preaching of God’s Word will repent. Once repentance has taken place the confession of faith is then made---all who would claim Jesus as their Lord and King makes confession that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God. This leads to the last act for church membership. Baptism. Notice some of the verses and commands given on the subject. In Mark 16:16, Jesus was giving His disciples some final instructions before He ascended into heaven. He said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” It’s hard to imagine our Lord, the master teacher, getting any clearer. For those people who believe AND are baptized will be given salvation, to those who refuse, condemnation. We have alluded to the open hearted Jews of Acts 2 on many occasions. They too heard a similar command. Peter said in Acts 2:38, “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.” Once again we see baptism emphasized. One of Christianities worst enemies was instructed in like manner. In Acts 22:16 he is told, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” From those few verses we can see that baptism is not an option. It is necessary. But what is baptism exactly? What is baptism? Let’s turn to the Bible for the answer. In Rom 6:3-8 we get a detailed description. Paul 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. 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” The answer is simple. Baptism is a burial. In fact the word itself means, immersion. The question then becomes a burial in what or immersed in what? In Acts 8:36-38 the Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip a gospel preacher were engaged in a Bible study. Let’s pick the account in verse 36, “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Clearly Bible baptism, that which is needed for church membership and salvation, is a burial in water to represent the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. It also puts in Christ, His Body where all spiritual blessing are found (Gal 3:26-27). Outside of Christ no spiritual blessings can be enjoyed, in fact, it keeps the gulf of sin intact which separates man from God (2 John 9). Finally, baptism is for the forgiveness of your sins. Let’s read Acts 2:38 again, “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.” Notice that baptism is FOR the remission of sins. To have remission is to be released, as from bondage or imprisonment, to have forgiveness and pardon of your sins. Baptism provides this great blessing for mankind. In Acts 22:16 Ananias told Paul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Notice again the purpose of baptism to wash away ones sins. This concludes the section in our study of authority referred to as “Membership.” In order to become a member of the Lord’s church where salvation is found one must hear the Word of God, believe in Christ, repent of ones sins, confess that Jesus is the Christ and be baptized for the remission of sins. Have you, in obedience, claimed your membership in the Lord’s Church?HOW TO UNDERSTAND
THE BIBLE Being able to correctly handle the Word of God is important for every Christian. Paul, in exhorting Timothy to be a workman of God, writes, "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" 2 Timothy 2:15. An important part of being a workman of God is to be able to correctly handle study, interpret, and find meaning in God's Word. First: The Bible was meant to be understood Ephesians 3:3-4; 5:17. Second: Interpreting the Scriptures is not reserved exclusively for only a priesthood or a clergy. Third: The Scriptures have a definite and specific message. They do not convey a personal and/or mystical meaning to one person and something different to another. The Bible often does require some explanation to people who are not familiar with it nor have studied it. It was not wrong for the evangelist, Philip, to explain Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian treasurer in Acts 8. It was not a sin for the Ezra and the others "readers" in the days of Nehemiah to give "the sense" of the Scriptures to the people Nehemiah 8:8. We share with you these principles for understanding the Bible: Rule 1 The Rule of Historical Background Bible students must be aware and have a knowledge of Jewish life and society at the time the statements were first made. U.S. Supreme court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes states, "... Our only interest in the past is for the light it throws upon the present." The World of Law, Vol. 2, p. 630, 1960. On opening any book in the sacred Scriptures one should consider the title; the author, the date, the place of composition, the readers for whom the book was intended; the occasion for the writing and the purpose of the book.
This rule makes it imperative that one observes the dispensation of which the Scripture speaks Ask which "age" or "time" is this book dealing. It is Patriarchal, Jewish, or Christian? Is a book, or a part of the book, like 1 & 2 Kings dealing with the united kingdom or the divided kingdom? This would determine who is meant by the term "Israel"-- whether all twelve tribes, or only the ten northern tribes. Rule 2 The Rule of Logic This rules demands that we apply the common rules of logic and/or "common sense" in understanding the scriptures Isaiah 1:18. The Bible comes to us in the form of human language, and appeals to our reason. It invites investigation, and it is to be interpreted as we interpret any other volume by the same application of the laws of language and grammar. R.A. Torry stated, "It is one of the most firmly established principles of law in England and in America that ‘a law means exactly what it says, and it to be interpreted and enforced exactly as it reads.' This is just as good a principle for interpreting the Bible as for interpreting law." Rule 3 The Rule of Definition Any study of scripture must begin with a study of words. These words must be properly defined and then used with such definition throughout.Determine whether the author is confining the definitions strictly to their literal or idiomatic meaning. Determine if the author is using a "figure of speech," or symbolism. Example: In the prophetic book of Revelation 1:1 there is the indication that the revelation is made in "signs" or symbolic language. Rule 4 The Rule of Usage This rule demands that since the Bible comes out of a Jewish setting "first" its words and idioms should be rendered according to the Hebrew usage. This rule would understand the book of Daniel in Babylonian setting, etc. Especially note the way of dating time. etc. The phrases and histories of the Testaments are not so much worth what we think of them from modern notions, but in the sense they were understood by the hearer and those actually present. Rule 5 The Rule of Context Biblical passages must be understood from their own context. Every word you read must be understood in light of the words that come before and after it. One should ask a number of questions about the context of a passage. Who is speaking? Though the author is inspired by God, he may be quoting an un-inspired source.
To whom is the passage addressed? Is this passage for general application or is it directly specifically?
Rule 6 The Rule of Precedent That demands that we must not violate the known usage of a word and invent a meaning for which there is no precedent. Example: The Jehovah Witnesses and their New World Translation frequently invent new meanings for biblical words. "only begotten" and "firstborn", etc. Nearly all false doctrines are distortions of biblical words.
Rule 7 The Rule of Unity This demands that any passage must be interpreted with reference to its significance to the whole. A difficult passage should not be construed so as to contradict another passage which is clear in meaning.For example, to interpret Acts 16:31 to mean salvation by "faith only" would contradict James 2:24-26. As difficult as it is to understand to what I Cor 15:29 is referring, it is incorrect to conclude that it is proper for one to be baptized in behalf of a dead ancestor for his salvation. This would plainly contradict other passages which teach that each one is individually responsible for his obedience 2 Cor 5:10; Romans 14:10, 12, etc. The Spirit Expressly
Says ... What Holy Spirit Baptism Is Not We have said that the Holy Spirit is a Person, and a member of the Godhead. In addition, we have looked at Holy Spirit Baptism and the two places it is recorded. Today let us look at What Holy Spirit Baptism Is Not:
In summary, the Holy Spirit came to the apostles to enable them to do what Jesus had commissioned them to do. Food For Thought “On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died.”United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland “Every Morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning, a lion wakes up, it knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter, whether you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you had better be running.” We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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