tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post1202068614472954635..comments2024-03-29T04:31:15.219-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: The importance of baptism. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-76398530202792108672014-11-10T07:39:34.204-06:002014-11-10T07:39:34.204-06:00THE BAPTISM OF JOHN VERSUS CHRISTIAN BAPTISM BY ...THE BAPTISM OF JOHN VERSUS CHRISTIAN BAPTISM BY STEVE FINNELL<br />POINT: Those who reject the Scriptures concerning the purpose of Christian baptism, readily accepts the Biblical account as to the purpose of water baptism performed by John the Baptist.<br /><br />Christian Baptism: Men are told to believe in Jesus Christ, repent, and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of their sins and they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />Mark 16:16 He who has believed and who has been baptized shall be saved..<br />Acts 2:38..."Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br /> In Christian baptism men are clothed with Christ.<br />Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.<br /> <br /><br />John's Baptism: Men are told to repent and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of their sins and to believe in Jesus who was to come. (The Holy Spirit had yet been given).<br /><br />Luke 3:3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;<br />Acts 19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."<br /><br />Christian baptism follows believing in Jesus, and repentance, (repentance means to make the commitment to turn away from sin and turn toward God).<br /><br />The baptism of John followed repentance, (resolving to sin no more).<br /><br />Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.<br /><br />If the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God's purpose by failing to be baptized by John the Baptist; what will be the consequences for those who reject the baptism commanded by Jesus?<br /><br />Did you ever notice that the proponents of the "faith only" doctrine no not say that "for" in Luke 3:3 means "because of"?<br /><br />John's baptism was not because their sin were already forgiven. Christian baptism preached on the Day of Pentecost was not because their sins were already forgiven. (Acts 2:38)<br /><br />Luke 3:7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.<br /><br />John's baptism in water was essential to spare them of the wrath to come.<br /><br />Christian baptism in water is essential to spare us all, of the wrath to come.(Mark 16:16...baptized shall be saved....)<br /><br />The baptism of John became obsolete on the Day of Pentecost.<br /><br />CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS AVAILABLE UNTIL JESUS RETURNS.<br /><br />YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.comSteve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863026367048527526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-70980212153027423712014-07-29T15:09:48.777-05:002014-07-29T15:09:48.777-05:00When the Church was born, in response to the guilt...When the Church was born, in response to the guilt-stricken people’s question about what they should do, Peter said, Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”<br />But there is so much more to the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch. Here was a non-Jew reading Isaiah. It is likely that this had not been his first trip to Jerusalem, because according to Jewish tradition, a student of Torah did not read Isaiah until he had read Moses, the Pentateuch. It is obvious that he yearned to be able to become part of the people who worshipped the God of Israel, but he knew it was impossible. He had read Deuteronomy 23:1, “No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord.” Yet he continued to read God’s word and make pilgrimages to the city of God. He was reading Isaiah 53:7 when Phillip appeared. When Phillip had finished proclaiming “the good news of Jesus” (the Gospel, Acts 8:35), the Eunuch asked with trepidation, “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” It never occurred to him that he might not have had enough instruction to be baptized. He was thinking, “is this again only for everybody else but not for me?” Therefore, when he “went away rejoicing” after Phillip had baptized him and left him, it was a special joy of one who had been an outcast, who had no right to claim a portion in the inheritance of the people of God, but who, unexpectedly, had been “admitted to the assembly of the Lord.”<br />It was a long way home. No doubt, after a while he again took up his Isaiah scroll. Did he at some point wonder whether his meeting with Phillip, what Phillip had taught him, and his baptism were just a dream? Were they legitimate? Having finished Isaiah 53, it was not long before he came to Isaiah 56:4, “… and do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.” We cannot begin to imagine his joy.<br />Nobody is excluded from becoming a child of God. That is what this event proclaims.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-19361089077225890692014-07-29T06:41:36.511-05:002014-07-29T06:41:36.511-05:00I honestly do not know why any orthodox Christian ...I honestly do not know why any orthodox Christian would be surprised at the current trends regarding Baptism and these Protestant gatherings seeing as how they also reject the clear Word regarding the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. The best, perhaps, one might say is at least they're consistent -- in their opposition to the Sacraments, that is. Sad and tragic, if not downright perilous, indeed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com