The Bias Against Baptism by Jeff Smith
(Reprinted from the on-line edition of The Watchman Magazine,
http://www.watchmanmag.com/)
In a recent exchange between a Christian evangelist and a Baptist "pastor," the latter stated that anything one needs to do in order to be saved is a work, and thus nullifies grace.
His Calvinistic "faith only" doctrine is coming back to bite him. Surely, he will admit that one needs to believe in order to be saved. Is belief a work that nullifies grace? Some of Christ's followers asked him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent'" (John 6:28-29).
But the Calvinist will also agree that a little confession is good for the soul. He submits to Paul's teaching in Romans 10:9, which demands that oral confession, precede salvation: "[I]f you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus ... you will be saved." The minimal effort required to articulate such a confession as the Ethiopian eunuch made in Acts 8:37 is a facet of faith, the Calvinist argues and thus is not really a work. Oh?
What then of repentance? Must one repent of sins in order to be saved? That is, must he be converted from the error of his way (Acts 3:19)? The Calvinist will admit that he must repent of his sins, but this too is relegated to "a feature of faith" and not really a separate consideration that we might label a work. But anyone who has witnessed a person repenting of alcoholism or any sin for which he has a particular affinity will quickly affirm that such requires diligent effort (Philippians 2:12-13).
If the Calvinist can accept that faith, confession and repentance
are necessary to salvation, why is he biased against baptism?
Even if he were to reason about baptism as he has concerning these
other terms, would he not arrive at the conclusion that baptism
is as necessary a "facet of faith" as confession and
repentance?
How can he examine Acts 2:38 ("Repent and let everyone of
you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins..."), and accept repentance while rejecting baptism?
Recently, this writer was involved in an Internet discussion with another Calvinist. He raised the possibility that I was preaching "another gospel" by espousing the necessity of baptism.
Based on what Christ said about baptism in Mark 16:16 - "He
who believes and is baptized will be saved" - I drew him
the following familiar chart:
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"He who believes and is baptized will be saved"
The Calvinist says, "He who believes is saved and then can
be baptized."
The Catholic says, "He who cannot yet believe and is baptized
anyway will be saved."
The atheist says, "He who believes and is baptized will not
be saved."
The universal salvationist says, "He who does not believe
and is not baptized will be saved."
I have said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
Who is preaching another gospel?
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A mountain of evidence exists in the scriptures to suggest that
baptism is a necessary precedent to salvation:
* In the great commission, Christ commanded the apostles to baptize
believers as they converted them (Matthew 28:18-20).
* Paul appealed to the imagery of Christ's death and resurrection
to teach the importance of baptism (Romans 6:3-4).
* Peter taught that salvation is in Christ (Acts 4:12) and Paul
taught that one gets in Christ by baptism (Galatians 3:27).
* Every record of conversion in the book of Acts includes the
immediate baptism of the believer.
* Peter taught that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:20-21), not baptism
alone, but immersion in water has its place as surely as belief,
repentance and confession.
* James argues that faith alone cannot save us (2:14, 24).
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The Baptist will argue that baptism is only necessary to gain admission to the Baptist church. To him, it takes more to be a Baptist than to be a Christian. And it is possible to be saved before and without becoming a Baptist, which renders the Baptist church unnecessary to salvation.
In fact, baptism upon a confession of faith brings conversion to fruition and automatically places one in the church for which Jesus died (Acts 2:47). Paul called this assembly the church of Christ in Romans 16:16 and it is purely necessary to the scheme of salvation as the household of God in which the redeemed dwell while on Earth.
We Shall Reap If We Do Not Loose Heart by W. Frank Walton
(wfwalton@juno.com)
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9)
In context, Paul deals with giving to help support teachers and preachers of the word (6:6) and sowing to the Spirit in spiritual work habits (6:8). Sometimes we become tired of trying, because we may be discouraged by short-term lack of results or the difficulty of our tasks. We may not be able to do much, but we can at least serve God. By faith in the Lord, that He is not unmindful of our efforts, we can do what we can, where we are, with what we have. Spiritual efforts in God's work, day by day, can and will have eternal influence.
Fellow preacher and friend, Sam Fowler, conveyed a remarkable illustration of this in a story of a B-17 bomber that flew a bombing mission over Germany in the latter days of WWII. The plane was hit several times by shells and flak, with some of the hits directly in the fuel tank. Amazingly, the bomber did not explode. When it landed, eleven unexploded twenty millimeter shells were taken out of the fuel tank! The shells were dismantled, and to the amazement of everyone, all were empty of explosives. Inside one shell was a note written in Czech. Translated, it read, "This is all we can do for you now". A member of the Czech underground, working in a German munitions factory, had omitted the explosives in at least eleven of the twenty-millimeter shells on his assembly line. The worker must have wondered often if the quiet work he was doing to subvert the Nazi war effort was going to make any difference whatsoever to the outcome of the war. In the 10 men on that bomber, his quiet, courageous work did make a difference.
As we learn in Jesus feeding the 5,000, with the Lord, little is much (Matt 14:15-21). Many only fail because they stop trying. Working in spiritual hope delivers us from the despair that nothing we do matters. It enables us to tackle even the most menial tasks with enthusiasm. Writing a note, making the phone call or going to visit a soul in need of encouragement or admonition can mean so much. I remember after my dad died over 3 years ago, that I counted each one of the sympathy cards I had received and I thanked God for everyone who took time to write a comforting note.
Yes, God can use little things to make a big difference. God sees everything we do for Him, even in secret, and will one-day reward our loyal labor before all the glorious angels of heaven (Matt 6:4). Today, may the hope of God's certain reward motivate us to faithful service.
Husband's Duties by Andrew Mitchell (andrewm@wnclink.com)
Leave your Father and Mother and be joined to your wife (Mt. 19:5). To "leave" is to "leave behind" and "depart" from the bond of your parents. To "cleave" is to "stick like glue."
Be the head as Christ is head over the church and savior of the body (Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 11:3). As "head", Christ is the one in authority, the one who leads and supports, the one whose word stands supreme. As "savior", he is the protector and provider, the great sacrifice, and the mediator on our behalf.
Provide for those of your household (1 Tim. 5:8). The man who does not provide for his own is not a man.
Love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her (Eph. 5:25). Jesus is the greatest example for his sacrificial love. Your wife will delight to submit to a man who loves like that.
Live with your wives in an understanding way, giving her honor as the weaker vessel (1 Pet. 3:7). If you complain that you don't understand your wife, you better learn, because God commands you to! She deserves honor.
Do not be bitter against your wife (Col. 3:19). As with the previous point, this involves the fair treatment your wife deserves.
Render to your wife the affection due her (1 Cor. 7:3). You are obligated, among other things, to gratify her sexual needs and desires. Many a marriage could've been saved if this was practiced.
Don't deprive your wife of your body, for it belongs to her (1 Cor. 7:4-5). To fail to pay your conjugal obligations to your wife is to steal and rob what is due her.
Don't provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Be fair, just, and honest. And don't leave all the training up to your wife, for that is your responsibility.
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