| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Dwight Mckinney" |
| Date: |
22 Nov 2003 10:45:28 AM |
| Object: |
CAN YOU SAY ONE BAPTISM? |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0046_01C3B0EE.20A9A680
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Blank
"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
Baptism
by John David Clark, Sr.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the =
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be =
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mk.16:15-16
"...baptism doth also now save us..." 1Pet.3:21
From these scriptures, and others like them, we see that salvation =
will be given only to those who have been baptized! Let this unshakable =
biblical truth echo in the corridors of your spirit and mind. Without =
baptism, there is no hope of salvation. With that revelation, one is =
confronted with an obvious question: Is the baptism which we must =
receive a baptism with water or is it the baptism of the holy Spirit?=20
The earliest church, being exclusively Jewish, practiced two =
baptisms. They baptized with John the Baptist's baptism of water, =
telling those who humbled themselves to this divinely ordained baptism =
to expect to receive Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. They followed the =
pattern set by John, who told those whom he baptized, "I indeed baptize =
you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose =
shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy =
Ghost and with fire" (Lk.3:16). These two baptisms, John's and Jesus', =
are the only two baptisms which God has ever ordained.
John's Baptism
John's baptism was not simply a baptism in water. Without John's =
message of a mightier One coming with a mightier baptism, water baptism =
is nothing more than a useless soaking. John's baptism always included =
an exhortation to receive the holy Ghost baptism; his message and his =
baptism were two parts of one act. Twelve men in Ephesus thought they =
had received John's baptism, but because they had not heard about the =
holy Ghost, the apostle Paul disagreed. He explained to those =
misinformed disciples that "John verily baptized with the baptism of =
repentance, SAYING..." (Acts 19:4). So we, with Paul, must conclude that =
even though they had been baptized with water, they had not really =
received John's baptism, for they had not been told to expect the holy =
Ghost baptism. John's message about the holy Ghost was as much a part of =
his baptism as was the water. Those twelve Ephesians had been taught by =
Apollos, a very learned and God-fearing man, who himself knew nothing of =
the holy Ghost baptism. When two of Paul's friends explained to Apollos =
"the way of God more perfectly", he exhibited a noble and godly attitude =
by humbling himself to the "more perfect way" of life in the Spirit =
(Acts 18:24-28). His first concern was not for his reputation as a great =
teacher of the Scriptures; rather, his first concern was to do the will =
of God. What a great example this Apollos was for us all!=20
Another overlooked truth concerning John's baptism was that it had =
to be earned. John was not a spiritual harlot, taking in anyone who =
wanted to join his cause. Receiving his baptism was an honor; it was not =
something that a person could receive simply by deciding that he wanted =
it. One had to repent of the evil he had done; he had to confess and =
turn from his evil ways. Only then would John baptize him. When some =
unrepentant souls dared to come to John to be baptized, the man of God =
was harsh: O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the =
wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance... =
(Lk.3:7-8; Mt.3:7-8). However, when sincere souls asked what to do so =
that he would baptize them, "He answered and said unto them, `He that =
hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath =
meat, let him do likewise.' Then came also the publicans to be baptized, =
and said unto him, `Master, what shall we do?' And he said unto them, =
`Exact no more than that which is appointed you.' And the soldiers =
likewise demanded of him, saying, `And what shall we do?' And he said =
unto them, `Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be =
content with your wages'" (Lk.3:7-14).=20
So, there was a price to be paid if one hoped to be baptized by =
John, not a price of money but a price of humility and faith. Long ago, =
Isaiah had spoken of this invisible currency of the heart when he =
proclaimed, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he =
that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Buy wine and milk without =
money and without price" (Isa.55:1). The blessings of the Lord are =
indeed free; but no one receives them who does not pay His price.
The third truth concerning John's baptism which must be seen, if =
one would rightly understand baptism, is that no one but Jews were =
allowed to receive it. John, like Jesus, was sent only to the house of =
Israel. Concerning his commission from God, John said, when Jesus came =
to him at the Jordan River, "This is he of whom I said, `After me cometh =
a man which is preferred before me', for he was before me. And I knew =
him not. But that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I =
come baptizing with water" (Jn.1:30-31).=20
These then are the three indispensable elements of John's baptism: =
a.. It was for the circumcised [Jews] only.=20
b.. It was given only to Jews who truly repented.=20
c.. It was given with a message of Jesus' baptism of the Spirit =
which should follow.
If any one of these three elements is changed or missing, John's =
baptism is not being administered.=20
On the day of Pentecost, Peter appealed to a multitude of devout =
Jews to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus =
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy =
Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Like John, Peter pleaded with his fellow Jews to =
repent and be baptized in water, and then to receive the baptism of the =
holy Ghost. This was the doctrine which God gave to the earliest church. =
Two baptisms were preached and practiced, and to do so was right at that =
time.=20
The One Baptism of Christ
Paul's gospel cut against the grain of two baptisms. God did not =
send him to baptize in water (1Cor.1:17), and as far as salvation was =
concerned, Paul said there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" =
(Eph.4:5). The only baptism which Paul practiced or preached was the =
baptism of the holy Ghost. He baptized in water a few Corinthian =
believers, and he regretted that he had done so (1Cor.1:14-16), for it =
gave rise to quarrels and made room for proud boasting concerning who =
was baptized by which man, whether by Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, etc.
To understand God's reason for sending Paul to preach only the =
baptism of Christ, while Peter continued to preach both John's and =
Jesus' baptisms, one must first notice that these two mighty men of =
faith were sent to different groups of people. Paul explained to the =
saints in Galatia that "the gospel of the uncircumcision [Gentiles] was =
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision [Jews] was unto =
Peter" (Gal.2:7). Water baptism was a part of the gospel to the Jews but =
not to the Gentiles. At Cornelius' house in Acts 10, God demonstrated to =
Peter and to his amazed Jewish companions that He would no longer =
require the Gentiles to become Jews and be baptized in water in order to =
qualify for the baptism of the Spirit. "And they of the circumcision =
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that =
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost."=20
What an unthinkable event! Gentiles, whom Jesus himself called =
"dogs", received the Spirit of the God of Israel! Neither Peter nor the =
church had a doctrine which would accommodate such an experience. It was =
contrary to all that they understood and taught. These Gentiles had =
experienced something from God that the church never expected to happen, =
yet could not deny. Had it been possible somehow to deny Cornelius' =
baptism into the family of God, the church would have done so, but Peter =
and his companions were reliable witnesses whose testimony could not =
have been questioned. The fact that Peter baptized these Gentiles in =
water after they were converted does not alter the fact that they =
received the Spirit without first becoming Jews [by circumcision] and =
being baptized in water. Clearly, the church needed another doctrine to =
explain what God had done.=20
Paul was the man who was ordained to preach among the Gentiles the =
new doctrine which would explain God's new work. This new doctrine would =
not make void Peter's gospel to the Jews; however, it would show that =
Peter's gospel was limited to the Jews. Paul taught that God did not =
require the Gentiles to observe the ceremonies of the Law of Moses, and =
that it was evil for the church to require it of them. The Jews were =
obligated by conscience and by faith to keep the whole Law (Gal.5:3), =
but according to the revelation given to Paul, the Law had no claim on =
the Gentiles' lives (Rom.3:19).=20
Paul was not understood by many in the church of his time. His =
most bitter sufferings were caused by believers who could not grasp what =
Paul was saying. It seemed so contrary to so much of what they had =
always understood to be the way of God. After all, every holy man from =
Moses' time, including Jesus, was obedient to the Law. Jesus himself =
refused to preach to Gentiles (Mt.15:21-28) and forbade his disciples to =
go to them when he sent them out to preach (Mt.10:5-6). And now Paul, =
the former persecutor of the church, claimed to have received a =
commission from Jesus to go to the Gentiles with a new gospel, one which =
agreed with Peter's in demanding holy living, but one that excluded the =
need for symbolic, ceremonial works of the Law, including water =
baptismal rites. It was as radical a doctrine for his time as one can =
imagine, but it was of God. And it would prevail.=20
That God would have a special gospel for the Gentiles, different =
from Peter's gospel, was such a bizarre notion to the earliest church =
that many of them could not believe it. Though James, Peter, and other =
"pillars of the church" understood Paul's message for the Gentiles and =
endorsed it, we have no indication that most of the church did the same. =
Decades after the Spirit first came upon those Jews in the upper room, =
every Jew who believed in Christ was still zealous of the Law (Acts =
21:20), and rightly so; for had they refused to obey the Law, God would =
had rejected them. So, in zeal for the Law of God, but lacking =
knowledge, some among the believing Jews sent missionaries out from =
Jerusalem to teach Gentile believers that unless they were circumcised =
the way Moses taught, they would be damned in the final judgment (Acts =
15). Paul furiously opposed them, and later we see the apostles and =
elders come together to consider this matter carefully (Acts 15:6).=20
The controversy sparked by Paul's gospel to the Gentiles was the =
greatest doctrinal issue in the early church. But Paul stood firm =
against stiff opposition, refusing "no, not for an hour" to compromise =
the gospel of liberty from the works of the Law. Paul taught the =
unheard-of doctrine that circumcision of the heart by the Spirit was the =
only circumcision that counted with God. "The real Jew is not the man =
who is one outwardly, and real circumcision is not something physical =
and external. The real Jew is the man who is one inwardly, and real =
circumcision is a matter of the heart, a spiritual, not a literal, =
thing" (Rom.2:28-29). We could say the same about any of the other =
ceremonial works of the Law. Of John's baptism, we could say that "real =
baptism is not something physical and external. Real baptism is a matter =
of the heart, a spiritual, not a physical, thing."=20
Paul's gospel glorified Christ beyond what the church in his time =
understood, for he declared that only what Jesus Christ does for a man =
will save him. Only if Christ baptizes a man does God consider him =
baptized, and only if Christ circumcises a man does God consider him =
circumcised (a Jew). Paul's position was, if Jesus died for us to have =
it, then it is necessary that we receive it. Therefore, we conclude that =
if Jesus died for an unnecessary baptism, then Jesus died unnecessarily. =
Just One Gospel Remains
In Paul's revolutionary message of simple repentance and faith =
toward God are "some things", as Peter said, "which are hard to be =
understood". And men now, as then, distort Paul's message, "as they do =
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2Pet.3:16). But =
the vision of truth which was given to Paul is destined to override the =
strongest objections. Today, we witness the distortion of Paul's gospel =
which Peter mentioned, when it is taught that being set free from the =
works of the Law means that we are not required to work. My friend, we =
must do good deeds if we hope to be saved from the coming wrath =
(Jn.5:28-29; Rom.2:5-11; Heb.5:9). Christ liberated us from the need to =
perform ceremonies, not from the necessity to obey the will of God.=20
Paul's gospel of liberty from the works of the Law is perhaps more =
misunderstood now than when it was first preached. How many are still =
baptizing in water, and performing other dead ceremonial works, without =
knowing that by doing so they are denying the sufficiency of Christ! =
Israel's symbolic ways of worship, including John's baptism, were =
needful, holy instruments of God in their time. They served their =
divinely ordained purpose by pointing to the Messiah. But Christ has =
come now, and by his sacrificial death made a "new and living way" for =
us to approach the Father: the way of life in the holy Spirit. If the =
baptism you preach is one which those without the Spirit can practice, =
it has no part in the kingdom of God. To worship God now in a way which =
was possible before the Spirit was given is to worship God in vain. Only =
what Jesus suffered and died to make possible is any longer acceptable =
with the Almighty.=20
There are no longer two bodies of people who belong to God: Israel =
and the church. No longer two Lords: Israel's High Priest and Jesus. No =
longer two faiths: Israel's worship in symbols, and worship in spirit =
and truth. No longer two hopes: the restoration of Israel as a world =
power, and the return of Jesus. No longer two baptisms: John's and =
Jesus'. But "there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in =
one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and =
Father of all..." (Eph.4:4-6). In other words, there are no longer two =
gospels. The time for Peter's message to the Jews has passed.=20
Now, my friend, can you answer the question with which we began? =
Do you now know which baptism we must have if we hope to be saved? Do =
you know to which baptism Paul was referring when he wrote that we are =
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him..." =
(Col.2:12)? The answer you give to this question, I can assure you, will =
be one of eternal consequence.=20
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------
Back to Top
"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
Baptism
by John David Clark, Sr.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the =
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be =
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mk.16:15-16
"...baptism doth also now save us..." 1Pet.3:21
From these scriptures, and others like them, we see that salvation =
will be given only to those who have been baptized! Let this unshakable =
biblical truth echo in the corridors of your spirit and mind. Without =
baptism, there is no hope of salvation. With that revelation, one is =
confronted with an obvious question: Is the baptism which we must =
receive a baptism with water or is it the baptism of the holy Spirit?=20
The earliest church, being exclusively Jewish, practiced two =
baptisms. They baptized with John the Baptist's baptism of water, =
telling those who humbled themselves to this divinely ordained baptism =
to expect to receive Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. They followed the =
pattern set by John, who told those whom he baptized, "I indeed baptize =
you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose =
shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy =
Ghost and with fire" (Lk.3:16). These two baptisms, John's and Jesus', =
are the only two baptisms which God has ever ordained.
John's Baptism
John's baptism was not simply a baptism in water. Without John's =
message of a mightier One coming with a mightier baptism, water baptism =
is nothing more than a useless soaking. John's baptism always included =
an exhortation to receive the holy Ghost baptism; his message and his =
baptism were two parts of one act. Twelve men in Ephesus thought they =
had received John's baptism, but because they had not heard about the =
holy Ghost, the apostle Paul disagreed. He explained to those =
misinformed disciples that "John verily baptized with the baptism of =
repentance, SAYING..." (Acts 19:4). So we, with Paul, must conclude that =
even though they had been baptized with water, they had not really =
received John's baptism, for they had not been told to expect the holy =
Ghost baptism. John's message about the holy Ghost was as much a part of =
his baptism as was the water. Those twelve Ephesians had been taught by =
Apollos, a very learned and God-fearing man, who himself knew nothing of =
the holy Ghost baptism. When two of Paul's friends explained to Apollos =
"the way of God more perfectly", he exhibited a noble and godly attitude =
by humbling himself to the "more perfect way" of life in the Spirit =
(Acts 18:24-28). His first concern was not for his reputation as a great =
teacher of the Scriptures; rather, his first concern was to do the will =
of God. What a great example this Apollos was for us all!=20
Another overlooked truth concerning John's baptism was that it had =
to be earned. John was not a spiritual harlot, taking in anyone who =
wanted to join his cause. Receiving his baptism was an honor; it was not =
something that a person could receive simply by deciding that he wanted =
it. One had to repent of the evil he had done; he had to confess and =
turn from his evil ways. Only then would John baptize him. When some =
unrepentant souls dared to come to John to be baptized, the man of God =
was harsh: O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the =
wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance... =
(Lk.3:7-8; Mt.3:7-8). However, when sincere souls asked what to do so =
that he would baptize them, "He answered and said unto them, `He that =
hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath =
meat, let him do likewise.' Then came also the publicans to be baptized, =
and said unto him, `Master, what shall we do?' And he said unto them, =
`Exact no more than that which is appointed you.' And the soldiers =
likewise demanded of him, saying, `And what shall we do?' And he said =
unto them, `Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be =
content with your wages'" (Lk.3:7-14).=20
So, there was a price to be paid if one hoped to be baptized by =
John, not a price of money but a price of humility and faith. Long ago, =
Isaiah had spoken of this invisible currency of the heart when he =
proclaimed, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he =
that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Buy wine and milk without =
money and without price" (Isa.55:1). The blessings of the Lord are =
indeed free; but no one receives them who does not pay His price.
The third truth concerning John's baptism which must be seen, if =
one would rightly understand baptism, is that no one but Jews were =
allowed to receive it. John, like Jesus, was sent only to the house of =
Israel. Concerning his commission from God, John said, when Jesus came =
to him at the Jordan River, "This is he of whom I said, `After me cometh =
a man which is preferred before me', for he was before me. And I knew =
him not. But that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I =
come baptizing with water" (Jn.1:30-31).=20
These then are the three indispensable elements of John's baptism: =
a.. It was for the circumcised [Jews] only.=20
b.. It was given only to Jews who truly repented.=20
c.. It was given with a message of Jesus' baptism of the Spirit =
which should follow.
If any one of these three elements is changed or missing, John's =
baptism is not being administered.=20
On the day of Pentecost, Peter appealed to a multitude of devout =
Jews to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus =
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy =
Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Like John, Peter pleaded with his fellow Jews to =
repent and be baptized in water, and then to receive the baptism of the =
holy Ghost. This was the doctrine which God gave to the earliest church. =
Two baptisms were preached and practiced, and to do so was right at that =
time.=20
The One Baptism of Christ
Paul's gospel cut against the grain of two baptisms. God did not =
send him to baptize in water (1Cor.1:17), and as far as salvation was =
concerned, Paul said there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" =
(Eph.4:5). The only baptism which Paul practiced or preached was the =
baptism of the holy Ghost. He baptized in water a few Corinthian =
believers, and he regretted that he had done so (1Cor.1:14-16), for it =
gave rise to quarrels and made room for proud boasting concerning who =
was baptized by which man, whether by Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, etc.
To understand God's reason for sending Paul to preach only the =
baptism of Christ, while Peter continued to preach both John's and =
Jesus' baptisms, one must first notice that these two mighty men of =
faith were sent to different groups of people. Paul explained to the =
saints in Galatia that "the gospel of the uncircumcision [Gentiles] was =
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision [Jews] was unto =
Peter" (Gal.2:7). Water baptism was a part of the gospel to the Jews but =
not to the Gentiles. At Cornelius' house in Acts 10, God demonstrated to =
Peter and to his amazed Jewish companions that He would no longer =
require the Gentiles to become Jews and be baptized in water in order to =
qualify for the baptism of the Spirit. "And they of the circumcision =
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that =
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost."=20
What an unthinkable event! Gentiles, whom Jesus himself called =
"dogs", received the Spirit of the God of Israel! Neither Peter nor the =
church had a doctrine which would accommodate such an experience. It was =
contrary to all that they understood and taught. These Gentiles had =
experienced something from God that the church never expected to happen, =
yet could not deny. Had it been possible somehow to deny Cornelius' =
baptism into the family of God, the church would have done so, but Peter =
and his companions were reliable witnesses whose testimony could not =
have been questioned. The fact that Peter baptized these Gentiles in =
water after they were converted does not alter the fact that they =
received the Spirit without first becoming Jews [by circumcision] and =
being baptized in water. Clearly, the church needed another doctrine to =
explain what God had done.=20
Paul was the man who was ordained to preach among the Gentiles the =
new doctrine which would explain God's new work. This new doctrine would =
not make void Peter's gospel to the Jews; however, it would show that =
Peter's gospel was limited to the Jews. Paul taught that God did not =
require the Gentiles to observe the ceremonies of the Law of Moses, and =
that it was evil for the church to require it of them. The Jews were =
obligated by conscience and by faith to keep the whole Law (Gal.5:3), =
but according to the revelation given to Paul, the Law had no claim on =
the Gentiles' lives (Rom.3:19).=20
Paul was not understood by many in the church of his time. His =
most bitter sufferings were caused by believers who could not grasp what =
Paul was saying. It seemed so contrary to so much of what they had =
always understood to be the way of God. After all, every holy man from =
Moses' time, including Jesus, was obedient to the Law. Jesus himself =
refused to preach to Gentiles (Mt.15:21-28) and forbade his disciples to =
go to them when he sent them out to preach (Mt.10:5-6). And now Paul, =
the former persecutor of the church, claimed to have received a =
commission from Jesus to go to the Gentiles with a new gospel, one which =
agreed with Peter's in demanding holy living, but one that excluded the =
need for symbolic, ceremonial works of the Law, including water =
baptismal rites. It was as radical a doctrine for his time as one can =
imagine, but it was of God. And it would prevail.=20
That God would have a special gospel for the Gentiles, different =
from Peter's gospel, was such a bizarre notion to the earliest church =
that many of them could not believe it. Though James, Peter, and other =
"pillars of the church" understood Paul's message for the Gentiles and =
endorsed it, we have no indication that most of the church did the same. =
Decades after the Spirit first came upon those Jews in the upper room, =
every Jew who believed in Christ was still zealous of the Law (Acts =
21:20), and rightly so; for had they refused to obey the Law, God would =
had rejected them. So, in zeal for the Law of God, but lacking =
knowledge, some among the believing Jews sent missionaries out from =
Jerusalem to teach Gentile believers that unless they were circumcised =
the way Moses taught, they would be damned in the final judgment (Acts =
15). Paul furiously opposed them, and later we see the apostles and =
elders come together to consider this matter carefully (Acts 15:6).=20
The controversy sparked by Paul's gospel to the Gentiles was the =
greatest doctrinal issue in the early church. But Paul stood firm =
against stiff opposition, refusing "no, not for an hour" to compromise =
the gospel of liberty from the works of the Law. Paul taught the =
unheard-of doctrine that circumcision of the heart by the Spirit was the =
only circumcision that counted with God. "The real Jew is not the man =
who is one outwardly, and real circumcision is not something physical =
and external. The real Jew is the man who is one inwardly, and real =
circumcision is a matter of the heart, a spiritual, not a literal, =
thing" (Rom.2:28-29). We could say the same about any of the other =
ceremonial works of the Law. Of John's baptism, we could say that "real =
baptism is not something physical and external. Real baptism is a matter =
of the heart, a spiritual, not a physical, thing."=20
Paul's gospel glorified Christ beyond what the church in his time =
understood, for he declared that only what Jesus Christ does for a man =
will save him. Only if Christ baptizes a man does God consider him =
baptized, and only if Christ circumcises a man does God consider him =
circumcised (a Jew). Paul's position was, if Jesus died for us to have =
it, then it is necessary that we receive it. Therefore, we conclude that =
if Jesus died for an unnecessary baptism, then Jesus died unnecessarily. =
Just One Gospel Remains
In Paul's revolutionary message of simple repentance and faith =
toward God are "some things", as Peter said, "which are hard to be =
understood". And men now, as then, distort Paul's message, "as they do =
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2Pet.3:16). But =
the vision of truth which was given to Paul is destined to override the =
strongest objections. Today, we witness the distortion of Paul's gospel =
which Peter mentioned, when it is taught that being set free from the =
works of the Law means that we are not required to work. My friend, we =
must do good deeds if we hope to be saved from the coming wrath =
(Jn.5:28-29; Rom.2:5-11; Heb.5:9). Christ liberated us from the need to =
perform ceremonies, not from the necessity to obey the will of God.=20
Paul's gospel of liberty from the works of the Law is perhaps more =
misunderstood now than when it was first preached. How many are still =
baptizing in water, and performing other dead ceremonial works, without =
knowing that by doing so they are denying the sufficiency of Christ! =
Israel's symbolic ways of worship, including John's baptism, were =
needful, holy instruments of God in their time. They served their =
divinely ordained purpose by pointing to the Messiah. But Christ has =
come now, and by his sacrificial death made a "new and living way" for =
us to approach the Father: the way of life in the holy Spirit. If the =
baptism you preach is one which those without the Spirit can practice, =
it has no part in the kingdom of God. To worship God now in a way which =
was possible before the Spirit was given is to worship God in vain. Only =
what Jesus suffered and died to make possible is any longer acceptable =
with the Almighty.=20
There are no longer two bodies of people who belong to God: Israel =
and the church. No longer two Lords: Israel's High Priest and Jesus. No =
longer two faiths: Israel's worship in symbols, and worship in spirit =
and truth. No longer two hopes: the restoration of Israel as a world =
power, and the return of Jesus. No longer two baptisms: John's and =
Jesus'. But "there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in =
one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and =
Father of all..." (Eph.4:4-6). In other words, there are no longer two =
gospels. The time for Peter's message to the Jews has passed.=20
Now, my friend, can you answer the question with which we began? =
Do you now know which baptism we must have if we hope to be saved? Do =
you know to which baptism Paul was referring when he wrote that we are =
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him..." =
(Col.2:12)? The answer you give to this question, I can assure you, will =
be one of eternal consequence.=20
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------
Back to Top
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.542 / Virus Database: 336 - Release Date: 11/18/2003
------=_NextPart_000_0046_01C3B0EE.20A9A680
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Blank</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dwindows-1252"><BASE=20
href=3D"file://C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft =
Shared\Stationery\">
<STYLE></STYLE>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4134.100" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY background=3D"">
<DIV> </DIV>
<P>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
<TD width=3D550 bgColor=3D#000000 height=3D35><IMG height=3D35=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/bartop.gif"=20
width=3D550 border=3D0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER>
<P></FONT> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/reli58.gif"=20
width=3D150 align=3Dleft vspace=3D5 border=3D1> <!-- ******** END =
OF HEADER *************** --><A name=3Dtop><FONT=20
size=3D4></A>
<CENTER>
<H1><FONT color=3Dpurple>Baptism</FONT></CENTER></H1>
<P>
<CENTER>by John David Clark, Sr.</CENTER>
<P><B><I>
<CENTER>"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and =
preach the=20
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall =
be=20
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."=20
Mk.16:15-16</B></I></CENTER>
<P>
<CENTER><B><I>"...baptism doth also now save us..."=20
1Pet.3:21</CENTER></B></I>
<P>From these scriptures, and others like them, we see that =
salvation will=20
be given only to those who have been baptized! Let this unshakable =
biblical truth echo in the corridors of your spirit and mind. =
Without=20
baptism, there is no hope of salvation. With that revelation, one =
is=20
confronted with an obvious question: Is the baptism which we must =
receive=20
a baptism with water or is it the baptism of the holy Spirit?=20
<P>The earliest church, being exclusively Jewish, practiced two =
baptisms.=20
They baptized with John the Baptist's baptism of water, telling =
those who=20
humbled themselves to this divinely ordained baptism to expect to =
receive=20
Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. They followed the pattern set by =
John, who=20
told those whom he baptized, <B><I>"I indeed baptize you with =
water; but=20
one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not =
worthy to=20
unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire"=20
(Lk.3:16).</B></I> These two baptisms, John's and Jesus', are the =
only two=20
baptisms which God has ever ordained.
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>John's Baptism</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>John's baptism was not simply a baptism in water. Without =
John's=20
message of a mightier One coming with a mightier baptism, water =
baptism is=20
nothing more than a useless soaking. John's baptism always =
included an=20
exhortation to receive the holy Ghost baptism; his message and his =
baptism=20
were two parts of one act. Twelve men in Ephesus
hought they had =
received=20
John's baptism, but because they had not heard about the holy =
Ghost, the=20
apostle Paul disagreed. He explained to those misinformed =
disciples that=20
<B><I>"John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, =
SAYING..."=20
(Acts 19:4). </B></I>So we, with Paul, must conclude that even =
though they=20
had been baptized with water, they had not really received John's =
baptism,=20
for they had not been told to expect the holy Ghost baptism. =
John's=20
message about the holy Ghost was as much a part of his baptism as =
was the=20
water. Those twelve Ephesians had been taught by Apollos, a very =
learned=20
and God-fearing man, who himself knew nothing of the holy Ghost =
baptism.=20
When two of Paul's friends explained to Apollos "the way of God =
more=20
perfectly", he exhibited a noble and godly attitude by humbling =
himself to=20
the "more perfect way" of life in the Spirit (Acts 18:24-28). His =
first=20
concern was not for his reputation as a great teacher of the =
Scriptures;=20
rather, his first concern was to do the will of God. What a great =
example=20
this Apollos was for us all!=20
<P>Another overlooked truth concerning John's baptism was that it =
had to=20
be earned. John was not a spiritual harlot, taking in anyone who =
wanted to=20
join his cause. Receiving his baptism was an honor; it was not =
something=20
that a person could receive simply by deciding that he wanted it. =
One had=20
to repent of the evil he had done; he had to confess and turn from =
his=20
evil ways. Only then would John baptize him. When some unrepentant =
souls=20
dared to come to John to be baptized, the man of God was harsh: O=20
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath =
to come?=20
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance... (Lk.3:7-8; =
Mt.3:7-8).=20
However, when sincere souls asked what to do so that he would =
baptize=20
them, <B><I>"He answered and said unto them, `He that hath two =
coats, let=20
him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath meat, let him =
do=20
likewise.' Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said =
unto him,=20
`Master, what shall we do?' And he said unto them, `Exact no more =
than=20
that which is appointed you.' And the soldiers likewise demanded =
of him,=20
saying, `And what shall we do?' And he said unto them, `Do =
violence to no=20
man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages'"=20
(Lk.3:7-14). </B></I>
<P>So, there was a price to be paid if one hoped to be baptized by =
John,=20
not a price of money but a price of humility and faith. Long ago, =
Isaiah=20
had spoken of this invisible currency of the heart when he=20
proclaimed,<B><I> "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the =
waters.=20
And he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Buy wine and milk =
without=20
money and without price" (Isa.55:1). </B></I>The blessings of the =
Lord are=20
indeed free; but no one receives them who does not pay His price.
<P>The third truth concerning John's baptism which must be seen, =
if one=20
would rightly understand baptism, is that no one but Jews were =
allowed to=20
receive it. John, like Jesus, was sent only to the house of =
Israel.=20
Concerning his commission from God, John said, when Jesus came to =
him at=20
the Jordan River,<B><I> "This is he of whom I said, `After me =
cometh a man=20
which is preferred before me', for he was before me. And I knew =
him not.=20
But that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come =
baptizing with water" (Jn.1:30-31). </B></I>
<P>These then are the three indispensable elements of John's =
baptism:=20
<P>
<UL>
<LI>It was for the circumcised [Jews] only.=20
<LI>It was given only to Jews who truly repented.=20
<LI>It was given with a message of Jesus' baptism of the Spirit =
which=20
should follow.</LI></UL>
<P>If any one of these three elements is changed or missing, =
John's=20
baptism is not being administered.=20
<P>On the day of Pentecost, Peter appealed to a multitude of =
devout Jews=20
to<B><I> "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of =
Jesus=20
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the =
holy=20
Ghost" (Acts 2:38).</B></I> Like John, Peter pleaded with his =
fellow Jews=20
to repent and be baptized in water, and then to receive the =
baptism of the=20
holy Ghost. This was the doctrine which God gave to the earliest =
church.=20
Two baptisms were preached and practiced, and to do so was right =
at that=20
time.=20
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>The One Baptism of =
Christ</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>Paul's gospel cut against the grain of two baptisms. God did =
not send=20
him to baptize in water (1Cor.1:17), and as far as salvation was=20
concerned, Paul said there is <B><I>"one Lord, one faith, one =
baptism"=20
(Eph.4:5). </B></I>The only baptism which Paul practiced or =
preached was=20
the baptism of the holy Ghost. He baptized in water a few =
Corinthian=20
believers, and he regretted that he had done so (1Cor.1:14-16), =
for it=20
gave rise to quarrels and made room for proud boasting concerning =
who was=20
baptized by which man, whether by Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, etc.
<P>To understand God's reason for sending Paul to preach only the =
baptism=20
of Christ, while Peter continued to preach both John's and Jesus'=20
baptisms, one must first notice that these two mighty men of faith =
were=20
sent to different groups of people. Paul explained to the saints =
in=20
Galatia that<B><I> "the gospel of the uncircumcision [Gentiles] =
was=20
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision [Jews] was =
unto=20
Peter" (Gal.2:7). </B></I>Water baptism was a part of the gospel =
to the=20
Jews but not to the Gentiles. At Cornelius' house in Acts 10, God=20
demonstrated to Peter and to his amazed Jewish companions that He =
would no=20
longer require the Gentiles to become Jews and be baptized in =
water in=20
order to qualify for the baptism of the Spirit. <B><I>"And they of =
the=20
circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with =
Peter,=20
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the =
holy=20
Ghost." </B></I>
<P>What an unthinkable event! Gentiles, whom Jesus himself called =
"dogs",=20
received the Spirit of the God of Israel! Neither Peter nor the =
church had=20
a doctrine which would accommodate such an experience. It was =
contrary to=20
all that they understood and taught. These Gentiles had =
experienced=20
something from God that the church never expected to happen, yet =
could not=20
deny. Had it been possible somehow to deny Cornelius' baptism into =
the=20
family of God, the church would have done so, but Peter and his =
companions=20
were reliable witnesses whose testimony could not have been =
questioned.=20
The fact that Peter baptized these Gentiles in water after they =
were=20
converted does not alter the fact that they received the Spirit =
without=20
first becoming Jews [by circumcision] and being baptized in water. =
Clearly, the church needed another doctrine to explain what God =
had done.=20
<P>Paul was the man who was ordained to preach among the Gentiles =
the new=20
doctrine which would explain God's new work. This new doctrine =
would not=20
make void Peter's gospel to the Jews; however, it would show that =
Peter's=20
gospel was limited to the Jews. Paul taught that God did not =
require the=20
Gentiles to observe the ceremonies of the Law of Moses, and that =
it was=20
evil for the church to require it of them. The Jews were obligated =
by=20
conscience and by faith to keep the whole Law (Gal.5:3), but =
according to=20
the revelation given to Paul, the Law had no claim on the =
Gentiles' lives=20
(Rom.3:19).=20
<P>Paul was not understood by many in the church of his time. His =
most=20
bitter sufferings were caused by believers who could not grasp =
what Paul=20
was saying. It seemed so contrary to so much of what they had =
always=20
understood to be the way of God. After all, every holy man from =
Moses'=20
time, including Jesus, was obedient to the Law. Jesus himself =
refused to=20
preach to Gentiles (Mt.15:21-28) and forbade his disciples to go =
to them=20
when he sent them out to preach (Mt.10:5-6). And now Paul, the =
former=20
persecutor of the church, claimed to have received a commission =
from Jesus=20
to go to the Gentiles with a new gospel, one which agreed with =
Peter's in=20
demanding holy living, but one that excluded the need for =
symbolic,=20
ceremonial works of the Law, including water baptismal rites. It =
was as=20
radical a doctrine for his time as one can imagine, but it was of =
God. And=20
it would prevail.=20
<P>That God would have a special gospel for the Gentiles, =
different from=20
Peter's gospel, was such a bizarre notion to the earliest church =
that many=20
of them could not believe it. Though James, Peter, and other =
"pillars of=20
the church" understood Paul's message for the Gentiles and =
endorsed it, we=20
have no indication that most of the church did the same. Decades =
after the=20
Spirit first came upon those Jews in the upper room, every Jew who =
believed in Christ was still zealous of the Law (Acts 21:20), and =
rightly=20
so; for had they refused to obey the Law, God would had rejected =
them. So,=20
in zeal for the Law of God, but lacking knowledge, some among the=20
believing Jews sent missionaries out from Jerusalem to teach =
Gentile=20
believers that unless they were circumcised the way Moses taught, =
they=20
would be damned in the final judgment (Acts 15). Paul furiously =
opposed=20
them, and later we see the apostles and elders come together to =
consider=20
this matter carefully (Acts 15:6).=20
<P>The controversy sparked by Paul's gospel to the Gentiles was =
the=20
greatest doctrinal issue in the early church. But Paul stood firm =
against=20
stiff opposition, refusing "no, not for an hour" to compromise the =
gospel=20
of liberty from the works of the Law. Paul taught the unheard-of =
doctrine=20
that circumcision of the heart by the Spirit was the only =
circumcision=20
that counted with God. <B><I>"The real Jew is not the man who is =
one=20
outwardly, and real circumcision is not something physical and =
external.=20
The real Jew is the man who is one inwardly, and real circumcision =
is a=20
matter of the heart, a spiritual, not a literal, thing" =
(Rom.2:28-29).=20
</B></I>We could say the same about any of the other ceremonial =
works of=20
the Law. Of John's baptism, we could say that "real baptism is not =
something physical and external. Real baptism is a matter of the =
heart, a=20
spiritual, not a physical, thing." </B></I>
<P>Paul's gospel glorified Christ beyond what the church in his =
time=20
understood, for he declared that only what Jesus Christ does for a =
man=20
will save him. Only if Christ baptizes a man does God consider him =
baptized, and only if Christ circumcises a man does God consider =
him=20
circumcised (a Jew). Paul's position was, if Jesus died for us to =
have it,=20
then it is necessary that we receive it. Therefore, we conclude =
that if=20
Jesus died for an unnecessary baptism, then Jesus died =
unnecessarily.=20
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>Just One Gospel =
Remains</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>In Paul's revolutionary message of simple repentance and faith =
toward=20
God are <B><I>"some things"</B></I>, as Peter said,<B><I> "which =
are hard=20
to be understood". And men now, as then, distort Paul's message, =
"as they=20
do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" =
(2Pet.3:16).=20
</B></I>But the vision of truth which was given to Paul is =
destined to=20
override the strongest objections. Today, we witness the =
distortion of=20
Paul's gospel which Peter mentioned, when it is taught that being =
set free=20
from the works of the Law means that we are not required to work. =
My=20
friend, we must do good deeds if we hope to be saved from the =
coming wrath=20
(Jn.5:28-29; Rom.2:5-11; Heb.5:9). Christ liberated us from the =
need to=20
perform ceremonies, not from the necessity to obey the will of =
God.=20
<P>Paul's gospel of liberty from the works of the Law is perhaps =
more=20
misunderstood now than when it was first preached. How many are =
still=20
baptizing in water, and performing other dead ceremonial works, =
without=20
knowing that by doing so they are denying the sufficiency of =
Christ!=20
Israel's symbolic ways of worship, including John's baptism, were =
needful,=20
holy instruments of God in their time. They served their divinely =
ordained=20
purpose by pointing to the Messiah. But Christ has come now, and =
by his=20
sacrificial death made a "new and living way" for us to approach =
the=20
Father: the way of life in the holy Spirit. If the baptism you =
preach is=20
one which those without the Spirit can practice, it has no part in =
the=20
kingdom of God. To worship God now in a way which was possible =
before the=20
Spirit was given is to worship God in vain. Only what Jesus =
suffered and=20
died to make possible is any longer acceptable with the Almighty.=20
<P>There are no longer two bodies of people who belong to God: =
Israel and=20
the church. No longer two Lords: Israel's High Priest and Jesus. =
No longer=20
two faiths: Israel's worship in symbols, and worship in spirit and =
truth.=20
No longer two hopes: the restoration of Israel as a world power, =
and the=20
return of Jesus. No longer two baptisms: John's and Jesus'. But=20
<B><I>"there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in =
one=20
hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God =
and Father=20
of all..." (Eph.4:4-6). </B></I>In other words, there are no =
longer two=20
gospels. The time for Peter's message to the Jews has passed.=20
<P>Now, my friend, can you answer the question with which we =
began? Do you=20
now know which baptism we must have if we hope to be saved? Do you =
know to=20
which baptism Paul was referring when he wrote that we are "Buried =
with=20
him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him..." (Col.2:12)? =
The=20
answer you give to this question, I can assure you, will be one of =
eternal=20
consequence.=20
<P><! -- ************ BOTTOM HEADER *********** -->
<P><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D2><I><A=20
href=3D"mailto:GSAVELLI@aol.com">Questions? Log onto the Internet, =
Click=20
Here,<BR>and you can E-mail them to: =
GSAVELLI@aol.com</A></I></FONT>=20
</P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<P>
<HR>
<P> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<H3><I><A=20
href=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/#top">Back=20
to Top</A></I></H3></CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
<TD width=3D550 bgColor=3D#000000 height=3D35><IMG height=3D35=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/bartop.gif"=20
width=3D550 border=3D0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER>
<P></FONT> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/reli58.gif"=20
width=3D150 align=3Dleft vspace=3D5 border=3D1> <!-- ******** END =
OF HEADER *************** --><A name=3Dtop><FONT=20
size=3D4></A>
<CENTER>
<H1><FONT color=3Dpurple>Baptism</FONT></CENTER></H1>
<P>
<CENTER>by John David Clark, Sr.</CENTER>
<P><B><I>
<CENTER>"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and =
preach the=20
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall =
be=20
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."=20
Mk.16:15-16</B></I></CENTER>
<P>
<CENTER><B><I>"...baptism doth also now save us..."=20
1Pet.3:21</CENTER></B></I>
<P>From these scriptures, and others like them, we see that =
salvation will=20
be given only to those who have been baptized! Let this unshakable =
biblical truth echo in the corridors of your spirit and mind. =
Without=20
baptism, there is no hope of salvation. With that revelation, one =
is=20
confronted with an obvious question: Is the baptism which we must =
receive=20
a baptism with water or is it the baptism of the holy Spirit?=20
<P>The earliest church, being exclusively Jewish, practiced two =
baptisms.=20
They baptized with John the Baptist's baptism of water, telling =
those who=20
humbled themselves to this divinely ordained baptism to expect to =
receive=20
Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. They followed the pattern set by =
John, who=20
told those whom he baptized, <B><I>"I indeed baptize you with =
water; but=20
one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not =
worthy to=20
unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire"=20
(Lk.3:16).</B></I> These two baptisms, John's and Jesus', are the =
only two=20
baptisms which God has ever ordained.
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>John's Baptism</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>John's baptism was not simply a baptism in water. Without =
John's=20
message of a mightier One coming with a mightier baptism, water =
baptism is=20
nothing more than a useless soaking. John's baptism always =
included an=20
exhortation to receive the holy Ghost baptism; his message and his =
baptism=20
were two parts of one act. Twelve men in Ephesus thought they had =
received=20
John's baptism, but because they had not heard about the holy =
Ghost, the=20
apostle Paul disagreed. He explained to those misinformed =
disciples that=20
<B><I>"John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, =
SAYING..."=20
(Acts 19:4). </B></I>So we, with Paul, must conclude that even =
though they=20
had been baptized with water, they had not really received John's =
baptism,=20
for they had not been told to expect the holy Ghost baptism. =
John's=20
message about the holy Ghost was as much a part of his baptism as =
was the=20
water. Those twelve Ephesians had been taught by Apollos, a very =
learned=20
and God-fearing man, who himself knew nothing of the holy Ghost =
baptism.=20
When two of Paul's friends explained to Apollos "the way of God =
more=20
perfectly", he exhibited a noble and godly attitude by humbling =
himself to=20
the "more perfect way" of life in the Spirit (Acts 18:24-28). His =
first=20
concern was not for his reputation as a great teacher of the =
Scriptures;=20
rather, his first concern was to do the will of God. What a great =
example=20
this Apollos was for us all!=20
<P>Another overlooked truth concerning John's baptism was that it =
had to=20
be earned. John was not a spiritual harlot, taking in anyone who =
wanted to=20
join his cause. Receiving his baptism was an honor; it was not =
something=20
that a person could receive simply by deciding that he wanted it. =
One had=20
to repent of the evil he had done; he had to confess and turn from =
his=20
evil ways. Only then would John baptize him. When some unrepentant =
souls=20
dared to come to John to be baptized, the man of God was harsh: O=20
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath =
to come?=20
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance... (Lk.3:7-8; =
Mt.3:7-8).=20
However, when sincere souls asked what to do so that he would =
baptize=20
them, <B><I>"He answered and said unto them, `He that hath two =
coats, let=20
him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath meat, let him =
do=20
likewise.' Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said =
unto him,=20
`Master, what shall we do?' And he said unto them, `Exact no more =
than=20
that which is appointed you.' And the soldiers likewise demanded =
of him,=20
saying, `And what shall we do?' And he said unto them, `Do =
violence to no=20
man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages'"=20
(Lk.3:7-14). </B></I>
<P>So, there was a price to be paid if one hoped to be baptized by =
John,=20
not a price of money but a price of humility and faith. Long ago, =
Isaiah=20
had spoken of this invisible currency of the heart when he=20
proclaimed,<B><I> "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the =
waters.=20
And he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Buy wine and milk =
without=20
money and without price" (Isa.55:1). </B></I>The blessings of the =
Lord are=20
indeed free; but no one receives them who does not pay His price.
<P>The third truth concerning John's baptism which must be seen, =
if one=20
would rightly understand baptism, is that no one but Jews were =
allowed to=20
receive it. John, like Jesus, was sent only to the house of =
Israel.=20
Concerning his commission from God, John said, when Jesus came to =
him at=20
the Jordan River,<B><I> "This is he of whom I said, `After me =
cometh a man=20
which is preferred before me', for he was before me. And I knew =
him not.=20
But that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come =
baptizing with water" (Jn.1:30-31). </B></I>
<P>These then are the three indispensable elements of John's =
baptism:=20
<P>
<UL>
<LI>It was for the circumcised [Jews] only.=20
<LI>It was given only to Jews who truly repented.=20
<LI>It was given with a message of Jesus' baptism of the Spirit =
which=20
should follow.</LI></UL>
<P>If any one of these three elements is changed or missing, =
John's=20
baptism is not being administered.=20
<P>On the day of Pentecost, Peter appealed to a multitude of =
devout Jews=20
to<B><I> "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of =
Jesus=20
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the =
holy=20
Ghost" (Acts 2:38).</B></I> Like John, Peter pleaded with his =
fellow Jews=20
to repent and be baptized in water, and then to receive the =
baptism of the=20
holy Ghost. This was the doctrine which God gave to the earliest =
church.=20
Two baptisms were preached and practiced, and to do so was right =
at that=20
time.=20
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>The One Baptism of =
Christ</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>Paul's gospel cut against the grain of two baptisms. God did =
not send=20
him to baptize in water (1Cor.1:17), and as far as salvation was=20
concerned, Paul said there is <B><I>"one Lord, one faith, one =
baptism"=20
(Eph.4:5). </B></I>The only baptism which Paul practiced or =
preached was=20
the baptism of the holy Ghost. He baptized in water a few =
Corinthian=20
believers, and he regretted that he had done so (1Cor.1:14-16), =
for it=20
gave rise to quarrels and made room for proud boasting concerning =
who was=20
baptized by which man, whether by Paul, or Peter, or Apollos, etc.
<P>To understand God's reason for sending Paul to preach only the =
baptism=20
of Christ, while Peter continued to preach both John's and Jesus'=20
baptisms, one must first notice that these two mighty men of faith =
were=20
sent to different groups of people. Paul explained to the saints =
in=20
Galatia that<B><I> "the gospel of the uncircumcision [Gentiles] =
was=20
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision [Jews] was =
unto=20
Peter" (Gal.2:7). </B></I>Water baptism was a part of the gospel =
to the=20
Jews but not to the Gentiles. At Cornelius' house in Acts 10, God=20
demonstrated to Peter and to his amazed Jewish companions that He =
would no=20
longer require the Gentiles to become Jews and be baptized in =
water in=20
order to qualify for the baptism of the Spirit. <B><I>"And they of =
the=20
circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with =
Peter,=20
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the =
holy=20
Ghost." </B></I>
<P>What an unthinkable event! Gentiles, whom Jesus himself called =
"dogs",=20
received the Spirit of the God of Israel! Neither Peter nor the =
church had=20
a doctrine which would accommodate such an experience. It was =
contrary to=20
all that they understood and taught. These Gentiles had =
experienced=20
something from God that the church never expected to happen, yet =
could not=20
deny. Had it been possible somehow to deny Cornelius' baptism into =
the=20
family of God, the church would have done so, but Peter and his =
companions=20
were reliable witnesses whose testimony could not have been =
questioned.=20
The fact that Peter baptized these Gentiles in water after they =
were=20
converted does not alter the fact that they received the Spirit =
without=20
first becoming Jews [by circumcision] and being baptized in water. =
Clearly, the church needed another doctrine to explain what God =
had done.=20
<P>Paul was the man who was ordained to preach among the Gentiles =
the new=20
doctrine which would explain God's new work. This new doctrine =
would not=20
make void Peter's gospel to the Jews; however, it would show that =
Peter's=20
gospel was limited to the Jews. Paul taught that God did not =
require the=20
Gentiles to observe the ceremonies of the Law of Moses, and that =
it was=20
evil for the church to require it of them. The Jews were obligated =
by=20
conscience and by faith to keep the whole Law (Gal.5:3), but =
according to=20
the revelation given to Paul, the Law had no claim on the =
Gentiles' lives=20
(Rom.3:19).=20
<P>Paul was not understood by many in the church of his time. His =
most=20
bitter sufferings were caused by believers who could not grasp =
what Paul=20
was saying. It seemed so contrary to so much of what they had =
always=20
understood to be the way of God. After all, every holy man from =
Moses'=20
time, including Jesus, was obedient to the Law. Jesus himself =
refused to=20
preach to Gentiles (Mt.15:21-28) and forbade his disciples to go =
to them=20
when he sent them out to preach (Mt.10:5-6). And now Paul, the =
former=20
persecutor of the church, claimed to have received a commission =
from Jesus=20
to go to the Gentiles with a new gospel, one which agreed with =
Peter's in=20
demanding holy living, but one that excluded the need for =
symbolic,=20
ceremonial works of the Law, including water baptismal rites. It =
was as=20
radical a doctrine for his time as one can imagine, but it was of =
God. And=20
it would prevail.=20
<P>That God would have a special gospel for the Gentiles, =
different from=20
Peter's gospel, was such a bizarre notion to the earliest church =
that many=20
of them could not believe it. Though James, Peter, and other =
"pillars of=20
the church" understood Paul's message for the Gentiles and =
endorsed it, we=20
have no indication that most of the church did the same. Decades =
after the=20
Spirit first came upon those Jews in the upper room, every Jew who =
believed in Christ was still zealous of the Law (Acts 21:20), and =
rightly=20
so; for had they refused to obey the Law, God would had rejected =
them. So,=20
in zeal for the Law of God, but lacking knowledge, some among the=20
believing Jews sent missionaries out from Jerusalem to teach =
Gentile=20
believers that unless they were circumcised the way Moses taught, =
they=20
would be damned in the final judgment (Acts 15). Paul furiously =
opposed=20
them, and later we see the apostles and elders come together to =
consider=20
this matter carefully (Acts 15:6).=20
<P>The controversy sparked by Paul's gospel to the Gentiles was =
the=20
greatest doctrinal issue in the early church. But Paul stood firm =
against=20
stiff opposition, refusing "no, not for an hour" to compromise the =
gospel=20
of liberty from the works of the Law. Paul taught the unheard-of =
doctrine=20
that circumcision of the heart by the Spirit was the only =
circumcision=20
that counted with God. <B><I>"The real Jew is not the man who is =
one=20
outwardly, and real circumcision is not something physical and =
external.=20
The real Jew is the man who is one inwardly, and real circumcision =
is a=20
matter of the heart, a spiritual, not a literal, thing" =
(Rom.2:28-29).=20
</B></I>We could say the same about any of the other ceremonial =
works of=20
the Law. Of John's baptism, we could say that "real baptism is not =
something physical and external. Real baptism is a matter of the =
heart, a=20
spiritual, not a physical, thing." </B></I>
<P>Paul's gospel glorified Christ beyond what the church in his =
time=20
understood, for he declared that only what Jesus Christ does for a =
man=20
will save him. Only if Christ baptizes a man does God consider him =
baptized, and only if Christ circumcises a man does God consider =
him=20
circumcised (a Jew). Paul's position was, if Jesus died for us to =
have it,=20
then it is necessary that we receive it. Therefore, we conclude =
that if=20
Jesus died for an unnecessary baptism, then Jesus died =
unnecessarily.=20
<P>
<CENTER>
<H2><FONT color=3Dpurple>Just One Gospel =
Remains</FONT></CENTER></H2>
<P>In Paul's revolutionary message of simple repentance and faith =
toward=20
God are <B><I>"some things"</B></I>, as Peter said,<B><I> "which =
are hard=20
to be understood". And men now, as then, distort Paul's message, =
"as they=20
do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" =
(2Pet.3:16).=20
</B></I>But the vision of truth which was given to Paul is =
destined to=20
override the strongest objections. Today, we witness the =
distortion of=20
Paul's gospel which Peter mentioned, when it is taught that being =
set free=20
from the works of the Law means that we are not required to work. =
My=20
friend, we must do good deeds if we hope to be saved from the =
coming wrath=20
(Jn.5:28-29; Rom.2:5-11; Heb.5:9). Christ liberated us from the =
need to=20
perform ceremonies, not from the necessity to obey the will of =
God.=20
<P>Paul's gospel of liberty from the works of the Law is perhaps =
more=20
misunderstood now than when it was first preached. How many are =
still=20
baptizing in water, and performing other dead ceremonial works, =
without=20
knowing that by doing so they are denying the sufficiency of =
Christ!=20
Israel's symbolic ways of worship, including John's baptism, were =
needful,=20
holy instruments of God in their time. They served their divinely =
ordained=20
purpose by pointing to the Messiah. But Christ has come now, and =
by his=20
sacrificial death made a "new and living way" for us to approach =
the=20
Father: the way of life in the holy Spirit. If the baptism you =
preach is=20
one which those without the Spirit can practice, it has no part in =
the=20
kingdom of God. To worship God now in a way which was possible =
before the=20
Spirit was given is to worship God in vain. Only what Jesus =
suffered and=20
died to make possible is any longer acceptable with the Almighty.=20
<P>There are no longer two bodies of people who belong to God: =
Israel and=20
the church. No longer two Lords: Israel's High Priest and Jesus. =
No longer=20
two faiths: Israel's worship in symbols, and worship in spirit and =
truth.=20
No longer two hopes: the restoration of Israel as a world power, =
and the=20
return of Jesus. No longer two baptisms: John's and Jesus'. But=20
<B><I>"there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in =
one=20
hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God =
and Father=20
of all..." (Eph.4:4-6). </B></I>In other words, there are no =
longer two=20
gospels. The time for Peter's message to the Jews has passed.=20
<P>Now, my friend, can you answer the question with which we =
began? Do you=20
now know which baptism we must have if we hope to be saved? Do you =
know to=20
which baptism Paul was referring when he wrote that we are "Buried =
with=20
him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him..." (Col.2:12)? =
The=20
answer you give to this question, I can assure you, will be one of =
eternal=20
consequence.=20
<P><! -- ************ BOTTOM HEADER *********** -->
<P><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D2><I><A=20
href=3D"mailto:GSAVELLI@aol.com">Questions? Log onto the Internet, =
Click=20
Here,<BR>and you can E-mail them to: =
GSAVELLI@aol.com</A></I></FONT>=20
</P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<P>
<HR>
<P> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<H3><I><A=20
href=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/#top">Back=20
to Top</A></I></H3></CENTER>
<P></FONT></P>
<P></FONT>
<P>
<P><BR>---<BR>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.<BR>Checked by AVG=20
anti-virus system (<A=20
href=3D"http://www.grisoft.com">http://www.grisoft.com</A>).<BR>Version: =
6.0.542 /=20
Virus Database: 336 - Release Date: 11/18/2003</P></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0046_01C3B0EE.20A9A680--
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
CAN YOU SAY ONE BAPTISM?
the One who sees you
Jesus Christ is the only one that can save you from hell.
666, you will become one with the Antichrist!
Re: Let No One Disqualify You! (Colossians 2:16-23)
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one can come to the Father(God)(in Heaven), but by me." (John 14:6) This means that if you die without trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will die in your sins and be forever se
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one can come to the Father(God)(in Heaven), but by me." (John 14:6) This means that if you die without trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will die in your sins and be forever se
Because a process made you and your offspring, and the process doesn't care, it's OK to kill your unborn children, as it's just a proocess making them, that doesn't care one whit about them.
| Re: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one can come to the Father(God)(in Heaven), but by me." (John 14:6) This means that if you die without trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will die in your sins and be foreve
Re: You know he's not just hyping up his service, when your abortionist says he can make your child's birthday one special day, a day that can't be matched ever again. Your abortionist says he can put your child's head back on his shoulders, and make
Here's one for you God-Haters (Since there are countless religions in the world today claiming to be the one true religion, why do you think yours is truer than theirs? )
Which one of you wrote this about me on Wikepedia?
Be baptized every one of you
Blessed is the one whom You choose, and cause to come near You. He shall dwell in Your courts... Ps. 65:4
Here's One For You
|
|
|
