And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 20, Number
05
10/15/2017
Published
by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
All sing last Wednesday
Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers
Editor......Joe R. Price
Elders
Morris Bass
Rich Brooks
Rick Holt
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Shane Bass
Mike Finn
Dan Head
In this issue:
Devaluing Water Baptism
Joe R. Price
So, what do these sincerely mistaken religious folks do about all these Bible passages that say baptism is necessary for salvation? Their pronouncement of allegiance to the Bible as God’s word is diminished and rendered ineffective when they reject the necessity of water baptism for salvation which the Bible affirms. We urge our religious friends to accept the plain, Bible teaching on this subject. Reject the teaching that says the Bible cannot possibly mean what it says about the necessity of water baptism to be saved, for it is from men, not God (1 Cor. 1:21; Gal. 1:6-10).
Here are some of the things that are said to resist and reject the necessity of water baptism.
1) “I don’t need to be baptized, because I was baptized when I was a baby.” By this they refer to the practice of sprinkling infants to remove inherited sin. The New Testament always presents the one to be baptized as a believer, and never as an infant (who is without mental and moral capacity, and who is free of sin, Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Matt. 18:3-4). Sprinkling is not baptism, for the word itself means to dip, to plunge, to immerse. The practice of sprinkling as a form of baptism did not begin in New Testament times. It cannot be found on its pages. Over 1000 years later, the Roman Catholic Council of Ravenna (1311) declared sprinkling to be acceptable. One who has been sprinkled has not been Scripturally baptized.
2)
“The passages that talk about baptism are really describing an internal,
spiritual process, the baptism or work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of
the sinner – not actual water baptism.” One problem with this
explanation is the prominence of water in the baptism commanded by the
apostles of Christ in the New Testament. When the Ethiopian came upon water,
he knew he needed to be baptized in it (Acts 8:36-39). Peter commanded water
for the baptism of Cornelius and his house (Acts 10:47-48). Saul arose and
was baptized to “wash away his sins” (Acts 22:16). An unbiased reading of
Scripture shows how God uses water baptism to save us (1 Pet. 3:20-21). The
proper, desired and commanded element of baptism in the New Testament is
water. We cannot “spiritualize” away the water, in an effort to escape its
necessity.
3) “The purpose of water baptism is not important.” The apostle Peter
said it is “for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38. That’s important.
Ananias said it will “wash away your sins” in Acts 22:16. That’s important.
Jesus said baptism is needed to be “saved” in Mark 16:16. That’s important.
Why we are baptized in water is just as important as whether we have been
baptized at all.
4) “Water baptism is important to obey Jesus, but not to be saved.” The problem with this is simple: Scripture says water baptism is necessary for salvation (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). When we love Jesus, we obey Him (Jno. 14:15). Jesus saves those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). Therefore, when one loves Jesus, he obeys Jesus by being baptized, and Jesus saves him, just as He said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk. 16:16).
5) “All this talk about water baptism is nit-picking. We should focus on the grace of God and the faith of man, as in Romans 5:1-2, or Ephesians 2:8-9.” When we plead for the necessity of water baptism we are focusing on both the grace of God and the faith of man. The sinner is baptized into the death of Jesus (Rom. 6:3). Water baptism for the remission of sins is an act of faith by which the sinner obtains God’s grace (Eph. 2:8). When he is baptized into the death of Jesus, the blood of Jesus washes away the sinner’s sins (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3). God’s merciful grace saves us when we receive the “washing of regeneration” that occurs in water baptism (Titus 3:4-5; Eph. 5:26).
There is “one baptism” today; not two (Eph. 4:5). It is the Great Commission baptism (Mk. 16:15-16). It is water baptism (Acts 8:35-39; 10:47-48). It is for every sinner (Matt. 28:19). It is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The water cannot be spiritualized away. It is an actual burial in actual water (Rom. 6:4; Acts 8:38). It cannot be changed from immersion in water, to the sprinkling or pouring of water.
We implore you to accept and obey the Bible teaching on water baptism. If
you do not, you will find yourself fighting against God (Acts 5:39). Yield
your will to His, and in faith, be baptized in water to be saved.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Echoes from the Belly of a Fish
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1:3-6
I. CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD, Jonah 1:1-3.
A. Cannot Hide our Hearts from Him, Heb. 4:13; Psa. 139:1-4, 7-12.
B. Our Moment of Flight from God can become Moment of Salvation,
Jonah 1:17.
II. GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY TURN THEIR
HEARTS TO HIM, Jonah 2:1-2.
A. Power of Prayer, Acts 8:22-24; 1 Jno. 1:9; Jas. 5:15-18.
B. Although Our Sins Separate Us from God, He Delivers Us When We
Repent and Look to Him, Jonah 1:17; 2:4, 6-7.
III. GOD DISCIPLINES US WITH TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS SO WE WILL
REMEMBER HIM, Jonah 2:3-7.
A. Trials Discipline Us, Heb. 12:3-6, 9-10.
B. Requires Faith to See the Blessings of Trials, 2:6; Heb. 12:11; 1
Pet. 4:12-13, 16.
IV. SALVATION IS OF THE LORD, Jonah 2:9-10.
A. Idols of Men are Worthless to Save, 2:8.
B. Salvation does not Excuse Us from Keeping Our Vows to God, 2:9;
Eccl. 5:1-5; 12:13-14; Heb. 5:8-9.
V.OBEDIENCE WITHOUT THANKSGIVING IS EMPTY, Jonah 2:9.
A. Obey God because We Adore Him and Thank Him for Mercy, 1 Tim. 1:12.
B. You Must Repent to be Ready to do God’s Work, Jonah 2:7-3:4; Lk.
22:31-32.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Romans 6:16-23
1. Scriptures instruct in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:16.
2. Our aim is to be righteous, Rev. 22:11.
I. IN THE SENSE OF SINLESS PERFECTION, NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS,
Rom. 3:10.
A. None are Without Sin, Psa. 14:1-3.
1. Bible tells of righteous people.
2. Hunger for righteousness, Matt. 5:6 (6:33).
3. Faith is counted for righteousness, Rom. 4:3, 5-8 (God is the
Justifier, Rom. 3:26; Phil. 3:9).
B. Christians are Bondservants of Righteousness, Rom. 6:13, 18-22; 1
Jno. 2:29.
II. FIND A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, AND YOU FIND A SERVANT OF OTHERS,
Acts 6:3-6.
A. By Helping the Needy, Acts 6:2-3; 9:36.
B. By Teaching the Lost and Defending the Truth, Acts 6:8-10.
III. FIND A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, AND YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO COMFORTS,
EXHORTS AND WORKS WELL WITH OTHER BRETHREN, Acts 11:19-26.
A. One Who Rejoices in the Salvation of Others, Acts 11:23.
B. One Who is Not Content with Past Accomplishments, Acts 11:23-24.
C. One Who Works with Others, Acts 11:25.
IV. FIND A RIGHTEOUS PERSON AND YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO STANDS FAST,
1 Cor. 16:13.
A. One Who Executes Justice and Seeks Truth, Jer. 5:1-2; Matt. 5:9;
Phil. 4:2-3.
B. One Who Stands in the Gap against Sin and Error,
Ezek. 22:30 (23-31); Eph. 5:11.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Blazing Inferno
Joe R. Price
The fire came fast and furious, fueled by dry grass and timber, and
fanned by 75 mph winds. Wildfires roared through parts of northern
California this week, causing major damage and loss of life. Currently,
29 are confirmed dead, with hundreds still reported missing. Fire has
now destroyed at least 3,500 homes and businesses. The aftermath is
stark. Whole neighborhoods were literally burned to the ground.
Conditions are conducive for more to come: “It’s going to continue to
get worse before it gets better,” state fire Chief Ken Pimlott
said Wednesday” (“California wildfires may have been sparked by power
lines as death toll climbs to 24,” foxnews.com).
We express our sympathy to all who are being affected, and prayerfully
hope the fires are soon brought under control.
When tragic events occur, wisdom compels us to soberly consider the
spiritual lessons that arise.
1) Reflection. Natural
catastrophes get our attention, as they should. They cause us to
consider our place on earth before the Almighty, and to be thankful for
our blessings. They remind us of our mortality. They cause us to look
inward, to examine whether we are right with God (2 Cor. 13:5). Fiery
trials test our faith, and assure our hearts before the Lord (1 Pet.
4:12-16; Psa. 66:8-12).
2) Correction.
Sober reflection, coupled with assessing one’s spiritual condition,
leads sinners to repent of sins (Lk. 13:1-5). We should learn from
tragedies that we need to be ready to meet the Lord (Matt. 25:13). Death
and judgment are coming, and the fires of hell are unquenchable
(Heb. 9:27; Mk. 9:43-48).
3) Devotion.
Reflective examination plus corrective repentance fosters devoted,
obedient allegiance to the Lord (Matt. 11:28-30). Calamities teach us to
maintain righteous priorities (Matt. 6:33; 7:24-27).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 10/17/2017
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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