Sunday Sermons
God's Purpose - Part 1
God’s Purpose
“And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John” (Luke 7:29-30).
The above verse teaches that the Pharisees and lawyers refused to submit to John’s baptism even though it was God’s purpose for their lives that they do so. In like manner, some are rejecting the baptism taught by Christ in such passages as Mark 16:16, claiming that baptism is excluded from the true message that brings salvation, in other words, that the “gospel” does not include water baptism, and that one is saved prior to baptism. We should note that if the gospel does not include water baptism, then it could be discarded or rejected, as the Pharisees rejected the need to be baptized by John.
The Nature of Faith
From passages such as John 6:47 “he who believes has eternal life”, or Acts 15:9 “and He made no distinction between us and them cleansing their hearts by faith” it is argued that one is saved at the moment that one places all of ones in Jesus alone for salvation. Yet, in order to conclude that the term believes in John 6:47 or faith in Acts 15:9 means 100% trust in Jesus alone for salvation, we need to go to other passages. I say this because the terms believe or faith can also refer to a conviction that does not save (John 12:42-43). Here we learn that many of the rulers believed in Him and yet were not saved. Obviously, here 100% trust in Jesus for salvation includes confessing Him, this same truth is taught in Romans 10:9-10. At times people ridicule the idea that when the New Testament teaches about a faith that saves that such faith naturally would include whatever conditions are necessary for salvation, including water baptism, yet from the above passages we know that the “faith” of John 6:47, includes confessing Christ. One writer who argued that one is saved at the moment he exercises faith in Jesus, kept adding additional conditions to that faith: It had to be 100%. It had to include repentance. It had to be a trusting and submitting faith, a faith and relies upon and clings to Jesus, a faith that turns from 100% of my sins, and a faith that says a prayer for salvation. The writer has admitted that the faith that saves has definite conditions, that is, it must be active and obedient, and obey whatever God demands for salvation. At this point many people need to admit that baptism, as well as repentance and confession, is a condition for salvation (Acts 2:38; 8:37-38). Which means that baptism is not a human work of seeking to earn salvation. If repentance and confession are necessary for salvation, and are in no way or shape a “work” that merits salvation then people need to see that baptism is a condition that God has stated that in no way earns salvation either. The conclusion then is, if the faith of John 6:47 or Acts 15:9 includes repentance and confession, then we cannot argue that it does not include baptism.
Acts 10:43
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins”
Here it is argued that Cornelius was saved prior to the water baptism of 10:47, because verse 10:43 teaches instant salvation to those who believe in Jesus. First, I am always surprised when people simply ignore all the verses on a particular subject. The expression forgiveness of sins is also connected with baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16), and repentance (Acts 2:38). Seeing that other passages clearly teach that repentance and baptism are also conditions to obtain the forgiveness of sins, we must conclude that the term believes in the above verse includes believing in all that Jesus taught concerning salvation. In like manner, Paul noted that believing in Him includes believing that He was raised from the dead (Romans 10:9). To argue that baptism is not necessary because we have a passage that links belief with forgiveness of sins, makes about as much sense as arguing that faith is not necessary because we have passages that link baptism with the forgiveness of sins. Why not rather just accept all the passages on the subject? Is not the nature of true faith to accept all that Jesus said, and not just part of what He said?
Acts 10:44
Here it is argued that Cornelius was saved prior to water baptism, because the Holy Spirit came upon him prior to baptism. 1. Yet the Holy Spirit did not come upon Cornelius to save him, for he was ready to believe the message from God that Peter was to preach to him (Acts 10:33). Rather, on this occasion, the Holy Spirit came upon these people to convince Peter and others that it was all right to baptize Gentiles (Acts 10:20 “without misgivings”; 10:28; 10:47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 11:1-18). 2. Some get confused because they link the “gift of the Holy Spirit” stated in Acts 2:38 with the Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius, and then try to argue that since the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius prior to baptism, then remission of sins must precede baptism as well. Yet obviously they are not the same thing. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 follows baptism and is not prior to it. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 is not miraculous, for people were baptized, received this gift, but did not always have the Holy Spirit in a miraculous sense (Acts 8:12-17).
Acts 15:9
This verse is used in the attempt to prove that baptism is not essential to salvation, but note what the verse actually says. The verse is teaching that Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way. Now what did Jews and Gentiles both have to do to be saved? Jews had to be baptized (Acts 2:38), and so did Gentiles (Acts 10:47). Note that in the case of Cornelius, even after the Holy Spirit had come upon him in a miraculous sense, Cornelius still had to be baptized, it was not an optional matter, rather, water baptism was commanded. In addition, the above verse states that the heart is purified by faith. Other passages link this purification of the heart with baptism (1 Corinthians 6:11 “you were washed, but you were sanctified”; Hebrews 10:22 “having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water”; 1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience”).
Acts 2:38
It is argued that the phrase “for the forgiveness of sins” is only connected with the word “repent” and not with the phrase “be baptized”. First and foremost the reader should always be wary of arguments that hinge on a verse being inaccurately translated. One can make all the arguments on Greek grammar in the world, and yet still the experts of Greek grammar who translated Acts 2:38 never render the verse repent for the forgiveness of sins, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then be baptized. In order for the above argument to be true, one would have to concede that every translation of Acts 2:38 is wrong. It is then argued that the term for does not mean “in order to obtain”, but rather, because of in this passage. The Greek word translated for commonly and predominately means, “unto”. Of the 1773 occurrences of the Greek word eis (for) in the New Testament, only four might mean “because”. In addition, if we argue that the expression for the forgiveness of sins, means, “because you have already been forgiven”, then is that true in all the uses of that expression? For example, Jesus shed His blood for forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). Did Jesus die for people who were already saved? Consider the use of eis in Acts 3:19 “that your sins may be wiped away”, or literally, unto your sins being blotted out. It should be noted that the two above arguments cannot be used together. If repentance is linked with the expression for the forgiveness of sins, then one must admit that people are saved before they forsake their sins or before they have any remorse for their sins, yet the Bible is clear that repentance is prior to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). Finally, consider the context of Acts 2:38. If these people are forgiven prior to baptism, then why does Peter continue to exhort them, be saved from this perverse generation? (Acts 2:40). Also consider verse 41. Not until the Bible says that people “received the word”, that is accepted the gospel, was anyone baptized. Not until people were baptized, does the Holy Spirit say that people “were added” (2:41), that is, added to the number of those saved (2:47).
Galatians 3:26-27
It is here argued that the baptism in the above verse is not water baptism, yet water baptism is the baptism commanded (Acts 10:47-48), it is the baptism connected with the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16), it is the baptism that now saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Galatians 3:27 is speaking about a baptism “into Christ”. This is clearly water baptism, “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38); “buried with Him in baptism” (Colossians 2:12); “baptized into Christ…buried with Him through baptism” (Romans 6:3-4). Note: When one argues against the baptism in Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, or Romans 6:3-5, they are conceding that such passages are talking about water baptism. One cannot consistently contend that the baptism into Christ of Romans 6:3 is water, but the baptism into Christ of Galatians 3:27 is not water.
1 Corinthians 12:13
It is here contended that the baptism that puts one into the body of Christ is Holy Spirit baptism, yet the passage is not talking about being baptized into the Spirit, rather it says, “by one Spirit”, that is through the agency of the Spirit. Through the gospel message, the Holy Spirit tells us that we need to be baptized to be saved and to be part of the body of Christ (Acts 2:38,41,47).
John 3:5
Some believe that the “water” in this passage is a figurative expression for the word of God. Actually, it is “Spirit” that is connected with the word of God (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Ephesians 6:17 “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”). The water is a clear reference to baptism. Consider Ephesians 5:26 “washing of water with the word”. Faith that is produced by the Word of God and baptism go hand in hand (Mark 16:16; Titus 3:3).
1 Peter 3:20-21
I have recently read an article that denies that baptism now saves us, but says that water baptism saves us from a bad conscience toward God, However, in saying that water baptism saves us from a bad conscience toward God, the writer is conceding that water baptism is essential to a good conscience toward God, and what is the difference between a bad and good conscience? Sin! (Hebrew 9:14) The writer argues that only the righteous Noah and family were dry and only the wicked came in contact with the water. Yet, note that Peter argues that while the water meant destruction for the wicked, it meant deliverance for Noah, “were brought safely through the water”, and that deliverance by water is the parallel that Peter draws with baptism, and corresponding to that. Without the flood, Noah and his family would have remained in a corrupt world, they were dry in the ark, but without the water, they were not going anywhere, nor would they be delivered from anything.
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us/mdunagan@easystreet.com
