The Necessity of Baptism

Many people reject the need for baptism (immersion) in water as part of the process of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 is often cited to support this idea.

Does this understanding of baptism - the idea that "faith alone (sola fide) is required" - match with the rest of Scripture, with what we read in the New Testament?

Jesus addressed this in John 3:5.
He also spoke of it in Mark 16:16.
Peter preached this in Acts 2:38.
He also addressed this in Acts 10:47-48.
Peter later wrote about it in 1 Peter 3:21.
Ananias instructed Saul (Paul) about it, as related in Acts 22:16.
Paul (Saul) later wrote of it in Romans 6:3.
He addressed the subject again in 1 Corinthians 12:13, and in Ephesians 4:5 and
Ephesians 5:25-26.

It is Jesus' blood that washes away our sins - that blood and its action is God's free gift to us. We can't earn it. But it is God's gift; He as Author of our salvation, also creates the conditions for receiving the gift He gives us by His grace. The gift of salvation, including forgiveness of our sins, comes free from Him, but to think that submitting to baptism is any more a "work" to "earn" salvation, is as wrong as to think that filling out and putting the entry card in the box is "work" and "earns" us the grand prize in the drawing down at the supermarket.

Indeed, if there is any "work" done in baptism, it is done by the person doing the baptizing, and the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" into whom we are baptized. Submission to baptism is the antithesis of "earning our salvation" - and expresses as nothing else can our faith and trust in the grace of the Lord.

There are those (and I am one) who argue that remission (forgiveness) of sins flows from (pun intended) the waters of baptism - as contrasted to those who claim that forgiveness precedes the immersion of the believer. I think I am taking Peter's words in Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21 at face value, but I am no Greek scholar. So I try not to argue - but simply point out what the Scriptures say. It appears to me that salvation comes from God to us by means of a process: all of these things are intended to restore us to God's fellowship after WE, by sinning, have cut ourselves off from Him. I'm trying NOT to be like Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19) who wanted to quibble over the terms of God's gift to him of healthy life. His servant could ask us the same question he did ask his master: "If the prophet had told you to do some mighty deed, would you have objected?" God wants us to be baptized, and the command is made to those who believe on Him. We need to do it, in the same way and with the same attitude that those in the First Century did.

Enough!

"Give to him who asks..."

Matthew 5:42 finishes a series of three admonitions of our Lord regarding trials and tribulations with these words: "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

Why is this particular command from our Lord here? It does not seem to be directly related to demonstrating a good attitude under trial. But is it not difficult, and therefore a test or trial, to have a godly attitude in parting with what we hold dear? Especially when we are dealing with people that may be difficult to deal with, for a variety of reasons, including family and brothers and sisters in Christ. The parallel in Luke 6:30 follows the pattern of the previous statements and illustrations: "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back." Does this seem foolish? Many think that what Jesus requires here is foolish, for many reasons. Are we to give to everyone? Are we to allow our property to be stolen, without objecting? Perhaps Luke 6:34-35 clarifies what Jesus intends for us to do: “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” The Lord’s illustration in this verse in Matthew deals with borrowing and lending, not with allowing thieves to rob us. As in the other illustrations, the primary point made is that loss or financial harm is preferable, rather than to retaliate or worsen the situation. When we give to someone in need (even in the guise of a loan), we should not expect to be repaid for our generosity, and we should certainly not take steps to force reimbursement. Benevolence should be done without expecting any gain. But God knows what we do, and He will provide and show us His favor: "He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given." Proverbs 19:17. If a person asks for a loan of money or goods, we should address his request assuming that he makes it in good faith, if there are no reasons to doubt his sincerity. But we must keep in mind basic principles from God's Word. What principles? We are to be good stewards of what God has given us. We are to take care of our own (starting with our families and then with our brothers and sisters in our own congregation). We are not to encourage laziness or sustain the idle. We are certainly not to aid vices (alcohol, drugs, or other addictions). And we cannot aid shady or dubious get-rich-quick schemes. These all make sense, and require a good deal of discernment on our part, especially since people can and do change, and not always for the good. Jesus' suggestion is that, if we do lend to others, we should consider that money to be gone forever. The struggle to regain it is likely not worth the effort, and is likely to damage relationships, and will do no good to one's character. So it is something to be avoided, and the best way is to make sure that we loan and give with careful discernment regarding the person and the situation. God does NOT want us to make a bad situation worse! In summary, what does Jesus’ illustration in Matthew 5:42 require of us? It asks of us, not only that we should lend without suspicion and with no eye to profit, but that we also should have a generous spirit of outgoing concern for a brother or sister in need. And it is not, as some claim, a command to let ourselves be conned, robbed, or stolen from with impunity.

The Wonders of God's World: Arsenic Bacteria

NASA had a special news conference to tout this discovery:

A strange, salty lake in California has yielded an equally strange bacterium that thrives on arsenic and redefines life as we know it, researchers reported on Thursday.

The bacteria do not merely eat arsenic — they incorporate the toxic element directly into their DNA, the researchers said.

The finding shows just how little scientists know about the variety of life forms on Earth, and may greatly expand where they should be looking for life on other planets and moons, the NASA-funded team said.

Obviously, we don't need to go to other worlds to find strange new lifeforms. The NASA search for life on other planets is fascinating, and stirs excitement in many people, but we often forget just why NASA and many scientists seek to find life elsewhere: because they believe that it will prove evolution and disprove special creation. This find will no doubt be enlisted in that great cause, as well.

But to the committed and knowledgeable child of God, this is one more proof of the marvelous wonder of God's creation. Here is a species which not only can tolerate an element (itself created by God) that normally kills organisms, but which NEEDS this element and incorporates it into itself.

I am reminded of Job 37:14, and of Job 42:3. We know that God did this - now, all you who preach and believe natural evolution, we wait for you to explain how this species could evolve, either with or without divine help.

Edward

King Saul - Lessons Learned (Part 1)

Pity poor Saul ben Kish of Benjamin. Handsome, strong, well-built, from a family of warriors (1 Samuel 9:1-2), Saul was at the wrong place at the wrong time, as events showed; though he certainly thought he had lucked out.

The People of Israel were tired of freedom, tired of liberty, tired of being a chosen people and wanted to be like all the rest of the nations (1 Samuel 8:4-5), and God decided to tell Samuel to let them have what they wanted, but warned them of what they would get together with what they wanted. (1 Samuel 8:11-17)

So God picked Saul. Was it because he knew that Saul, despite his best intentions, would turn out exactly as God had warned the elders of Israel? Or would ANYONE given that position, that authority, turn out to be as bad as Saul? We do not know, now.

Ultimately, Saul rebelled against God, as recorded in 1 Samuel 13: 9 and 1 Samuel 15:1-11. But together with that, he did a large number of foolish things, and his actions led to the virtual collapse of Israel and his own death together with his sons.

Matthew Allen, a gospel preacher, presents an excellent review of Saul's declining leadership. However, looking at this, it is difficult to see if ANY man could do better: proving the Lord's warning to Israel was, if anything, too mild by far.

The first lessons learned?
1. Do not trade your liberty for a little security - or worse, to be like everyone else.
2. Do not expect the best choice for "supreme leader" to be any good at all in the long run.