Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Just what is the purpose of baptism? | Heb 11:7 | Rowdy | 129827 | ||
I've been watching and reading the recent posts on this subject for the past couple of weeks and restraining myself. So since I've been raised in a christian home as was my mother. Both my father and grandfather were elders so I was expected to "study and show myself approved" long before I finished school. But how could so many people be so passionately against this action as being an actual part of salvation so I was motivated to re-study the topic with as objective attitude as possible. Let's go all the way back to Leviticus. Have you ever considered just why did our God give his Israelite so much details and specific requirements in the matter of making sacrifices and worship to Him? I also looked at the antitype of the Ark to the modern age of Christianity. I suppose you've heard that comparison before. The flood compared to the world of sin and the ark compared to the church sealed tight against sin flooding in. Have you ever considered why did God instruct Noah to build only one door and just one window. A big huge boat, big enough to accommodate all the animals of the world with just one each door and window. It seems like an endorsement of just one entrance to the church and one single avenue of getting information from outside the ark/church. I then notice Naaman with his problem with leporsy. He finally obeys the instructions he receives from Elisha, God's prophet and is cleansed of this horrible disease, but notice only upon complying with ALL of the specific commands in spite of their not having any relation to a logical reason, at least by man's reasoning. So we come to John the Baptist who babptizes the actual living Son of God Almighty, the very Messiah Himself. He doesn't really want to do as he feels so inadequately qualified but Jesus insists. And of course, God gives His own seal of approval from Heaven as does the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Jesus lived the only sinless life and died as the Perfect Sacrifie because of that sinless life, but he still was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. So how could we possibly argue about doing the same? He set the stage in John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus gives the great commission in Matt 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We see the first Gospel sermon in Acts 2 and the climax as follows Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Simple question and simple answer. Well, I really don't want to fill up the rest of the alloted space with verses which we know so well. Suffice it to say we can insert the word baptize into the word search and see for ourselves all the emphasis God places on baptism. Now you're probably wondering about now so why didn't God just put a chapter or a book in His Word, our Bible entitled Plan of Salvation or maybe How to Get into the Church and be Saved? I don't really know but I can guess. Apparently it looks like, in keeping with how God has revealed Himself and His Word over several thousand years, that he wants us to dig out for ourselves the step by step process. You see our going to Heaven is a gradual process. As indicated throughout Jesus' teaching and throughout the rest of the Bible, we draw closer to Him and He draws closer to us. So we should this refining process as a good thing. God is refining the physical out of our being so that we can feel comfortable with our God's Home that He has waiting for us. One last comparison and I'll conclude this post. It does seem that there is some similarity between circumcision and the act of baptism as they both are ritual type acts and seem to be the main focal point (threshhold) for people in their respective dispensations to get close to God. I do hope and pray this is all clear and God bless. Rowdy |
||||||
2 | Just what is the purpose of baptism? | Heb 11:7 | Hiskid84 | 129828 | ||
Rowdy, I'm sure anything we can say has likely already been said on this forum. You posted as a question and then proceeded to answer yourself. While I am still trying to learn my way around the forum, it seems it would have been better posted as a note. I wish I had time to address more of your points. Since I don't, I will only address one; your analogy of Noah. You stated that one comparison is of "the flood being the world of sin" and "the ark being the church sealed tight against sin flooding in." Personally, I have never heard that analogy. Of course, I wasn't raised in church and had no Bible teaching in the stories that are often taught in children's classrooms. However, as an adult and since being saved, I have always interpreted the flood to be God's judgment (wiping out all people outside the ark) and the ark as being a type of Christ, providing salvation to those within the ark. The verse I cited says this: "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Hebrews 11:7 NKJ I will pick this up again soon. Maybe others will respond as well. In Him, Karen |
||||||