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NASB | Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:41 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. |
Subject: Who should baptize? |
Bible Note: Hi, Searcher... "the called of Jesus Christ ...beloved of God, called to be saints, (Romans 1:6-7) ...church of God… sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ; (1 Corinthians 1:2) …called you into the grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6) ...those who are of faith (Galatians 3:9)… the faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1) ...the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi (Philippians 1:1) ...the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, ... we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints (Colossians 1:2, 4) ...to the church of the Thessalonians ...our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power ...and you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 5-6) ...your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other (2 Thessalonians 1:3) ...Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8) ...the testing of your faith produces patience (James 1:3) ...to the pilgrims of the dispersion ...begotten again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:1-3) ...to those who have obtained like precious faith with us ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:1-3)." The purity of the church is an important responsibility. Furthermore, granting baptism to a lost person would be terribly misleading to the congregation, the world, and the party baptized. I don't know why anyone would want to simply take a person's word for their spiritual condition. Doctor's don't do that for physical conditions. Is not this a question of huge and eternal importance? The purity of the church, the gospel message, and the assurance of the believer is worth a little face-to-face counseling time. I remember hearing an old soldier's declaration, "Kill em all, and let God sort them out." That sort of approach to baptism -- although common in the Finneyistic evangelicalism of the last century -- is alien to the positively and sovereignly instituted ordinances given the church by Christ. In Him, Doc |