Subject: "need" for baptiam |
Bible Note: Greetings Grace and Truth! Since Acts 22:16 is part of Paul's retelling of his conversion, let us take a look at the first narration of it in chapter 9: Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;(NASB) I'm not sure if there is such a term as a "living parable", but if there is, this passage is one. Notice, if you will, that the scales fell from Saul's(Paul's) eyes, BEFORE he was baptized. The meaning: we, in our own flesh, in our own works, are blind as Bartameus. But, when we receive Jesus, and believe in His life, death, and resurrection, we begin to see how to live for Him, and to let Him live through us. That is when we receive salvation. It is after this transformation that we need to make a public confession of faith, and symbolically wash our flesh with water, as Jesus' Blood has cleansed our soul. Just a couple more passages for you to ponder: Acts 16:29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, Acts 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." --------------------------- Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Rom 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ----------------------------------- Matt 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. --------------------------------------- Acts 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." It is Christ who performs the true baptism, with the Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost) and fire. I truly do hope you will not merely read these passages without meditating on them, that you will allow yourself to trust in the fact that it is Jesus' shed Blood that is the perfect and only means necessary to purge us of our unrighteousness. May the Grace of Our Lord be with you! 2nd Samuel 22 |