Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: There is a serious need of interpretation of scripture in the church. Acts 18:24-25;19:1-5 is not about baptism at all, it's actually about faith. Apollos was mighty in scripture, instructed in the way of the Lord and yet when Aquila and Priscilla heard him teach they took him aside.(v.26) Why? Because he only knew the baptism of John, that is to say he didn't fully understand Christian faith (Christ's death,burial and resurrection). And they expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (v.26) Now then; the disciples of chapter 19 are those of John the baptist but continued under the teaching of Apollos (both being in Ephesus; compare Acts 18:24 and 19:1). These were the same men whose jealously led them to questioned John of Jesus's authority to baptize (John 3:25,26). Some of them thought John to be the Christ (John 3:28). When Paul asked them "Have you recieved the Holy Ghost since you believed?" he wasn't interested in their spirituality. He was simply locating their faith. To sum it up Paul led them to a faith in Jesus; telling them not to believe in John but to "BELEIVE ON HIM THAT SHOULD COME AFTER HIM,THAT IS, ON CHRIST JESUS" (v.4)cf. Luke 3:15,16. In Acts 16:30 the questioned was asked "what must I do to be saved?" and Paul and Silas simply answered "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (v.31). That is the only condition! For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (1 Cor 1:17a). For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom 1:16). Paul knew perfectly the word FAITH that he preached (Rom 10:8,9) he knew that was made unto salvation. Baptism is an outward show of an inward experience.(Rom 6;3,4). We must be very careful not to seek justification by a sign.(1 Cor 1 :21,22) THE TRUTH IN LOVE. |