From Jim McGuiggan... Christ's Baptism and ours

Christ's Baptism and ours

In the NT, when people were called to be baptized into the name of Christ it was to have their sins forgiven (Acts 2:37-38 and 22:16). But there was much more to it than that. Peter’s central affirmation in Acts 2:38 is not that baptism brings remission of sins but that baptism is “in the name of” Jesus Christ. A faith-baptism in the NT is a confession of and identification with Jesus Christ and all he means and stands for. They wanted forgiveness—as a nation and as individuals they had foundationally sinned against God and wanted it made right. How are they to make it right (2:37)?

      [It’s silly at this point to say that they asked the wrong question—“What must we do?” Peter wasn’t offended by the question and those of us that verge on having a seizure every time we get a whiff of what we think is “legalism” are simply off base. See Acts 2:40-41.] 

How are they to make things right with God? They must accept Jesus Christ as the one God marks him out to be (2:22-33). And how was this to be done? In trusting repentance they were to be baptized in his name, that is, acknowledging him as God’s, Lord and Messiah (2:36).

But while this is true it isn’t enough. Clear teaching on baptism in the NT (setting aside some texts that may be mused over as indecisive) is a conscious and trusting response by repentant people to identify themselves with Jesus Christ and what that name means.

I mean more than that baptism does identify them with Jesus Christ; I’m saying that in clear NT teaching people who came to be baptized meant to and were called to identify themselves with Jesus Christ. As in the case of Israel with the baptism of John the Baptist so it is with all who are called together from the nations of the world by God through the gospel concerning Jesus Christ. Baptism for Israel was a turning to God, a conscious acceptance of God’s judgement on the nation and a turning to him. So it is with all who are called into the body of Christ by the gospel—it is more than a gift they are being offered (and it mostly certainly is sheer gift), it is a call to responsive commitment. Baptism is not a simple request for forgiveness—it is a commitment to God’s agenda in Christ and his method of gaining his purposes in Christ. Baptism is a God-induced and free response from the sinner by which he commits himself to God and all God’s purposes in and for the world.

      And certainly while Jesus Christ is uniquely God’s Son and was the sinless one by holy righteousness, he was called by God to commit himself to God’s creative and redemptive enterprise by being baptized by John. Though sinless and in no need of personal repentance, Jesus justified God’s judgment on a nation that needed to repent—a nation of which Christ was a part—by joining them in a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

In being baptized Jesus not only accepted the Father’s assessment of Israel’s state, he not only identified himself with his sinful family, he also saw that identification as having its place in God’s redeeming action and so he insisted on fulfilling all righteousness.

For the best reasons John might have wanted to debate the matter of Christ needing to be baptized but Jesus saw it as a matter of humble and holy obedience and not something to be debated. For the best reasons John would have turned Jesus from baptism (Matthew 3:13-15) but the sinless One saw it as the will of his Holy Father.

[And in the face of plain and consistent NT teaching why would we turn sinful ones away from baptism?]

What if Jesus had refused to be baptized? Would he even have debated it within himself?

I wonder who first asked the question, "Yes, but do I have to be baptized?"

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... JEREMIAH GOSPELED

JEREMIAH GOSPELED

A friend of mine gospeled to a friend of his called Jeremiah and experienced the joy of seeing that friend in a repentant trust taking on him the name of the Lord Jesus in baptism [note Acts 2:37-38; 19:1-5].

Paul speaks of the gospel as "mystery" [1 Timothy 3:16]—truth once hidden but now made known to the believers. He summarized it to Timothy.

The incarnation, the death and resurrection [implied in vindication in the Spirit—see Romans 1:3 and 1 Corinthians 15:34 with 1 Peter 3:18 and elsewhere] and His glorification are there and so is preaching. Angels saw it all and [astonishingly] he was "believed on in the world."

This world where the satanic and demonic forces grin and leer at us? The world of the emperors headed up by the prince/god of this world? Jesus was preached in a world like that and believed in?

No wonder he called the mystery "great".

Now and then [not too often!] I'm again stunned by what I see and hear at a baptism. Stunned by the gospeling that goes on there. I think of the noise, the jeering, the voices, sobbing women, hammers on spikes, groans—all that and more! There’s the clash of worlds, empires coming down in ruins, someone bursting up out of the water like someone bursting out of the tomb in a resurrection to triumph and deathless glory.

All of that is rehearsed in baptism in response to a foolish preached message voiced by fools for a Lord who again plays the fool in a Church that’s called his Body [note 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and 4:10]. 

Once more in his new body [Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23] he embraces the mocking as he reprises his victory over a “world” of entrenched evil and shows his triumph over the world-spirit at the baptism of a single young person called Jeremiah.

There! There in that moment and in that act the gargantuan world, the behemoth that swallows up nations is shown to be the donkey it is.

Dear God, it’s done with words! How insane is that? Not just       words; words that “the world” jeers at!

“What’s wrong with these idiots—they think their ‘gospel’ makes 

         sense!”

Yes, we do!

“And more and more idiots believe the words!”

Yes, they do!

And these words bring empires down in ruins, they dismantle worlds and bring evil imaginations and lies into captivity and lay them at the feet of the King of Kings [2 Corinthians 10:3-5].

When you say these things quickly [or develop them slowly and deliberately] they can make the adrenalin rush and the heart beat faster. But when they were transpiring in actual history in the beginning—before the little house churches in Rome grew so large that they knocked down the Roman amphitheaters to make room—before that happened the Church must have appeared pathetic and its gospel weak philosophy but it was God’s power because in it God’s saving righteousness was made known and the “world” collapsed before it [Romans 1:16].

For a while it must have seemed like tens of thousands of tiny losses, endless vain rushes when the believers had hoped they would end the wicked thing in one determined push. Instead they found it a long hard, slow, unpromising series of engagements with a stubborn foe with a million satanic allies.  But it happened—rush or no rush, dramatically or in a slow resistless tide.

We hear the same jeering today, note the same bored indifference, listen to the same tolerant and “wise” dismissal, watch the same rolling of the eyes and shaking of he unbelieving heads.

Then Jeremiah in response to gospeling approaches the water and in faith plunges in and rises into a new world!

Great is the mystery of godliness!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... He Is Risen! (Mk. 16:1-14)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                         He Is Risen! (16:1-14)

INTRODUCTION

1. After Jesus was buried, His body lay in the tomb until early Sunday
   morning...
   a. On Saturday evening, three women bought spices to anoint Him - Mk 16:1
   b. On Sunday morning, they came to the tomb as the sun was rising
      - Mk 16:2

2. The woman were concerned about access to the tomb...
   a. It had been sealed with a large stone - Mk 15:46; 16:3
   b. But the large stone had been rolled away! - Mk 16:4

3. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man...
   a. Clothed in a long white robe (an angel) - Mk 16:5; cf. Mt 28:2
   b. They were alarmed, but he sought to calm their fears - Mk 16:5-6

4. His message to the women...
   a. "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He is risen!"
   b. "See the place where they laid Him."
   c. "But go, tell His disciples -- and Peter -- that He is going
      before you into Galilee."
   d. "There you will see Him, as He had said to you." - Mk 16:6-7

[The women left amazed and afraid (Mk 16:8).  But soon their fear would
turn into great joy!  Not just for them, but for other disciples as
well.  To appreciate why, let’s survey the appearances of Jesus in all
four gospel accounts, plus those listed by Paul...]

I. THE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST TO HIS DISCPLES

   A. TO MARY MAGDALENE...
      1. As described in our text - Mk 16:9-11
      2. Expounded by John in his gospel - Jn 20:11-18

   B. TO THE OTHER WOMEN...
      1. As revealed in Matthew’s gospel - Mt 28:9-10
      2. Where Jesus reiterated what the angel had said - ibid.

   C. TO TWO DISCIPLES WALKING IN THE COUNTRY...
      1. As described in our text - Mk 16:12-13
      2. Elaborated by Luke in his gospel - Lk 24:13-32

   D. TO PETER...
      1. Reported after the testimony of the two disciples - Lk 24:33-35
      2. Mentioned by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:5

   E. TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS ABSENT...
      1. Possibly the occasion in our text - Mk 16:14
      2. Described in detail by Luke and John - Lk 24:36-43; Jn 20:19-25

   F. TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS PRESENT...
      1. A week later, as described by John - Jn 20:26-31
      2. Mentioned by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:5

   G. TO SEVEN DISCIPLES BY THE SEA OF GALILEE...
      1. Including Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John - Jn 21:1-2
      2. While they were fishing, and then eating together - Jn 21:3-25

   H. TO FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE...
      1. Recorded by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:6
      2. Possibly in Galilee as directed by the angel and Jesus - 

         Mk 16:7; Mt 28:10,16-17
      3. Possibly when the Great Commission was first given - Mt 28:18-20

   I. TO JAMES THE LORD’S BROTHER...
      1. Recorded by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:7
      2. Who previously did not believe, but then became a disciple - 

         Jn 7:5; Ac 1:14

   J. TO THE DISCIPLES WITH ANOTHER COMMISSION...
      1. Recorded by Luke in his gospel - Lk 24:44-49
      2. This time in Jerusalem, shortly before His ascension - Ac 1:3-8

   K. TO THOSE PRESENT AT HIS ASCENSION...
      1. Recorded in Mark’s gospel - Mk 16:19-20
      2. Also by Luke in both of his books - Lk 24:50-53; Ac 1:9-12

[These many appearances were claimed by the disciples of Jesus.  One
might properly ask, "Why should we believe them?"  That we might have
the same joy in believing that "He is risen!", consider...

II. THE STRENGTH OF THE DISCIPLES’ TESTIMONY

   A. DEMONSTRATED BY THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY...
      1. Their testimony appealed to empirical evidence
         a. I.e., evidence derived from experiment and observation
            rather than theory
         b. They refused to accept second hand evidence - Mk 16:11,13;
            Jn 20:25
         c. But for forty days they were given infallible proofs Ac 1:3; 10:41
         d. They saw, heard, and touched Him - Jn 20:24-28; 1Jn 1:1-2
      2. There is no way they could have been deceived or deluded
         a. If all they had were individual dreams, visions, or
            hallucinations...perhaps
         b. But they testified that Jesus appeared to them in groups as
            well as to individuals

   B. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR TRANSFORMATION...
      1. Prior to the resurrection, Jesus’ disciples were afraid and
         without hope
         a. They fled at his arrest - Mk 14:50
         b. Peter cowardly denied Him three times - Mk 14:66-72
         c. The women mourned His crucifixion - Lk 23:27
         d. After His death, the disciples were sad - Lk 24:13-17
         e. After His death, the disciples hid behind closed doors, for
            fear of the Jews - Jn 20:19
      2. But after the resurrection, they fearlessly praised God and
         proclaimed Jesus!
         a. Praising God in the temple - Lk 24:52-53
         b. Proclaiming Christ, despite persecution - Ac 5:28-32,41-42
      3. This transformation in their lives is strong evidence for the
         resurrection, as admitted by one Orthodox Jewish scholar:
         a. "If the disciples were totally disappointed and on the verge
            of desperate flight because of the very real reason of the
            crucifixion, it took another very real reason in order to
            transform them from a band of disheartened and dejected Jews
            into the most self-confident missionary society in world
            history."  - Pinchas Lapide, former Chairman of the Applied
            Linguistics Department at Israel’s Bar-Iland University
            (TIME, May 7, 1979)
         b. He concluded that a bodily resurrection could possibly have
            been that reason!

   C. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR HIGH MORAL STANDARD...
      1. They taught others to live holy lives - 1Th 4:1-7; Ep 4:25
      2. They lived their own lives in unimpeachable way - 1Th 2:3-12
      -- Does this sound like people who propagate lies when they know
         better?

   D. DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRICE THEY PAID...
      1. The apostles endured much suffering because of their testimony
         - 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 11:23-28
      2. All but one died a martyr’s death because of their testimony
      3. Even Jesus’ brother, James, was thrown off the temple and then
         clubbed to death for his testimony
      -- There was no motive for them to persistently lie about Jesus’
         resurrection!

CONCLUSION

1. As revealed in Mark’s gospel and those of Matthew, Luke, and John...
   a. Jesus Christ rose from the dead
   b. He appeared to many of His disciples
   c. Who later became witnesses of the resurrection

2. The nature of their witness does not allow for the option of being
   deceived or deluded...
   a. Again, they professed empirical evidence
   b. They claimed to eat and drink with Him, touch Him, see Him

3. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, there is only one
   alternative...
   a. These witnesses were liars, deceivers
   b. Even Paul freely admits this is the only alternative - 1Co
      15:14-15

4. Is it reasonable to believe they successfully propagated a lie...?
   a. Too many people attested to the same fact
   b. They were not the kind of people to fabricate such a falsehood
   c. They lived noble lives, and were ALL willing to suffer and die for
      their testimony!

When we carefully examine the lives and testimony of the witnesses of
the resurrection, the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that they
really saw what they claimed concerning Jesus...

                            "He is risen!"

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Bill and Laura Dayton... A CHANGED HEART

A CHANGED HEART

As parents our ultimate goal in training and disciplining our children is to imbed within their hearts a desire to do what is right. Mind you, there is some necessity to instill a fear of punishment/consequences to initially turn the stubborn will of the human nature towards obedience. The scripture encourages us by saying: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:15.

However, in modern times, we even see adult children continuing to need the type of correction that should have been done in early childhood. Our world pampers, excuses, justifies, and rescues their offspring by not demanding obedience and being unwilling to do what is necessary to allow God to bring consequences that factor into their decisions. Many adults come to Christ in fear seeking to avoid eternal destruction which is good, but God requires more of us. He requires a changed heart! John the Baptist faced the same situation in Matthew 3:4ff.

John was calling for true repentance. John wrote: “…when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducee's coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…” When one truly has a changed heart, this is when God blesses and restores all the privileges He gives as a loving Father. He always loves us, but requires a total change of heart which is evident in our behavior.

From Jim McGuiggan... When The Lord Says No

When The Lord Says No

Whatever Paul's thorn in the flesh was it was causing severe distress. It was "to buffet" him and the word doesn't suggest anything like "inconvenience". The very reading of the text suggests that the distress and pain is enduring and in light of God's response it was to last even longer.

Paul tells us he prayed to God about it and asked him three times to remove it. Three times might be literal and it might also reflect his imaging out of the Christ's experience in Gethsemane. Imaging it not in any slavish artificial way. And since he models his own life on that of Moses we will remember that Moses spoke to God more than once, asking God to let him in to the promised land. We'll recall that God told Moses the burden wouldn't be lifted and that he was not to mention the matter again (Deuteronomy 3:23-27).

In any case, Paul prayed fervently and asked for relief. In saying he asked he used an aorist verb in the indicative. This suggests that his days of asking were decisively in the past; he did it back then and was done with it. The reason he was done with it is because the Lord (in this text probably the Lord Jesus) who knew all about having a request denied, denied his request but gave him a glorious assurance.

When he tells us about the Lord's response Paul uses a verb in the perfect tense. And if we allow it to function as a perfect tense verb then Paul hears the word of the Lord ringing in his ears (Plummer) even as he writes to the Corinthians. Back then Paul used to ask for relief but he put a stop to it. And he stopped it because the Lord said something to him that is even now ringing in his ears.

Before we read what it was that the Lord said we need to note that for Paul it was decisive and satisfying. We need to note also that the man who was begging for relief was God's faithful servant who was on the rack. Instead of rushing over that truth to get to another we need to feel for the depths of that one.

This was such a person we might have thought should get a "yes" to the plea for relief. We sort of feel that he "earned" it. This was the sort of person 

we would be especially eager to relieve and if the Lord has any compassion about him--the kind of "compassion" that means something to us in particular--surely Paul's hurt was a strong appeal. But though all that might be true, this was such a person that in some ways made it easy for the Lord to say "no".

Paul's desire for ease was real and urgent because the pain was prolonged and severe. But down below his strong desire for relief was something profoundly stronger--his hunger to serve God's redeeming purposes. The situation here was such that relief would not have served God's gracious purposes best and that more than he wanted relief Paul wanted God's glory and our redemption in Christ.

Here's a section of scripture that urges us to believe that pain and loss and satanic cruelty serve the glorious purposes of God. Here is a section that urges us to believe that God looks at some among us and is enabled by their devotion to him and to the world to say "no" to their fervent pleas. It's to their everlasting credit that God says no!

But there's nothing Stoic about Paul's capacity to exult in God's "no". Nor does it come down simply to the fineness of his character. Paul was helped in this matter because of his theology. He actually believed that in his suffering God's reconciling of the world in Christ was constantly rehearsed before the eys of a watching world. The "dying" or "killing" (Barrett) of Christ was acted out again in Paul (as part of Christ's body the church) and in this way the gospel was getting out. If that's what was happening, Paul taught, then he would embrace his vulnerability and pain with joy. Maybe a richer theology of suffering would help some poor souls bear their awful burdens more easily.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Five Views Of Salvation (Mk. 16:15-16)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Five Views Of Salvation (16:15-16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Mark’s account of the Great Commission, Jesus’ words are clear and
   simple...
   a. He wanted the gospel proclaimed to everyone - Mk 16:15
   b. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved - Mk 16:16
   c. Those who do not believe will be condemned - ibid.

2. Even so, there are at least five diverse views regarding salvation...
   b. One view takes Jesus’ words at face value
   a. Four other views can be summarized by slightly altering the words
      of Jesus

[One view is held by those who do not profess to be Christians.  In
essence, they would say...]

I. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL NOT BE SAVED

   A. THIS VIEW HELD BY TWO SEPARATE GROUPS...
      1. Atheists who do not believe in God, heaven or hell, or
         salvation of any kind
      2. All who do not believe in Jesus
         a. Most Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. - who believe in God (or
            gods)
         b. But who do not believe that salvation is to be found in
            Jesus

   B. THIS VIEW CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE...
   1. There is a God who offers salvation (contrary to the views of
      atheists) - 1Ti 2:3-4
   2. Salvation does come through Jesus, and through Him only1Ti 2:5-6; Jn 14:6

[I doubt any present actually hold to this view, but many people do, and
this begins to illustrate how some are willing to deny the plain
statement of Jesus.  Consider a second view...]

II. HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE AND IS NOT BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED

   A. THIS VIEW HELD BY UNIVERSALISTS...
      1. Who believe that God will save everyone eventually
      2. To support their view, they will isolate some verses like 1Ti 2:6

   B. THIS VIEW CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE...
      1. Jesus Himself told that there would be few who would be saved
         - Mt 7:13-14
      2. Paul warned of those who would not be saved, but face the wrath
         of God - Ep 5:5-6

[Most Bible-believing, professing Christians would not accept the two
views covered thus far.  But there are some who accept a third view that
could be expressed as...]

III. HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED

   A. THIS VIEW HELD BY MOST WHO PRACTICE INFANT BAPTISM...
      1. By "baptizing" (actually sprinkling, not immersing) infants
         incapable of faith...
         a. They (esp. Catholics) indicate that faith is not essential
            to salvation
         b. Some (esp. Lutherans) try to get around this by saying that
            God imparts saving faith to the infant so baptism can still
            save
      2. By sprinkling or pouring instead of immersion, they also
         indicate Jesus did not mean what He said (the reason
         "baptizing" above is in quotes)

   B. THIS VIEW CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE...
      1. Faith is a necessary prerequisite...
         a. For baptism - Ac 8:35-37
         b. For salvation - Ro 10:9-10
      2. Sprinkling or pouring is NOT Bible baptism...
         a. The Greek word used in the Bible is "baptizo", and it means
            "to immerse"
         b. This is why baptism is described in the Bible as a "burial"
            - cf. Ro 6:3-4; Col 2:12
         c. Sprinkling or pouring was substituted in the place of
            baptism (immersion) hundreds of years after Christ and His
            apostles
         d. By keeping the "tradition of men" by sprinkling or pouring,
            we fail to keep the command of God" concerning baptism - cf.
            Jesus’ condemnation of displacing God’s commands with
            traditions of men, Mt 15:3-9
      3. Baptizing infants is without scriptural precedent
         a. There are no commands or examples of infant baptism
         b. Since the prerequisites of faith (Mk 16:16; Ac 8:37) and
            repentance (Ac 2:38; 17:30) are beyond the infant’s
            capability, they are not suitable candidates for baptism

[Most who hold to the view of sprinkling infants are honest and sincere.
Even so, they are just as guilty of teaching a view of salvation
different from Jesus as are atheists, many Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and
universalists.  But there is another view of salvation held by many, and
that is...]

IV. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS NOT BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED

   A. THIS VIEW HELD BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN FAITH ONLY...
      1. That one is saved before baptism, that baptism is not essential
         to salvation
      2. A view is held for all practical purposes by most evangelical
         denominations

   B. THIS VIEW CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE...
      1. For faith "alone" cannot save
         a. As declared by Jesus - cf. Mt 7:21; Lk 6:46
         b. As taught by His apostles - cf. Ro 6:17-18; He 5:9; 

            Jm 2:14,17,20,24,26; 1Pe 1:22
      2. For baptism is essential to salvation
         a. According to Jesus - Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16; Mt 28:18-20
         b. According to His apostles - Ac 2:38; 22:16; Col 2:12-13; Tit 3:5;

            1Pe 3:21

[Most who hold this view are sincere, and would not knowingly twisting
the words of Jesus.  I think of such people as Paul thought of his
brethren in the flesh (cf. Ro 10:1-3).  This leads us to the fifth and
final view of salvation, one we are compelled to accept if we take Jesus
at His word...]

V. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED

   A. THIS VIEW TAKES JESUS’ WORDS AT FACE VALUE...
      1. No explanations are necessary
      2. Jesus says what He means, and means what He says

   B. THIS VIEW IS CLEARLY WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES...
      1. That one must "believe" - cf. Ac 8:36-37
      2. That one must be "baptized" to enjoy the forgiveness of sins
         - cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16

CONCLUSION

1. Which one of the five views of salvation do you hold to...?
   a. He who believes and is baptized "will not" be saved?
   b. He who "does not believe" and "is not baptized" will be saved?
   c. He who "does not believe" and "is baptized" will be saved?
   d. He who believes and "is not baptized" will be saved?
   e. He who believes and is baptized will be saved?
   -- It should be clear there is only view which is in harmony with
      Jesus’ words

2. Just as important, with which of these views is your life
   consistent...?
   a. One may profess the fifth view...
      1) But act as though they believed the second view
      2) How?  By never confessing faith in Christ and being baptized!
   b. One may profess the fifth view...
      1) But act as though they believed the third view
      2) How?  For though they may have been "baptized", they are not
         living the life of faith required of one in Jesus!
   c. One may profess the fifth view...
      1) But act as though they believed the fourth view
      2) How?  For while believing in Jesus, they have never submitted
         to being baptized!

Only those who come to Jesus in faith and act in harmony with His
teachings can have the assurance of salvation.  The words of Jesus and
His apostles Bible are clear...

   "And He said to them,  "Go into all the world and preach the
   gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will
   be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
                                                   - Mk 16:15-16

   "Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be
   baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
   and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’" - Ac 2:38

   "And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash
   away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... A "message" from SATAN

This stark message "from SATAN" grabbed my attention today.  It did so because I don't often think of SATAN telling people where they are headed for all eternity.  Why not simply keep them in the dark until it is too late?  So, I think the message of the sign would never happen in real life.  But, if SATAN did have a message for us, what would it be???  This passage from Paul's letter to the Galatian churches seems to give us some clues...

Galatians, Chapter 1

 6  I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;  7 and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.  8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.  9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.  10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.  11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.  12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.  

I see in the passage a message from Satan; his "gospel" message.
 

The Devil's Gospel

1.  A desertion of Christ  vs. 6
2.  A "different good news" vs. 6b and 7
3.  A distorted (perverted)"good news" vs. 7
4.  Any other "good news" that has been preached  vss.  
     8,9
5.  A "good news" that pleases men, not God  vs.10
6.  A "good news" that comes from man  vs. 11
7.  A "good news" received from men  vs.12

The truth is found in Peter's sermon at Penecost (see Acts, chapter 2).  God has given us free will and a mind capable of discerning truth from error.  Satan would never post a sign like the picture at the top because he knows that once we know the truth, most would not like it- and therefore do something about it.  Seek the truth, go to Acts, chapter 2 and both think and act on it.  God is waiting; but for how long, I do not know...

2 Peter, Chapter 3

 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.