| The eleven (later, twelve) went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them... and Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All
power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew
28:16-19
Water baptism was a requirement under the gospel of the kingdom.
Peter and the eleven were sent to baptize.
Baptism was essential to the process of salvation; not because it had
saving power, but because failure to submit to the ritual revealed the
lack of sincere faith.
Mark 16:16 -
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned.
So it was with the ministry of the twelve apostles as they were sent
forth by the Lord Jesus Christ as He accompanied with them in His earthly
presence.
But then He was sacrificed on the cross at Calvary.
He died, was buried, arose and ascended top the right hand of His Father
in heaven.
Because Israel had rejected Him and after the time of the Great Commission
where the apostles really 'took some heat' for what they were preaching
(Acts 1-8; especially
Acts 5:14-42), Christ set Israel aside temporarily and raised
up a new apostle who was to preach a different gospel - the Gospel of the
Grace of God.. |
Paul said he didn't come to baptize!
-
I Corinthians 1:12-17
- Now this I say, that every one of
you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the
name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and
Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I
baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I
baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made
of none effect.
Paul never tells us to do so!
-
Again, we see the confusion of so-called 'two ordinances.'
But you say he did baptize?
-
Sure. Remember the transitional aspect of the
book of Acts.
-
Also - check the full story of a baptism that Paul
does in Acts 19:1-6.
Be sure to include verse 6!
Paul - states one baptism -
-
Is it a Spirit baptism? or a water baptism?
-
You can't have two when we only need one!
-
Spirit baptism - not a water! -
Baptism as an act of obedience?
-
Romans 16:26 -
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according
to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for
the obedience of faith:
Scriptural Baptism?
-
What is that? All the baptisms that take place
have been 'Scriptural."
Our testimony to others?
-
uh, where is that verse?
-
Our testimony to others today is our 'changed lives'
- not some baptistic ritual!
-
Philemon 6
-
I Thessalonians 1:6-10
-
Acts 26:18,20 - changes
in one's life!
For salvation?
-
Ephesians 2:8,9
- For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
To join a local church?
-
Sure - whatever you want to say for membership, but
no scripture to support it at all. There are so many variations and
words for baptisms in all the different denominations...
For a good conscience toward God?
-
That is I Peter 3:21
- and is not TO us today.
As a type - an object lesson?
-
I suppose so, but again, no scriptural command.
See Romans 6:4
One final example:
-
Acts 18:25 -
Apollos learned the way of God more perfectly as all he knew was the baptism
of John.
PS. - NO example anywhere of a baby baptism!
Not even in the OT or Gospels. |
