Bulletin Article:

 see our archives for more

BAPTISM A MUST

    The debate about the necessity of baptism has raged now for centuries.  Scholars of every religious stripe, as well as some who are not religious at all, have spoken their peace concerning the matter.

    It is not unusual to hear preachers deny the necessity of baptism relative to salvation, and then, almost in the same breath, admonish men and women to be baptized to gain entrance into their churches!  Is it reasonable to conclude that a church entered by something which is not essential to salvation would itself be somehow essential to salvation?

    In the midst of all the controversy among scholars and preachers, we would do well to calmly recall that THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.  We are told that "God...in these last days speaks unto us by his Son."  (Hebrews 1:1-2)  We, along with the disciples present at Jesus' tranfiguaration, are admonished by the Father to "hear Him." (Matthew 17:5.)  Jesus is the ultimate Authority.  (Matthew 28:18)  We would do well to listen to Him.

    Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)   The Lord asserts that the "he" who shall be saved is the "he" who believes and is baptized.  Neither faith nor baptism, separate from the other, will result in salvation.  The Lord "joins" them together and they must not be "put asunder". (See Matthew 19:6)

    The Lord Himself told an inquiring and awestruck Saul of Tarsus, "Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:6)  The same Lord commissioned Ananias to find Saul and tell him what he must do.  When he had found Saul, Ananias said, "And now why tarriest thou?  Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16) 

    The baptism of Acts 22:16 is clearly a part of the Lord's "must" in Acts 9:6.

                                                                     Edward L. Anderson

You may request to be put on our mailing list and receive all our future bulletins. Email us your name and mailing address.  
Go Here to add your name to the mailing list

http://www.carthagechurchofchrist.com  
copyright 2005

Web design by Ed Thomason at churchofchristwebs.com