Volume 48 Number 1 September 2005
Salvation certainly was not a frequent topic of conversation among them but a small group of college students sat in a dorm room and their talk drifted to comments about a speaker who had addressed the student body earlier that day encouraging students to make plans and goals for life and for eternity.
“I was sprinkled when I was a baby.” said one young lady with an air of confidence in her voice.
“I was confirmed when I was seven”, added a second girl..
“I went to Sunday School when I was little and then I
joined a different church here in town during my freshman
year”, said one of the fellows.
“Well, I don’t think he had any business implying that there is anything after this life”, inserted another. “This is a school, not a church, and I don’t like to be preached to. Besides, this whole-thing about religion is so confusing. There are so many different beliefs, and as far as I am concerned, if people want to believe something, that is their business and if they don’t believe in religion, that is their business, too.”
The subject was dropped at that point and conversation turned to other matters. None of them seemed to realize the importance of researching the Holy Scriptures to learn the truth about God’s plan of redemption.
Centuries ago a rich ruler asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). People in Jerusalem, convinced that they were guilty of crucifying the Son of God, cried out, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Saul of Tarsus, after being blinded by a light from heaven and hearing the voice of the Lord, asked, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). A jailer in ancient Philippi pleaded, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
A consistent and indiscriminate answer has been given to all men. The rich ruler was told to keep God’s commandments and to follow Jesus. Though that dialogue preceded the establishment of the church, does it not reflect what we too must do? Obey and follow the Lord! Concerning all the others, the people on the Day of Pentecost, Saul of Tarsus, the jailer, as well as the Samaritans and the African (Acts 8), Cornelius and his household (Acts 10), Lydia and her household (Acts 16), the Ephesians (Acts 19), in every detailed Biblical account of conversion the Scriptures refer to baptism.
What could be plainer than the spirit inspired command in Acts 2:38; “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Or the statement of Jesus in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
And peradventure anyone should question the mode of baptism, let it be clearly understood that baptism must be preceded by faith (Hebrews 11:6; Acts 8:37), repentance (Acts 2:38), and confession (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10), and that baptism is immersion in water, in the name of Christ, for the remission of sins. Without question or controversy, the original Biblical meaning and practice of baptism was immersion. In different passages the Scriptures refer to baptism as a burial (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). John baptized “in the Jordan” (Matthew 3:6). Jesus was baptized “in the Jordan” (Mark 1:9). Water is repeatedly mentioned in regard to baptism (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47, etc.). “Much water” is even mentioned in John 3:23; “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.” Sprinkling and pouring are merely innovations of man added to the plan of God as a substitute for the burial in water seen in immersion.
Furthermore, it should be understood that baptism, important as it is, is by no means the end of our obligation to God. It does put us “into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), but then we are to feed on the Word (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:15). We are to live for the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:15; Romans 12:1), walk in obedience (Matthew 7:21; Revelation 22:14) and be faithful until death (1 Corinthians 15:58, Revelation 2:10).
It is true that there is much confusion in the religious world today. Mere men have introduced many teachings and practices that are completely foreign to the Word of God and we must avoid being deceived into thinking that God approves of all the different doctrines and practices. It is not for us to choose a religion that simply satisfies our own feeble thinking, but rather in all things to seek to obey the Lord before whom we shall stand in judgment. Let the Bible be our standard!