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Thursday, September 27, 2018

Why Baptize?


Perspective on Baptism

The following is a block quote that serves as an excellent apologetic for Believer’s Baptism:

“In the NT, baptism represents at least three and possibly four things. First, it signifies cleansing from sin and is thus “unto repentance.” Obviously the threat of judgment is behind the need for baptism, but the baptism itself is (symbolically) the means of escape from judgment. Those who are baptized acknowledge their guilt and seek to have it washed away. Second, baptism is a ritual dying and rising again, symbolizing the believer's participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the point of Col 2:12. Third, it is a “sincere pledge/request to God” because in baptism one comes to God in genuine faith, seeking forgiveness, and desiring to walk in the light. Fourth, it may represent the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the believer after the patterns of the descent of the Spirit at Jesus' baptism and the reception of the Spirit by Cornelius' household just prior to their baptism (Acts 10:44–48).”[1]


[1] Duane A. Garrett, “Meredith Kline on Suzerainty, Circumcision and Baptism,” Believer’s Baptism, Nashville, TN: B&H, 2006).
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Monday, September 24, 2018

Salvation During Old Testament Times




How was salvation obtained in the Old Testament? Was it through circumcision? Was it adherence to laws, rituals and ceremonies? How could they be righteous without the indwelling Holy Spirit? These are profound questions that have been the source of contention for decades. The Bible attests to several instances in which men of God were called righteous: Abraham (Gal. 3:6), Noah (Gen. 6:9), and Job (Job 1:1,8). How is it that folks could be righteous without the work of the Spirit? A study of the Bible reveals that indeed the Spirit of God has been working a plan since the beginning of time. There may not have been a blanket indwelling of the Spirit of God, but there were several accounts of men controlled by God’s influence (cf. Moses, Joseph, Saul, Daniel, Joshua, Abraham). Here's one instance you may find interesting. There was "an apostolic appointment as far back as the days of Moses: 
"Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him" (Deut. 34:9). Was this a foreshadowing of New Testament "laying on of hands" for the gifts of the Spirit?
The point is, God has been working through his Spirit long before incarnation.