A Little-Known Fact About Baptism
   
Many people that attend various religious groups are taught erroneous ideas about baptism. One of the most common errors is that baptism is wholly unconnected with salvation. But what does the Bible say?  
   
Galatians 3:27 states, "For as many of you as were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ." (See also Romans 6:3) The preposition “into” indicates a change of position or relationship. In other words, we get "into Christ" by the act of baptism. (You likely won’t hear THAT stressed in some churches.) Moreover, search your Bible for any other action that will get you or me into Christ.  
   
Is it really that important to get "into Christ"? Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in heavenly places IN CHRIST."  Did you catch that? Paul declared us that every spiritual blessing is found IN CHRIST. (Just try searching the New Testament for spiritual blessings found OUTSIDE of Jesus Christ.)  
   
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION: old things have passed away; behold, all things have BECOME NEW."  Not only does describe the new life we experience IN CHRIST, what sincere believer would want to pass up the new life and retain the old one?  
   
Paul also declares in 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the SALVATION which is IN CHRIST JESUS..."  Paul could not make it any plainer - salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Which means that we must be IN CHRIST in order to be saved.  
   
And in 1 John 5:11 we read, "And this is the testimony, that God has given us ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is IN HIS SON."  
   
Based on these inspired scriptures, I want to be IN CHRIST! Don’t you? And if we believe God's word, we get into Christ by being baptized. (I find nothing optional about that.)  
   
It is tragic that millions of sincere people are misled concerning the act of baptism. Sincere as they may be, they need to believe the words of Jesus, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis

WISE WORDS FROM AN UNDERTAKER     
“…if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matt. 5:23-24  
   
A funeral director in Michigan that was involved in over five thousand funerals was interviewed by a reporter. During the interview, the funeral director was asked if he had learned any notable lessons from his interactions with people dealing with the deaths of loved ones. Among his answers was this, “(I have learned) to resolve conflicts… quicker, because I’ve seen people go off to work who didn’t come home.”  
   
Wise advice. How many times have you or I huffed out of the house in the morning or went to bed with unresolved anger smoldering inside? How often have we put off resolving a conflict by thinking, “I'll take care of it later” or “Let the other person stew awhile.”  
   
But what if we never have the opportunity to make things right? Every day in the U.S. alone hundreds of people leave home, never to return. Hundreds of others go to bed but never awaken. If we truly realized how uncertain this life is, we might never allow anger to fester or a conflict to go unresolved.  
   
The apostle Paul warned, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil…” (Eph. 4:26-27). He then added, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).  
   
The best time to apologize or resolve a conflict is TODAY, not “When I get around to it”. Restoring a relationship NOW will not only add to our happiness, it may even save us years of regret.  
   
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Mt. 5:9).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis
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