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
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
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