 |
 |
Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
What Baptism Won't Do
While this is a matter of some controversy, the Bible specifically states that baptism can accomplish many things. Baptism:
- Is by definition, “immersion” in water.
- is “for the remission of sins,” Acts 2:38
- is the means by which man contacts Jesus’ blood and gains entrance “into Christ”, Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:27.
- is the way a person can be redeemed from serving Satan so he can become a servant of God, Romans 6:16-18.
- “..now saves us,” 1 Peter 3:20-21.
However, the Bible says there are some things “baptism” will not do.
Without Faith Baptism Does Nothing
Candidates for Bible baptism were always required to have faith. Otherwise, evangelism would require little more than a gun or a bomb. Biblically, one must have an honest heart that willingly hears and obeys God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
It was not until the Pentecost hearers believed the words preached that they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Only then did Peter and the others say,
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:38.
No, immersion in water without faith is of no avail in salvation. Faith is a pre-requisite of baptism.
Will Not Eliminate Temptation
Unfortunately, some see the life of a Christian as a state in which no problems, no difficulties or disease, and no temptation enters one’s life. However, Satan’s efforts are even greater in pursuit of a Christian, for he seeks our souls even more. The apostle Paul, already a Christian, said in 1 Corinthians 9:27:
“I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (NKJV)
In that same context, the Holy Spirit explains that we will always have a “way of escape” by which temptation may be resisted, 10:13.
The Christian is not immune to Satan’s temptations. We will always be exposed to sin, but we will always be able to resist. Satan has power, but it is limited by God, and we can and must resist Satan.
Baptism is not a lifetime guarantee
Since Satan still tempts us, Christians will always be exposed to sin. Our “free will” is not removed as we come from the baptistry, and the warnings from God have meaning for all. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says:
“Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
One sad situation biblically is that of the church at Ephesus. In Paul’s lifetime the church appeared to be strong with members hard at work. Just a few decades later, however, we read in Revelation 2:5 that they had become weak and in danger of being completely separated from God. Paul told Timothy that some would “depart from the faith,”
1 Timothy 4:1. Christians in Rome were warned that if they did not “continue” to serve faithfully they would be “cut off,” Romans 11:22. Peter warned that it would be
“better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them,” 2 Peter 2:21.
No—no lifetime guarantees, but many opportunities abound for us to serve God and others.
Won’t Let You Keep What You Stole
Several years ago a man was arrested and charged with bank robbery. During the pre-trial maneuvers, he said he was “sorry” and would never do it again. He asked to be forgiven of the crime and allowed to continue his life. He had a clean record to that point and the prosecutor considered the plea, but he required that the “loot” be returned. The defendant stated that he would not return the money but still wanted to be pardoned. As far as I know he is still in prison.
We understand the prosecutor’s demand that some indication of regret would have to be manifest if the accused was to be pardoned.
However, some believe today that “I’m sorry” is all that is needed for God to forgive us. Yes, there is another pre-requisite of baptism— repentance, Acts 17:30-31.
If I come to your house by night, take your silver, your electronic equipment, your credit cards and your automobile, you would expect me to return them before forgiveness is granted. Ironically, many think it would be all right for me to steal your wife and be forgiven even if I keep her. Baptism will not wash away sin when man refuses to repent. That term—“repent”— includes more than sorrow. It means “Godly sorrow,” 2 Corinthians 7:10. That’s what John called “fruits worthy of repentance,” Luke 3:8.
That bank robber could not really expect the law to pardon him without his returning the “loot.” One can go to the baptistry all he wants, but without genuine faith and repentance there is no forgiveness. That’s not my word, but God’s Word.
Baptism does only what God intended for it to do, and there are some things it just will not do.
|
|
|
|
“Take heed to yourselves: If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him,”
“Repentance must be more than remorse for sin, but a true change of nature.”
|
|
|
|
|
The Woman's Role in the Church
(2nd of 3 parts)
Now just what is it that Paul, as an inspired apostle, here enjoins? He enjoins that men, not women, lead the prayers in the public assemblies. “I will therefore that men...” In the Greek it is literally “the men.” The word men is from the Greek andras, a form of the word aner. This word means men as opposed to women. Another word, anthropos, is sometimes translated by our word man, but it means mankind, or humanity. It is the word from which we get our English word anthropology, which means “the study of man.” When Paul says, “I will therefore that men pray...” he is saying that men, and not women, are to lead the public prayers.
Those who insist women should have leadership roles in the public assemblies of the church sometimes argue that this Greek word aner may include women as well as men. The argument goes something like this: James 1:8 says “A double-minded man [aner] is unstable in all his ways.” Isn’t the same thing true of a double-minded woman? If so, then the Greek word aner must include women also, and James was really saying that a double-minded human being is unstable in all his ways. Also James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man [aner] that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Now does that verse furnish no encouragement to the woman that endures temptation? Is it not true that the woman who endures temptation will also receive the crown of life? Well, certainly it is! Then the Greek word aner must sometimes mean men and women. How do we know it does not mean both men and women in I Timothy 2:8?
Sounds pretty convincing, doesn’t it? But let’s analyze this argument carefully. Arranged syllogistically, the argument would go this:
way:
Major Premise: Men who endure temptation are blessed.
Minor Premise: Women who endure temptation are blessed.
Conclusion: Therefore, the word men means “men and women.”
Now, in case you haven’t recognized it, this is the same type argument one would use to prove a horse is a cow. “Cows have four legs and a tail. Horses have four legs and a tail also. Therefore, a horse is a cow.” We can see the fallacy in that.
Well, what does the use of aner in James 1:8 and 12 prove? It proves that some of the things true of men are also true of women. Some of the things that can be said of men may also be said of women. But what James said in these verses, he said concerning men.
The word aner occurs 215 times in the Greek New Testament. The King James Version translates it man 156 times, husband 50 times, sir six times, fellow one time, and twice it is not translated at all. It is never translated by the word woman in any of its forms or by the phrase men and women. If Paul, in I Timothy 2, had meant to exhort both men and women to do what he there exhorts men to do he would have used the Greek word anthropos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
