Baptism — Part 6 — Baptism Unto the Death of Jesus Christ

We will quote the passage referring to this in full. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid (Or, by no means). How shall we that are dead (or, have died) to sin live any longer therein? Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into* Jesus Christ were baptized into* His death? therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into* death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom. 6:1-5).

Here all would seem to be simple; but, alas, even over so clear a Scripture there has been much conflict or opinion. The doctrine of grace in the previous chapters, which show that a man is “justified by faith without (or, apart from) the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28), with the additional teaching of the change of headship, from Adam to Christ (rom. 5:12-21); that “as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience (unto death) of One shall many be made righteous” (ver. 19), might lead some one to ask: “If all be of grace why not indulge myself as I please? The greater my sin the greater the grace that will bring me through.” For answer, the apostle makes an appeal to the foundation truth symbolized in baptism at the very beginning of the Christian course.

“By no means,” he exclaims; “We died to sin,” i.e., died out from under its dominion, because Christ with Whom we are now identified died to it (ver. 10). It must then no longer control us. We are not to live in that to which we died. Was not our baptism a burial unto His death? Did it not say we had died with Him and were now buried with Him? “know ye not that so many of us as were immersed unto Jesus Christ were immersed unto His death?” Here definite knowledge is connected with the ceremony — “Know ye not?” They should have been aware of this at the time. He is surprised at the ignorance of any among them who does not realize that this former condition is over forever.

In baptism I own that in myself I have no hope. Death is my just portion. But Christ has died, and that for me. His death is my only ground of confidence. therefore I am buried to it. but not that alone. his death is my death. I died with Him. All that I was by nature God dealt with judicially in the cross of Christ. So having died it is right that I should be buried. My old condition is at an end, and of this the watery grave is witness.

It is not, of course, that the unimmersed are not buried with Christ, if believers. All such have died with Him, been buried with Him and raised with Him. but baptism is the outward acknowledgment of this, “the likeness.”

Faith says: “I am crucified with Christ” “Gal. 2:20). Baptism is the confession of burial with Him. Henceforth “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;” or, as we have it in the chapter before us, “like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

If sin would seek to control me, I am to point back to teh grace and say, I was buried there. I died with Christ from under your authority. You cannot expect my service this side of the tomb. I am a resurrection man. baptism has outwardly separated me from your sphere**

In Colossians the same truth is enforced, more briefly, yet with perhaps added pungency: “In Whom also ye are circumcised with teh circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the flesh*** by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein (or, in Whom) also ye were raised together with Him, through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead” (2:11,12).

Here it is clearly taken for granted that all who are rightly subjects of baptism have been raised with Christ “Through the inwrought faith of God,” as some would translate it. Not that this is true of all the baptized, but it is God’s order — not man’s confusion — that is in view. According to the divine pattern the baptized are  a company of people who are actually circumcised with the circumcision made without hands — that is, have seen the end of the flesh (as before God) in the cross, and now stand on resurrection ground. Circumcision was a cutting off of the flesh. but Christ was cut off fro me. So the flesh is gone from God’s viewpoint. I died when Christ died, and so I have been circumcised in His death. As to baptism and circumcision viewed as one ordinance succeeding the other, it is enough to say that of old, a natural-born Israelite was to be circumcised the eight day; in the present dispensation the one who, by new birth, is brought into God’s family, is to be baptized. There is a similar thought in Peter’s first letter. Commenting on the typical aspect of Noah’s deliverance through water (saved by the waves of judgment which, while they overwhelmed the ungodly, carried him and his over to a new earth ) he says: “the like figure [anti-type] whereunto baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer [demand] of a good conscience toward God )… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).

Noah saved through the flood of wrath in the ark shadows forth the believer’s deliverance from judgment, as baptism clearly expresses, i.e., salvation by the work of Christ. He endured all the curse, even as the ark bore all the brunt of the storm; but the believer can say, “his death was mine.” It is not to baptism that any efficacy attaches; that could only put away outward filth. There is not the slightest justification here for the ritualistic dogma of baptismal regeneration. The only thing that gives the answer which a good conscience demands, is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. That apprehended, baptism is full of meaning. “He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).

Connection closely with the scripture from Peter’s epistle is the question of…..

 

Next time: “baptism for the Remission of sins”

 

* “Unto” is probably a more suited word here. The Greek preposition will bear either rendering. See 1 Cor. 10:2. Israel are said to have been “baptized unto Moses.” It is the same word. They were separated to Moses as leader; and we to Jesus Christ as Lord.

** It was a fine answer a brother once gave when the question of secret societies was being discussed. Turning to him one said: “But you are a Free mason, are you not?” “No,” was the reply; “I am not.” “But you certainly were once; and a Free Mason once, a Free Mason until death,” was the retort. “True; but I buried the Free Mason in Lake Ontario,” he answered; and it was evident that he at least had entered into the purport of Baptism.

*** “The sins of” is generally considered an interpolation and should probably be omitted”

Why Apologetics? — R.C. Sproul

Lessons From a Carpenter’s Tools

A beautiful poem written by the late Mr. Albert Ramsey….

While I watched a certain tradesman as he gathered up his tools,

packed his chisels, saws, and hammer and folded up his rules,

A picture came before me, and its parallel I’ll show

How these tools could teach us wisdom in our service here below.

These tools all had an owner, and for each a price was paid.

The owner wisely chose them for the purpose they were made.

Each one was used when needed to complete some grand design,

And as I looked upon them, this lesson came to mind.

Suppose a conversation could be heard within the box.

Each scolding the old Hammer for the way he bangs and knocks.

Says the Chisel, “Take a look at me! My head, as you can see,

Is the garget of that hammer. Why’s he always banging me?

For almost everything I do, he hits me on the head.

Could there not be something softer to do the work instead?”

“Why is it,” says the Hammer, “That you all find fault with me?

I am wielded by my owner, it is plain for all to see.

I wish I were the plumb line with nothing much to do

But hang around the others and be numbered with the crew.”

The Nails all vow to go on strike, their tempers all aflare:

“Tis plain to all unbiased minds, we’re driven to despair.”

Then says the sharp-edged Chisel, while pointing to his head,

“We’ll eliminate the Hammer and get something in his stead.”

Up speaks the Saw with whimpering voice, “Will none my view-point see?

When there’s any cutting off to do, why’s it always left to me?

The Square and Pencil draw a line and say they’re always right,

And if I do not follow them then my teeth cannot be straight.

And that old File is awful rough; I much prefer the Knife,

For he and I, in character, are very much alike.”

The Plane, with sweet majestic voice, speaks up and asks permission

If he can have a word with all to smooth the rough condition.

“My plan is this — I always wait until you all are through.

And after I have done my part I leave things just like new.

Now why behave unseemly? I feel my way is right;

Why can’t you all be just like me? You’d sure be more polite.”

Up spoke the Saw and Hammer that had laboured hard all day,

While Mr. Plane sat on the bench without a ward to say.

“We feel you wrong us greatly by taking such a view,

For you’re mostly always idle, while we have work to do.”

And so they came together to figure out a way,

That they could work together and make the business pay.

And this was the conclusion that was reached among the tools.

“Our thoughts of one another is the reckoning of fools.

The Master owns each one of us, we are not all the same,

Each has his own peculiar work to bring the Master gain.”

Each saw the other in new light and harmony did reign.

Each did respect the other, although not all the same.

The Nail to hold together; the Square to keep things straight;

The Pencil for a guideline; the Plane to make things right;

The Chisel and the Hammer found their teamwork great delight

As they viewed the finished product — the mortise holding tight.

And as they viewed the rough old File, in honour they did pledge

To give him all the credit for keeping them on edge.

Now may my simple musings provoke you to compare

The parallel with Christian in their worship, work and prayer.

How similar is our behaviour to this box of silly tools.

When we see it, let us judge it as “the reckoning of fools.”

We all need one another and there’s none of us the same,

So let us work together to increase the Master’s fame.

The Christian Woman in Titus

This Article was originally written by Mrs. Alicia Beckman for my old site titled “Led By The Truth”. This was a well done article, so would like to share it with you all again. I pray you find this useful….Glen

 

Having been a woman for, well, my entire life; and having been a Christian since I was six, I grew up hearing the classic passages preached at women time and time again. Unfortunately such constant exposure tends to cause someone to neglect the importance of such passages. Verses all tend to look the same to the “well churched” and any fresh meaning is lost.

I have attempted to reread these passages, and read commentary about them in order to shed new light on them. One such verse, the topic of my writing today is Titus 2:4-5.

                “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Typically the emphasis tends to be on the fact that the older women are to teach the younger women how to be good Christian ladies. However in my own personal study, I decided to put the emphasis on the list of things that we, as Christian women, are to be.

1. Sober. Now, in the Bible we know that typically sober means calm, serious…but, I find it more informative to define things using it’s opposite. Therefore, if we are not characterized as sober, we could very easily be characterized as emotional or sensational. Do you tend to blow things out of proportion? Are your emotions easily hurt when discussing something with your husband, friends, father, pastor…? Perhaps we need a bit of sobriety in our lives.

2. Love their husbands. Again, looking at opposites, I see this going two ways. One has to do with the physical expression of marriage. As Christian wives, we are to love our husbands, the opposite in this case would be abstaining. Another antonym for love is scorn. Of course most of us would say that we do love our husbands. However, I feel that often bitterness and scorn can enter into our hearts without our realizing it. Do you sometimes feel that your husband is unworthy of your love? Do you  find yourself constantly resisting your husband? Perhaps we need to work on adding some more love for our husbands into our lives.

3. Love their children. I think the most notable aspect is that loving one’s children is listed after loving one’s own husband. I feel as though many women, once they have children push their husbands away…which can easily lead to a rift in the family and a breakdown of the family structure.

4. Discreet. A woman who is not discreet is thought to be careless, unthoughtful, immodest, and undiscerning. These are tied in with the ideas discussed in sobriety. However, a woman who is discreet knows how to judge situations and react accordingly. She laughs when things are funny and cries with things are sad. But her sobriety keeps her emotions from getting the best of her.

5. Chaste. Sensuality should not be a characteristic for a Christian woman. As stated in the “love their husbands” section, this does not mean that she cannot be sensuous, but that it is something not for everyone to see, simply her husband. However, chaste  or purity also has a broader feeling to it as well. Purity, not just sexually, but in all areas of life. Unfortunately, in this world people are far too often remembered for the wrong things they do, that makes striving to be characterized by purity that much harder.

6. Keepers at home. No, I’m not going to do a white-glove inspection of your house. Instead, as we did with the others we’ll look at the opposite. Keeping your home has more to do with involvement in the lives of your family and less to do with actual cleanliness. Therefore, I would say that the opposite is being involved in other peoples’ lives. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have friends or show concern for another’s life. However, I would say that an easy pit for a wife to fall into (especially one in a small community or assembly) is that of gossip: keeping up with other people’s homes.

7. Good. It doesn’t get much more broad than that. Clearly we see the opposite of good is bad. I know many women are thinking, “I’m not bad.” Other versions I’ve read translate this as “kind,” therefore the opposite would be “unkind.” Have you ever spoken an unkind word, whether the recipient of the insult was there to hear it or not? Have you ever refrained from offering help or kindness to someone simply because you were “too busy” or “did not want to be bothered”? Perhaps we need a little kindness, a little goodness in our lives.

8. Obedient to their own husbands. This is where many women flinch, “She’s going to bring up that word: submissive.” Actually we are discussing things by antonym, so the word I will use is disobedient. Very simply do you ever do something that your husband told you not to do? Or, the more applicable question:  do you do things that you know your husband would not want you to do? Very often we do not get permission to do things, however, we know our husbands well enough to know what he would consider to be acceptable and unacceptable. I also think there is a second aspect to this: the opposite of obey your own husband is obeying someone else’s husband. Now, this concept may sound a bit strange at first, but do you ever put the words of your preacher/pastor/elder over the words of your husband? Yes, the elders of the church are meant to guide us. But, our husband is specifically our head, and we should obey him (especially where he and the elder may differ). Let the elder’s wife be concerned with obeying her own husband.

I’m a Good Christian because I don’t…

This thought has been on my mind for some time now and I’m not sure if I can get it worded like I wish, but I will try.

So often I have heard people go “Oh you must be a Christian because you won’t do ____________ with us!” Perhaps you have heard the same line but in a different way, but I believe you get my point.

I have a pile of different thoughts all at once and I’m trying to put them down one at a time to keep this somewhat structured.

I guess my point is the focus is all wrong, our whole way of thinking about Christianity and even God is wrong in so many ways. A person should not be in the mind set that they can pick out a Christian based on what they are not doing, but what they are doing for God.

The focus was never supposed to be about us, and yet in looking at the person and what they are not doing, the focus is taken off God and for many onlookers, all they see are self-righteous bigots who think they’re better then everyone else, even though this usually isn’t the case (I hope not.)

What does scripture say about this? Indeed Paul spent much time correcting early Christians in their way of thinking, to insure holy living that is honouring to God, and that should not be forgotten and the point of this article is not at all to take away from the need for living properly in a sinful society (Eph. 1:4), yet when Paul wrote to some of the Christians like the Ephesians and the Colossians, did he say something like:

“I”m so happy for the evidence of your faith in that you have trusted Christ and now you no longer do _______________”

Paul could write in a number of places something else……

Eph 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,

1Th 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you–

2Th 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

I believe you get my point. When Paul was speaking about the evidence of genuine salvation and what was being observed by others, it had to do with the Faith of the person and the evidence of love for one another.

I’M A BETTER CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I DON”T SMOKE, DRINK, DO CERTAIN THINGS

I have heard many professing Christians give lines similar to that, or have sat and listened to some railing against others because they don’t feel they are holy enough. Mark 9 reports a similar thing among the disciples as they wondered who was better, and God quickly corrected that way of thinking. Yet because of this way of thinking, it has affected our society around us too. A Christian is more often degraded in a work place, school or other area of life because of something they do not do. This is good, but our human nature tends to catch us patting ourselves on the back, which is not the focus. If we are going to be persecuted for something, let it be very very obvious to the onlooker who we are being persecuted for and let us be found being thought strange of because of something we are doing……. but what do I mean?

THAT PERSON MUST BE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS….

I use the term persecution a few times in this article and please forgive me, us in the Western world as of yet do not really understand the term of persecution, but there are Christians in other parts of the world, Christians from centuries ago, who were doing something, that led to a persecution that did not lead to a pat on the back, but led to wonderful glory to God, the one who deserves it. When someone is doing something for Christ and they are ridiculed for it, this is not something new, for Christ warned about it in the first chapter of 1st Corinthians

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

….PREACHING THE GOSPEL

Act 14:1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Act 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Act 14:4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
Act 14:5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,

This is just one of many places throughout scripture that showed a persecution of the Christians, not because of something that they weren’t supposed to do, but of what they were doing. Christ made it very clear to go out into all the world and preach the gospel, to proclaim the good news of Christ, and when it is done faithfully and sculpturally, the world is going to mock, as was explained in 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

…ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST

Yes Peter did fail when he was faced with the accusation of being associated with Christ, yet Christ made it clear that His desire was for us to walk with Him, and yet promised ridicule if someone truly did. Are you living for Christ in such a way that people find you odd because you love this person named Jesus Christ? Let’s make it clear, DO NOT confuse persecution for you living in a traditional way and people laughing at you for it as God honouring, and you bearing reproach for the name of Christ. When the name Christian was first given to the early followers of Christ, it had to do with the fact that they were like Christ, and the subtopic of “Associated with Christ” will touch on what being “like Christ” is.

Joh 15:17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Joh 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Joh 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

— Having The Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The natural ways of man is not what is listed above. If you are confused at all about what we are all naturally about turn to Romans chapter three and read the chapter. But for a Christian, someone who has claimed to have been saved by the grace of God, should be attributing these things constantly. In today’s society something like this will be noticed, and it should be made very clear that we are followers of Christ. If we are showing kindness as Christ has shown it, it will become self-evident who we serve. Are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit in such a way that our Saviour is being displayed and given the glory?

…DEBATING ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD

Act 9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Act 9:23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,

I have no interest in getting into the defence of apologetics here, but to any who believes debating is arguing, I apologize for your ignorance and please take the time to look up the difference.

Debating the things of God can not properly be done without the gospel, and if we look into the Acts and the Epistles right after preaching the gospel, one of the greatest areas of persecution was the defence of the gospel. As we can see above in chapter 9 of Acts, the Jews wanted to kill Paul. Paul would have to be snuck out of cities, and hide, after the proclamation of the gospel and the reasoning with the people in synagogues and in other areas, yet debating/reasoning of scripture was often done in the times of the Apostles and lead to persecution. Even today many men who spend much of their time reasoning with others have had death threats on their life, property ruined and stolen etc. When Apologetics is done in a Christ exalting matter, the world is going to reject it.

WRAPPING UP

There are many other areas that could be touched on of things that we should be doing for Christ instead of concentrating solely on what we shouldn’t do. There’s the proper study of scripture like the Bereans among many. As you can see, everything that is done for Christ leads to persecution, but this is something that Christ told us about numerous times, yet our goal should be as Paul’s:

2Ti 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

CONCLUSION:

Indeed how a Christian should live is extremely important and there are teachings in scripture that are very clear on what we should or should not do in our daily lives, and they should be followed very closely. Yet when I or even others are looking at someone just how someone is living morally to the public eye doesn’t always determine if they have faith in Christ or not. I have some atheist/agnostic friends that would come across to the public as very moral people. When the world is looking at a person, one sure way of telling if they are a true Christian or not is what do they think of Christ? Is Christ a convenient object that you have claimed to be your Saviour just because your circle of friends happen to be Christian so you want to fit in, or is Christ someone who is so dear to you because you have realized that it was for you He died, you will never have to perish for Christ took your place.

As a Christian our goal indeed should be about insuring our life is holy and being lived as God would be pleased. But what is going to make the people around us actually notice God, actually realize what we have is not just about us but all about Christ is when we learn to honestly say what Paul could say:

2Co 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord,…

Coming Back

Just thought I’d drop a quick line to let any visitors know that I am coming back. I am planning to have some articles lined up for tomorrow God willing. I also plan to announce atleast 2 new projects that will be taking place and will be displayed through this blog. One will be an extensive series covering a Current New Age teaching, while the other will be a joint project covering the topics of Answering Synergism and Defending Monergism. So do please continue to visit and may you enjoy each day God has blessed you with.

For God’s glory alone,

Glen H.

picture taken from www.postman180.tripod.com

Still here…just busy

Well It is now Friday, May 2nd, 2008. I haven’t had a chance to post much lately, and I apologize to anyone who has been reading this site. Life has been very busy lately, and tomorrow is the day I share vows with the girl I love.

So just a heads up to why I’m quiet, and please do keep coming back.

 

For God’s Glory alone

Glen

One Rainy Day — The Head Covering — What’s the Point?

A young lady had been visiting a small assembly of about 60 believers. She appreciated the teaching and the warm fellowship of the Christians there. Her particular concern, however, was the practice of the head covering worn by the women at the weekly meetings. She and her husband had spent most of their Christian lives in a large denominational church of around 1,000 people. The concept of the head covering was totally foreign to them. Then one day a rainy downpour changed her thinking. It opened her eyes to the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 on this subject. (More on the rain later.)

GLORY AND COVERINGS

1 Corinthians 11 weaves the subject of biblical headship together with the glory of God. There are three glories mentioned in the chapter: the glory of the man (v.7), the gory of the woman (v.15), and the glory of God (v.7). Biblical instruction on the women’s veil should not be confused with cultural fads. It is based on non-cultural principles associated with headship (v.3), creation (vv.7-9), nature (v.14), and angels (v.10).

Veils or coverings are used symbolically in many different ways throughout scripture (e.g. Gen. 3:7; 24:65; Ex. 3:25; 25:20; Isa. 6:2; Ezek 28:14). In 1 Corinthians 11, however, the veil is used as a means to give God the glory in the meetings of the assembly. We read that the man’s glory (the woman) is symbolically concealed with a natural covering, the long hair of the woman (v. 15). The woman’s glory (her hair) is then concealed with a natural covering, the long hair of the woman (v.15). The woman’s glory (her hair) is then concealed with a second, removable covering (vv. 5-6). The end result is the uncovered head of the man which represents God’s glory as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:7, “for a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God…” It is not that man’s glory is to be seen and woman’s gory is to be veiled; God’s desire is that both the man’s and the woman’s glory be veiled so that only the glory of God is evident in the church gathering.

HEADSHIP

Man’s position as “head” is not by merit but by appointment. biblically, men are delegated leadership roles as God’s representatives — or “image” —- in the assembly of believers (1 Cor. 11:7; 14:33-35). while some feel this truth denigrates women, few consider the sobering weight of responsibility associated with this position (Jas. 3:1; Heb 13:17). bible teachers are subject to correction and judgment (1 Cor. 11:29, 32; 14:29), and the overseers cannot be ‘lords” over God’s people (1 Pet. 5:1-3). biblical headship is not an issue of equality any more than is the relationship that exists between God the Father and God teh Son. 1 Corinthians 11:3 reminds us that “the head of Christ is God,” yet surely there is no inequality between God the Son and God teh father.

When it come to equality between the sexes, God’s perspective is this: “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, the concept of headship does not suggest a gender inequality, but rather that God desires order among His people (1 Cor. 14:40).

The young lady who wrestled with the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 changed her thinking during the unexpected downpour of rain. Fuming over her thoroughly soaked hair, she recalled a section from verse 15 that she had steadfastly resisted: “if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her.” Her anger now became a testimony against her. At that particular moment her hair meant everything — it truly had been her glory! she was now convinced that God was to receive all the glory — not a man, not a woman, only God. the following Sunday she happily covered her head as a symbolic testimony that God must have the pre-eminence in the assembly. This was a first step in acknowledging God’s truth regarding headship and the glory of God — Randy Horn

 

Taken from the “Uplook” Magazine issue: May 2006

George Muller and the Crying Baby

George Muller of Bristol went one day to preach in the Free Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, and the place was packed to overflowing. A well-known agnostic, inspired by curiosity, pressed his way into the hall. Just when the preacher began to deliver his address, a young mother attempted to leave the building because her baby began to cry rather loudly, but the crowd was so great that exist was impossible. Mr. Muller came at once to the troubled mother’s help by saying, “Will that dear mother sit down, and we shall ask Jesus to put the baby to sleep.”

The mother quietly took her seat, and the great assembly bowed their heads while Mr. Muller prayed as follows: “Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, be pleased to put this baby to sleep.” Immediately teh child went to sleep, to the evident astonishment of the audience. The agnostic was startled beyond measure and said to himself, “If that man has a God like that, it is time for me to seek Him.” Under the power of the Holy spirit he sought and found Muller’s God. He became a true Christian and an earnest advocate of the faith he so long tired to destroy, and God used him to win many souls to Christ.

Taken from the “Uplook” Magazine, April 2002

Baptism — Part 5 — Baptism In the Commissions

It is after having passed through all the agony of the cross that the risen Lord gives the commissions as narrated in the closing chapters of the Synoptic Gospels. Luke does not mention the baptism at all. He is occupied with the gospel. Baptism is not a part of that, as 1 Cor. 15: 1-4 bears abundant testimony, as also 1 Cor. 1:17. The gospel is concerning God’s Son (Rom. 1:1-4), and not concerning ordinances, however blessed, or works, however proper to the man already justified by faith and a subject of grace (Titus 2:11-14).

We shall look, then, at the commissions recorded in Matthew and Mark. In chap. 28:18-20 of the former, we read: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple, or make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in (unto) the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (completion of the age). Amen.”

The commission is to make disciples. These disciples were to be baptized and instructed. This command has never been annulled or repealed.

The thought of baptizing nations, as such, we see no warrant for here unless preceded by national repentance. All nations are to be taught the gospel. If indeed the nations as a whole become disciples, then to baptize them is in place, but that, though it shall actually be, is in a future day (Zech. 14:16). At present at least, it is in my judgment, to individuals that the commission applies. In fact the word merely means Gentiles; that is the gospel was to be world-wide in its scope.

Markedly enough, neither here nor yet in Mark 16 is the believer or disciple told to be baptized, for it was to His servants that the word was addressed by the Lord. Consequently the command is rather to the preacher to immerse the disciple; but would any real lover of the Lord Jesus plead this an excuse for evading responsibility in the matter, shifting it altogether upon the shoulders of the servant, and being careless himself as to whether the divine pattern had been carried out? Do not the words, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” show us the importance of the recipient of the gospel seeing for himself that God’s word is carried out? Surely the heart that beats loyally to its absent Lord remembers His saying: “If a man love Me he will keep My words” (John 14:23), as also the other passage, “If ye love me, keep My commandments” (v. 15).

And if these considerations be not enough, is not Peter’s message in Acts 2:38 imperative as to it? — “Repent, and be baptized every one of you,” etc. here is commanded, and by the Holy Ghost. So, in Cornelius’ house, “He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). Baptism, therefore, if not directly commanded by the Lord in person, is by the Spirit in the apostle, and is surely one f Christ’s “words” which he who loves Him will “keep.”

To teach that a later revelation, given to Paul, has rendered all this null and void, is but to make the Word of God of none effect by human tradition.

As to formula, it is ‘Unto the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Being, as it is, “baptism unto death,” it is fitting that it should be unto the name of the Trinity — for how unitedly do father, Son and Spirit participate in the offering of the Son of Man upon the Cross! It was God, as Father, Who withheld Him not, but gave Him out of love to the world (John 3:16), while the Son was the voluntary Sufferer (John 10:17,18); and yet it was “through the eternal Spirit that He offered Himself without spot to God” (Heb. 9:14). Nor does “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5) nor the kindred passage quoted above from Acts 10 set this aside. Do not these scriptures simply keep before us in whose authority it was done — the former bringing out especially the contrast between the baptism of John and that of the Lord Jesus? It would not seem to be the formula that is in view at all. I take it that a full scriptural formula would be “In the name of the Lord Jesus, I baptize thee unto the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

In Mark 16:15,16, baptism is directly connected with believing, and in such a way as to make it the public seal of faith, as, in some sense, “confession with the mouth” is in Romans 10:9,10.

Here we read, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Significantly, we do not read, “he that is not baptized shall be damned.” Justification before God is by faith, apart from works (Romans 4:4,5); but it is taken fro granted that a true believer will be desirous of fully identifying himself with the Lord, and thus baptism is looked upon as the very first act of faith, which alone gives it value, for apart from that it is a meaningless form. Some might be immersed in all good faith on the part of the evangelist, who were not real believers at all, as in the case of Simon Magus (acts 8:9-13; 18-23), but nowhere in Scripture do we read of any laborer knowingly baptizing one who was not saved, and never of the baptism of any too young to exercise faith in the son of God.*

Baptism presupposes knowledge on teh part of the subject as to its purport, as is clear from the apostle’s appeal “know ye not,” in Romans 6:3, where he speaks of….

Next Time: “Baptism unto the Death of Jesus Christ”

 

* Philip baptized “both MEN and WOMEN” (Acts 8:12). If little children were also subjects of baptism in apostolic days, this, one would think, would have been the place to mention it. Let the present day evangelist follow Philip’s example and he need not fear that he is acting contrary to Scripture.