Man on the radio talking about baptism
Bishop on the telephone
Chap in the studio
All wanting a baptism that works
Words need to be right or it doesn't work
Well that's what they say
Elsewhere
Two thousand years ago
Two thousand miles away
There are two men standing in a river
No worry about words
Or Accessibility
Or Indices of Multiple Deprivation
Or Cultural attitudes
Just the call to 'Come'
Come and repent
Come and renounce evil
Turn away from our sins
Choose God not the Devil
But that was then and so today
Here and now
They are
Words that are rejected
And in their rejection there's rejoicing
But not from God
But back to the river
It's not about the words used
It's about the Word made flesh
It's not about the christening gown
Nor the cake the Grandmother's made
Nor the party that's waiting
Nor being popular with those outside the door
It is so simple really:
It's all about repentance - turning from sin
(Never been popular)
It's all about belief
(Not that popular - nothing new here either!)
It's all about submission
(Can we say that?)
It's all about obedience
(Which is good if others obeying I guess)
About joining
Joining in - signing up - being part
(Discipleship comes later)
Receiving the Holy Spirit
(Equipped, enables, released to be who we were made to be)
9 comments:
Great, apart from the picture.
That's called murder not Baptism.
But they're praising God and will be back up in a minute :-)
But they're praising God and will be back up in a minute :-)
Actually did a baptism where rather than arms across body the person being baptised lifted their arms in praise.
Made bringing them back up interesting and raised the question wheteher their arms were included in the 'saved' package :-)
I used more words to say much the same today, and immediately had a request for baptism after the service. God is good
I used more words to say much the same today, and immediately had a request for baptism after the service. God is good
Thanks for this Vic - knew you wouldn't mind - used it in the all age service and it went down really well (and got lots of conversations started during the refreshments after too).
To all the messages about using this blog entry - answer is, of course, help yourself if you find it's useful.
Thank you for the many positive comments and observations - criticism is also always welcome,
V
JOHN'S BAPTISM AND NEW COVENANT BAPTISM
Why do men accept the Scriptures about John's Baptism but reject the Scriptures concerning New Covenant baptism?
JOHN'S BAPTISM
Matthew 3:13-15....14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (NKJV)
Matthew 3:13-15.......15 Jesus answered him, "This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us." Then John gave in to him. (God's Word-Translation)
Jesus was required to be baptized in water by John the Baptist in order to fulfill all righteousness. Had Jesus rejected John's baptism He would have been disqualified as a perfect sacrifice for mankind. Jesus was without sin, however, He still had to do all that God required Him to do.
You will notice Jesus did not say I was baptized by John as a simple act of obedience, but it really was not essential in order for me to fulfill all righteousness.
Luke 7:29-30 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves not having been baptized by him. (NKJV)
Luke 7:29-30 And all who heard John preach---even the most wicked of them---agreed that God's requirements were right, and they were baptized by him. 30 All, that is, except the Pharisees and teachers of Moses' Law. They rejected God's plan for them and refused John's baptism. (The Living Bible--Paraphrased)
When men today claim that Christian water baptism is either not essential to salvation or they outright refused to be immersed in water, are they rejecting God's counsel? Are they rejecting God's required for forgiveness of their sins?
Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.(NKJV)
Why do men believe that John the Baptist baptized in water for the remission of sins and then disbelieve the apostle Peter when he told the three thousands, (Who were baptized under the New Covenant) to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins? (Acts 2:38)
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the wrath to come.(NKJV)
John the baptist said men have to be baptized to escape the wrath of God. Men today say Christian baptism is simply a way to demonstrate their faith.
Why do men believe what God said about the baptism of John and rejected what God said about New Covenant baptism.
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IN WATER
1. Mark 16:16 ....and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)
2. Acts 2:38...be baptized...for the remission of sin...(NKJV)
3. Acts 22:16...Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins...(NKJV)
4. 1 Peter 3:21 ..which now saves us, namely baptism..(NKJV)
5. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (NKJV)
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