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The
Gospel Observer
"Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe
all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20).
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August 25, 2019
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Contents:
1) If Baptism Is Not Necessary (Irven Himmel)
2) Toward Better Communication (Sewell Hall)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
If Baptism Is Not Necessary
Irven Himmel
In the thinking of many religionists baptism is no more than a
ritual. Its meaning is explained in a variety of ways, and to some
it has no real meaning. While there is widespread agreement that
water is the element prescribed in the New Testament for baptism,
few acknowledge that baptism is necessary to the obtaining of
forgiveness of sins.
If Baptism Is Not Necessary,
Why Did Jesus Make It a Condition of Salvation?
After instructing the apostles to preach the gospel to every
creature, the Lord said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:15, 16).
Note that Jesus did not say, "He that believeth and is not baptized
shall be saved." And He did not say, "He that believeth shall be
saved whether he is baptized or not." To the contrary, Jesus said,
"He that believeth and Is baptized shall be saved."
On another occasion Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man .
. ." (Matt. 7:24). This makes both hearing and doing essential to
our being like a wise man. In like manner, Mk. 16:16 makes both
belief and baptism essential to our being saved. Hearing without
doing does not make one wise, and belief without baptism does not
result in salvation. If two and two make four, two minus two cannot
equal four. Belief and baptism must not be interpreted to mean
belief minus baptism.
If Baptism Is Not Necessary,
Why Did Peter Teach That It Is For the Remission of Sins?
On Pentecost, Peter preached that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. His
hearers, pricked in their heart with conviction, asked what to do.
Peter replied, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). How can one admit that
repentance is for (unto) the remission of sins but deny that baptism
is for that purpose?
When Peter said in Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out," no one takes that to mean that
repentance is necessary but being converted is non-essential. If
Acts 3:19 makes both repentance and being converted necessary to
blotting out of sins, Acts 2:38 makes both repentance and baptism
necessary to remission of sins.
If Baptism Is Not Necessary,
Why Was Saul Told To “Be Baptized And Wash Away Thy Sins”?
A disciple named Ananias was sent to Saul, a praying penitent man,
in Damascus. "And now why tarriest thou?" said Ananias "arise, and
be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name, of the
Lord" (Acts 22:16). Were Saul's sins already washed away? If so, why
was he told to "wash away thy sins"?
It will not help to say this washing was symbolic. One might as well
argue that the arising was symbolic rather than real, or that the
baptism was symbolic rather than actual, or that the calling on the
Lord was only symbolic rather than genuine calling, as to contend
that the washing away of sins was only a symbolic portrayal. The
language of Ananias clearly implies that Saul was still a sinner
until he was baptized.
If Baptism Is Not Necessary,
Why Did Paul Regard it As A Prerequisite for the New Life?
Paul wrote, "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" (Rom. 6:3, 4).
Baptism stands between the sinner and his entrance into Jesus
Christ. Baptism puts one into Jesus Christ. And baptism puts one
into the death of the Lord where the benefits of His shed blood are
to be received. Furthermore, baptism enables one to enter into
"newness of life." The theory of salvation before baptism would have
one walking in newness of life before the old man is buried.
If Baptism Is Not Necessary,
Why Does the Bible Say That It Saves?
According to the apostle Peter, "eight souls were saved by water" in
Noah's day. The water saved them in that it carried the ark with its
occupants from the old sin-cursed world to a new beginning. "The
like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet.
3:21).
Baptism doth now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ! That
is the gist of Peter's statement. Just as water "saved" eight people
who were in the ark, baptism "doth also now save us." Many argue
that baptism doth NOT save us. Peter said baptism doth NOW save us.
Which do you accept, the teaching of the Bible, or the teaching of
fallible men?
Reader, if you have not obeyed the Lord in baptism for the remission
of sins, do it today.
— Via Truth Magazine XX: 45, p. 706, November 11, 1976
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-2-
Toward Better Communication
Sewell Hall
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to
hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not
achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
Can you imagine better advice for getting along with others? How
often we hear it said that the problem in a family, a plant, an
office, a school, or even a church is a breakdown of communication.
Obedience to this verse would change all of that.
“Be quick to hear.” Listen! Try to understand where the one who is
talking “is coming from” and what he or she really means. See if you
can repeat what was said so accurately that the one who said it will
agree that you have stated the position accurately.
Now, make sure a reply is needed. We do not have to correct every
mistake we hear. Some are not serious enough to require attention.
Others, though serious, may have to wait for a more suitable time to
be corrected.
Even if a reply is needed, take your time. “Be slow to speak.” Think
of what you are saying. Think how it will sound to the one hearing
it and how it will sound if it is repeated to someone else. Ask
yourself if what you are about to say will do good or do harm. Ask
God to help you to say only what needs to be said. Nehemiah was
asked a question by the king and managed a prayer before he answered
(Neh. 2:4-5). Remember that once you have spoken, you cannot recall
your words.
Above all, “be slow to anger.” Anger almost always breaks down
communication; shouting matches seldom end in a better understanding
of each other. And, besides jeopardizing human relationships, they
endanger our relation with God. We may fancy that our anger is
“righteous indignation,” but the Holy Spirit says: “The anger of man
does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
Are you thinking, “That’s not much of a way to win an argument”?
RIGHT! But it is a pretty good way to stop one. How would you like
to argue with someone who is “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow
to anger”?
— Via The Beacon, July 14, 2019
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-3-
News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Barbara Thompson had a follow-up in Jacksonville last
Wednesday. The EKG looked real good and no AFib. She is coming along
very well, though it might take up to 6 months for a complete
recovery.
Melotine Davis has seen her doctor about her herniated
disk that happened from a fall, after her recent back surgery.
But she has not yet heard when this additional surgery will be.
Rick Cuthbertson, who is being treated for lung cancer, will
soon be seeing his doctor about beginning a more effectual chemo.
Let us also continue to remember our shut-ins: Mary Vandevander
and Shirley Davis.
And also on our prayer list: Jim Lively; Pat & A.J. Joyner;
James, Bennie, Deborah, and Penny Medlock; Doyle & Joyce
Rittenhouse; and Jan Bartlett
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/08/25/the-gospel-observer-august-25-2019/
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that
is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ
(John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5;
Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom.
10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the
remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4;
Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be
lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00
a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Tuesday: 2 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class) (New Time)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912)
614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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