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\u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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1) Bible Quiz: Water Baptism (Tom Edwards)
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Tom Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following is part one of a two-part quiz on Bible baptism that I had also made for the Internet many years ago, as well as for the bulletin in November 1998. It is primarily for those who do not realize the purpose and need for water baptism, but also to help us in better learning the Bible verses on this subject and with brief comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Which of the following men made the statement in one of his epistles that \u201cbaptism now saves you\u201d? Was it a) Paul, b) Peter, c) James, or d) Jude?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.<\/strong> Who in the book of Mark declares that \u201cHe that believeth and is baptized shall be saved\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. <\/strong>What two conditions are specified in Acts 2:38 that one must do in order to have sins forgiven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.<\/strong> According to Romans 6:3,4, baptism is for which one of the following reasons: a) to show our sins have already been forgiven, b) to be able to walk in newness of life, or c) to become a member of a particular denomination?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. <\/strong>In Galatians 3:26,27, Paul shows how one is put into Christ. What two conditions are necessary for this to happen, according to this passage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6.<\/strong> In John 3:5, Jesus teaches that a man must be born again before he can enter the kingdom of heaven. What are the two things one must be born of in order to make this possible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7.<\/strong> \u201cPaul\u2019s sins were forgiven after having met the Lord on the road to Damascus and prior to his being baptized.\u201d True or False? (For help on this, see Acts 22:16, which occurs 3 days after Paul\u2019s encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8.<\/strong> In Colossians 2:12, does Paul speak of baptism as a) a sprinkling, b) a burial, or c) a pouring?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9.<\/strong> The \u201cWHEREIN also ye are risen with him\u201d (KJV) or, as the NASB renders it, \u201cIN WHICH you were also raised up with Him\u201d (Col. 2:12) is referring to which one of the following? a) baptism, b) faith, or c) the Spirit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n ANSWERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Number 1<\/u>: <\/strong><\/small> <\/u><\/strong>b) Peter<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is in 1 Peter 3:21 where Peter declares that \u201c\u2026baptism now saves you\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the verse in the Revised Standard Version:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBaptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAppeal\u201d has been defined as \u201ca call for aid, support, mercy, etc.; an earnest request or entreaty; to appeal is to ask earnestly for help or support\u2026.\u201d, which helps us to understand how that people are \u201ccalling\u201d non-verbally on the name of the Lord by the act of baptism (see Acts 22:16). They are making their \u201cappeal to God\u201d by that act. Similarly, it can be said that a person had called on his friend by pushing a doorbell button. That would not have been a verbal call, but a calling through the act of pressing that button. To become a Christian, after we have believed, repented, and confessed faith in Christ, there still remains that final step of baptism to call on the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider also Acts 2:21, 36-38. In this first verse, Peter quotes Joel\u2019s prophecy that \u201c\u2026everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved\u201d; but according to the account, the way this was done was not by merely praying a \u201csinner\u2019s prayer.\u201d Rather, it was accomplished by their faith in Jesus (v. 36), along with their repentance and water baptism (v. 38). They sought God\u2019s mercy and forgiveness by meeting His conditions. And though not mentioned, confessing their faith in Christ was also necessary (cf. Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The KJV states in 1 Peter 3:21 that \u201c\u2026baptism doth also now save us\u2026\u201d and does so as \u201cthe answer of a good conscience toward God\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the Greek word rendered as \u201canswer\u201d in this verse is defined as \u201ca question, an asking; enquiry after, seeking by enquiry\u201d (A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament by E. W. Bullinger).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, clearly, baptism is not for those \u201calready saved\u201d; but rather for penitent believers who want to make their appeal to God for salvation. (Baptism is part of the condition one must meet to benefit from the death of Christ.) Number 2<\/u>:<\/strong> Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, it is the Lord Himself who states in Mark 16:16 that \u201cHe that believeth and is baptized shall be saved\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surely, if this were the only verse in all the Bible that placed baptism in connection with salvation, that would suffice \u2014 but it is not! There are various others that also remain consistent to this truth. For instance, just to show a few, people must be baptized in order to\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n * be saved (1 Peter 3:21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n * receive the \u201cremission of sins\u201d (Acts 2:38)<\/p>\n\n\n\n * \u201cwash away\u201d sins (Acts 22:16)<\/p>\n\n\n\n * \u201cwalk in newness of life\u201d (Rom. 6:4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the New Testament, water baptism is seen as part of the plan to have sins forgiven and become a Christian, which is all in harmony with what Jesus declares in Mark 16:16 that \u201cHe that believeth and is baptized shall be saved\u2026.\u201d Number 3<\/u>: \u201cRepent\u201d and \u201cbe baptized<\/u>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrary to the thinking of many people today, Acts 2:38 shows that one must do more than merely repent to be forgiven \u2014 one must also be baptized!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1977 I became a Christian. Prior to that time, I had been in various religious denominations that taught salvation by \u201cfaith only,\u201d or by praying \u201ca sinner\u2019s prayer.\u201d I can remember reading Acts 2:38 way back then and knowing that it did say I had to also be baptized; but, at the time, I would have to blot out from my mind that \u201cbe baptized\u201d part because it wasn\u2019t in harmony with what the denominational preacher and the others there were teaching. How wrong I had been!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard a story once about a Christian who was trying to teach a woman the need for water baptism. It seemed that he was not getting anywhere, so he asked the woman to merely read Acts 2:38, while he would not say a thing. After reading the verse, the woman looked up to the silent man and said, \u201cBut that\u2019s your opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still another non-Christian once said during the course of a Bible study, \u201cYou can\u2019t get baptism out of Acts 2:38!\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s right, ma\u2019m,\u201d the Christian gladly replied. \u201cIt\u2019s there to stay!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Peter said to them, \u201cRepent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins\u2026.\u201d (Acts 2:38, NASB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And could this verse be any clearer than how it is worded in the 1973 edition of the New International Version? \u201cPeter replied, `Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN\u2026.\u201d (emphasis mine). Number 4<\/u>:<\/strong> b) Baptism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Baptism is \u201c\u2026in order that\u2026 we too might walk in newness of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is this \u201cnewness of life\u201d? Isn\u2019t it obvious that it would be referring to the time when one becomes a Christian? Jesus had said that He had come in order that people might have life and have it more abundantly (Jn. 10:10). This is received when one is \u201cborn again\u201d (Jn. 3:3-5), which enables the person to be a \u201cnew creature\u201d in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17). By far, it is much more than merely \u201cturning over a new leaf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, it is evident that baptism must be performed before one can receive this new life. Just as Jesus said in Mark 16:16 that \u201cHe that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,\u201d Paul is showing the same need for faith and baptism in Galatians 3:26,27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is good to see all the wonderful things the Bible has to say about being \u201cin Christ.\u201d For example, \u201cThere is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus\u201d (Rom. 8:1); \u201credemption\u201d is \u201cin Christ\u201d (Rom. 3:24); one is \u201calive to God in Christ Jesus\u201d (Rom. 6:11); \u201ceternal life\u201d is \u201cin Christ\u201d (Rom. 6:23); and there are many other verses as well, along this line. And here in Galatians 3:26,27, one learns the important answer as to how a person can get \u201cinto\u201d Christ for all these blessings; and it is through faith and baptism. Number 6<\/u>: \u201cwater and the Spirit<\/u>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Jesus who told Nicodemus of the need for man to be \u201cborn again,\u201d to be \u201cborn of water and the Spirit\u201d in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way in which we ever find water in the New Testament used in connection with salvation is in water baptism for the remission of sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprisingly, I once heard a preacher say, \u201cHow much water is in baptism?\u201d After a several-second pause, he then answered his own question by declaring, \u201cNot one drop!\u201d This truly got the attention of the audience. He then went on to point out that the Greek word \u201cbaptizo\u201d (from which \u201cbaptize\u201d is a transliteration) simply means \u201cto dip or immerse\u201d; but there is no indication in the word itself as to what the element is to be in which the immersing is to be performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is only from other verses in the Scriptures that we learn that Bible baptism is to be in water, so that our past sins will be forgiven (cf, Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:47,48). Number 7<\/u>:<\/strong> False<\/strong> The only thing that Ananias revealed to Paul that he had not already heard from the Lord was the need to \u201carise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins\u2026.\u201d (Acts 22:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his three days of fasting and praying, and regardless of how many times Paul must have asked God to forgive him for the wrongs he had committed in his ignorance, he did not obtain forgiveness through prayer. Rather, it required his faith, repentance, confession of faith in the Lord, and baptism before his sins could be blotted out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For if his sins had been washed away by prayer, then there would have been no need for Ananias to command Paul to be baptized to \u201cwash away your sins\u201d (Acts 22:16). Number 8<\/u>: <\/strong> b) a burial<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul speaks of baptism as being a burial in Colossians 2:12, just as he also does in Romans 6:3,4. Therefore, we do not even need to know the meaning of the Greek word to understand that baptism is to be an immersion or submersion \u2014 and not a mere sprinkling or a pouring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If sprinkling or pouring were intended, then the Greek word \u201crhantizo\u201d or \u201cekcheo\u201d could have been used, respectively. But neither of these terms is used; nor do they convey the idea of a \u201cburial,\u201d as \u201cbaptizo\u201d does. Number 9<\/u>:<\/strong> a) baptism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Though many people believe that it is merely some type of \u201cspiritual baptism\u201d \u2014 apart from the water \u2014 which saves, Paul shows that the baptism involved is one in which a person can be buried in and raised up from \u2014 water baptism. And that one is raised up from this baptism in order to be with Christ. As Paul also shows in Romans 6:3,4, one is raised up from water baptism to \u201cwalk in newness of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (concluded next week)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014\u00a0 via The Gospel Observer<\/em> (slightly edited), November 15, 1998 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31). \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Contents: 1) Bible Quiz: Water Baptism (Tom Edwards)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- Bible Quiz: Water Baptism Tom Edwards The following is part one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=757"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":758,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757\/revisions\/758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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Number 5<\/u>:<\/strong> Faith and baptism<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In order for Paul to be forgiven, he had to first be baptized in water, as we see in Acts 22:16. Therefore, Paul wasn\u2019t saved by merely \u201cfaith only,\u201d after having met the Lord on the road to Damascus.\u00a0 Nor was he saved by his faith and repentance only, which is manifest in the way he conducted himself after having met the Lord: for three days, Paul fasted and prayed, while he waited in Damascus in obedience to the Lord\u2019s command \u2014 for there, Paul would be told what he needed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins <\/strong>(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
6) Continue in the faith;<\/strong> for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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<\/strong>Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: <\/strong>7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
https:\/\/thegospelobserver.wordpress.com\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)
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