08/10/2020
Baptism – A Public Profession of Faith
Today, Sunday, August 9, 2020, nine ordinary human beings made a public profession of faith by being baptized. Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV) says, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
As I read alone with the minister (the above-mentioned verses) my eyes are drawn to the word “faith” and the word “faith” has a small letter b in front of it. The New Scofield Study Bible, KJV, I use, tells me to see Hebrews 11:39, note. The note summarizes faith as follows: The essence of faith is believing and receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent, which receives Him as Lord and Savior and impels to loving obedience and good works. (New Scofield Study Bible, KJV, Faith, Summary, Hebrews 11:39, note, pg. 1617).
Wait a minute, doesn’t John 3:16 have the word believing or something similar in it? Why of course it does. . . “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten, Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
My eyes are drawn to the word “believeth” and the word “believeth” has a small letter v in front of it. One of the study notes below the scripture readings talks about the word “believeth” in John 3:16 and it says, “In the N.T. belief denotes more than intellectual assent to a fact. The word (Greek pistis, noun; pisteuro, verb) means adherence to, committal to, faith in, reliance upon, trust in a person or an object, and this involves not only the consent of the mind, but an act of the heart and will of the subject. “Whosoever believeth in him” is equivalent to “whosoever trusts in or commits himself to him [Christ]. “Belief, then is synonymous with faith, which in the N.T. consists of believing and receiving what God has revealed. (New Scofield Study Bible, KJV, 3:16 believeth, pg. 1388).
So, a quick recap of the information above:
1. For by Grace are ye saved through faith.
2. Faith is not of ourselves, but a gift of God.
3. Faith is not of works, lest any man should boast.
4. Faith is believing and receiving what God has revealed.
5. Faith may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom he has sent, which receives Him as Lord and Savior, which drives us to loving obedience and good works.
6. Belief/Believeth denotes more than intellectual assent to a fact.
7. Belief/Believeth means adherence to, committal to, faith in, reliance upon, trust in a person or an object.
8. Belief/Believeth not only involves the consent of the mind, is an act of the heart and the will of the subject.
9. “Whosoever believeth in him” is equivalent to “whosoever trusts in or commits himself to him [Christ].
10. Belief/Believeth is synonymous with faith.
These nine ordinary people that were baptized today, made a public profession of their faith and belief in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
So, does baptism save? NO!!! Once again, it is a public profession of what has taken place in their heart. If baptism does not save, then what must I do to be saved?
1. Know that you too/I are/am a sinner before God. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. Note, “all” have sinned!!!
2. Know that the penalty of your/my sin is death; (separation from God forever). Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
3. Know that Christ paid the penalty of your/my sin on the cross. Romans 5:8, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
4. Know that your/my part is to accept Christ as your/my Savior. John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Faith requires you not only believe, but also to accept the free gift of God, the gift of eternal salvation with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Faith not only involves the consent of the mind, but the heart and will of one’s self, what we call the personal relationship with Christ, not only being in His word daily, but also time with Him, one-on-one, daily.
What is the symbolism of baptism? First, the person standing before us, prior to baptism, represents the old nature, our old self. Once baptized, (going under water and coming up again) represents the new nature or new creature. Romans 8:13 says, “ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (kill) the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Secondly, Baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Have you been baptized in Christ? No, I am not speaking of be sprinkled, as many have been, as children. I am talking about full immersion under water!!! Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of being sprinkled, but it does calls us to be baptized, fully immersed under water.
