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Matthew 28:18-20 NASB 2020 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Baptism is essential to Christ and his church. Why? Jesus Christ orders his followers to baptize. Christ is the head of the church. The body of Christ is the ones he saves from darkness. The body does not tell the head what to do, but the head orders the body what to do. Again, Jesus Christ orders Christians yesterday, today, and tomorrow to baptize. Along with baptism, Christians are to use their minds, along with other abilities, to learn about God from the Bible. Learning to study God and know God is to learn the directions that God expects the body to follow.
Studying the Bible means learning about baptism. Christ’s body cannot create ideas about baptism, as it needs to be contained within the Bible. Christians are to follow the limits of baptism and the right way to approach baptism as God directs his body. God has put limitations in place for baptism and explains how to approach baptism. What this means is God answers these questions and more:
1) How does a Christian approach the subject of baptism?
2) What is baptism?
3) Who is to receive baptism?
4) Who is not to receive baptism?
5) In what agreement, between God and humans, is baptism to be done in?
6) What trouble can Christians get themselves into with baptism?
These questions and more seek to be answered throughout this book. Many unique in between positions go on the attack. Often it is with much intellect but, it covers darkness. Instead of trying to unify Christians, it is to make the other side look dumb and creates conflict. This shows great immaturity when someone does this. Why? Going on the attack shows a lack of God’s work in removing the remaining influences of darkness.
Baptism is a subject linked with other areas. Changing one area is to taint baptism and go past what God says. Think of an underground river with many sources bringing in fresh water, then places for water to go to like lakes or streams. Baptism has many areas creating its ideas, then baptism exports itself like into a lake. Changing the deep areas changes baptism. At least, some of these deep areas will have a discussion in these questions.
Chapter 1 – What is Baptism?
Chapter 2 – Did the Apostles and first Christians know of infant baptism?
Chapter 3 – Why does the New Covenant provide direct instructions for baptism?
Chapter 4 – How do Christians confuse baptism with the Old Covenant?
Chapter 5 – Does Baptism have any limitations that need to be contained within the Bible?
Other areas in the Bible lead to conclusions about baptism. Why? How God structures the Bible determines limitations for baptism. The Bible’s structure changes how Christians come to the Bible. Having the wrong structure leads to the wrong approach to the Bible. With the right structure, Christians need to test any ideas that they bring to the Bible. Learning to approach the Bible well means to handle the Bible with care. When handling the Bible with care, areas like baptism are clear.
2 Timothy 2:14-18 NASB 2020 14 Remind [them] of these things, and solemnly exhort [them] in the presence of God not to dispute about words, which is useless [and leads] to the ruin of the listeners. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly [and] empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 [men] who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some.
Pastors and teachers have a great responsibility in handling the Bible well. Christian, you too need to handle God’s words well to avoid mishandling it for your own ruin. Many in the past, like Hymenaeus and Philetus, went astray from the poor handling of the Bible. Do not be like these individuals, Christian! Seek to approach the Bible with great care.
Christians, you have several responsibilities in reading this book. Reading a book is not about gaining more knowledge in this case. Books about God’s word educate the soul that will affect daily living. God’s words are living. Baptism affects daily living as God directs his body to receive baptism. Every Christian is to take part in baptism, so baptism needs to be understood well. Listen to this book while putting away powerful emotions. Christians, your approach to the Bible needs to agree with how God approaches the Bible. Learn from God on how to approach the Bible and put away anything that fights God. Read the Bible carefully by reading before and after any passage. God reveals his thoughts as the body follows his written words. Look up resources when directed too. Christians, you have the responsibility of understanding baptism well.
God has given baptism to the church. Throughout passages addressing baptism, God has gone to great lengths defining what baptism is and what it is not. Christ’s body, meaning Christians, should listen and follow the head. Christ is the head. This may mean leaving a position behind or having a greater desire to see baptism done. Put away emotions, as God the Holy Spirit through the Bible needs to lead. May God have the glory, Amen!
Reformed Baptist Reflections 