What must I do to be saved?

God has revealed Himself, broadly speaking, in two ways.

God has made Himself known by way of special revelation. This category of revelation includes dreams, prophecies, and even God’s revelation of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 1:1–2). So much of what we know about God, we know because of special revelation. While the era of special revelation has ceased, we thank God we have the Bible, the inspired record of special revelation!

God has also made Himself known through general revelation. Unlike special revelation, which provides specific details and truths God would have us to know, general revelation offers a broader, but somewhat more vague, picture of God. When we refer to general revelation, we are referring to what we can know about God by observing the natural created order.

What does the creation teach us about God? First of all, the creation teaches us God exists. Order and design do not appear through the collision of random forces. The degree of design and the delicacy of life in the universe indicate planning and intentionality. Creation teaches us God, the Creator, exists.

Second, the creation teaches us about God’s expressive beauty. Why does the bird sing? Why do waterfalls, mountains, and canyons overwhelm us with a sense of wonder? Why do our tongues have thousands of tastebuds that send signals to our brains, which then interpret such a wide range of flavors? This world is no haphazard hodgepodge of random chance. The beauty all around us flows from the beautiful mind of God.

Finally, the creation teaches that God is a God of love. Love serves no functional purpose from a purely evolutionary standpoint. Evolutionary theory rests on the idea that all living things persist because they have an impulse for survival. Love challenges this notion because love requires self-sacrifice. Love leads a man and woman to remain married and monogamous, even when they cannot have children. Love cares for the elderly and the infirm, even though they may not provide any “benefits” to the survival of the human race. The mere existence of love in the creation proves the existence of a loving Creator.

The Scriptures give us all we need to live a godly life (2 Timothy 3:16– 17). Nothing can replace special revelation. Can we also give attention to general revelation without sacrificing special revelation? Get out of the house and the car and spend some time appreciating God through all that He has made. Watch a sunrise or a sunset. Visit a nature park. Thank God He has made Himself known in all that He has made!

Clay Leonard

    Vera Czermak was distraught when she learned that her husband was being unfaithful to her. So she went up to a third-story window and jumped out. She actually landed on her husband and killed him. According to the Washington Post, this is a true story.

    We might call that “poetic justice.” We might use the Buddhist term: karma. We might say that is justice.

    The Bible describes God as being just, or righteous, many many times. The Bible also illustrates the justice of God on many occasions.

    Let’s study Psalm 82 together…

GOD JUDGES IN THE MIDST OF RULERS – 82:1:

    This verse points to the fundamental rule among men – God “stands” in the assembly of God – this refers to Israel, God’s people in the OT. In their midst, God “judges.” This verb “to judge” is used four times in this psalm, 151 times in the OT. The verb “to vindicate” in verse 3 is this same verb. Here’s something that’s eye-opening: the word “rulers” (ver. 1) is the word “elohim,” which is the word for “God.” 

    What this shows us is that God worked through human agency. God “judged” through humans who executed the laws that God laid out. Ultimately, authority, of course, resides in God, but He has chosen to execute that authority through humans. In the home, that authority is executed through Dads and Moms. In the church, that authority is executed through the elders. In society, that authority is executed through rulers over the people.

    What we are emphasizing is that – to the degree that human rulers are implementing God’s teachings – then they are God’s servants. That’s why in Romans 13:4, Paul can refer to human rulers as God’s “ministers.” They stand in the place of God and have His authority, when they execute His laws.

THE SINFUL BEHAVIOR OF THE “GODS” – 82:2-4:

    How long will you judge unjustly? God is a God of justice. Those who serve in God’s place ought to be just and righteous as well. These men were not being fair in their behavior.

    How long will you show partiality to the wicked? These judges were willing to accept bribes or some other trade-off in order to be partial to the wicked. That’s nothing new. 

    The verb “do justice” is the verb “to make righteous” – to those afflicted and those destitute. These are two words which are synonyms and refers to the poor and those who have been ignored or trampled on in society.

THE END OF THE “GODS” – 82:5-7:

    The result of ignorance is that people walk in darkness. We could interpret verse 5 in two ways. First, these judges do not know and do not understand the result of their unrighteous decisions. They walk about in darkness and do not understand what they are doing to individuals, to society, and to themselves. What is happening? The foundations of the earth are shaken.

    Or, it could also be that the psalmist is referring to the destitute and afflicted who do not know or understand why the judges don’t rule according to law. That they don’t rule in fairness. That’s why the poor walk in darkness. The end result is the same, however: all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 

JEHOVAH GOD POSSESSES THE WHOLE EARTH – 82:8:

    The psalmist closes this psalm by once again calling on God, as he did in verse 1, to judge the earth. The reason why he wants God to judge the earth, the reason why God has the right to judge the earth is because He possesses all the nations. Everyone is accountable to Jehovah God. 

JESUS’ USE OF PSALM 82:6 – John 10:34-38:

    In John 10, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6: “I said, you are gods.” In verse 35, Jesus makes His application. If Asaph, the author of Psalms (and all the psalms were considered inspired, so we might say “If God called them “gods.””) called rulers “gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), why would they accuse Jesus of committing blasphemy to identify Himself as the “son of God”? In fact, we’ve already seen from Psalm 82:7 that these rulers were also called “sons of God.”

    Jesus’ use of Psalm 82:6 in this text shows three things:

    1.) Jesus did not blaspheme when He called Himself the “Son of God.” Human rulers were called that in the book of Psalms.

    2.) Jesus is the judge sent by God: John 5:30.

    3.) Jesus will judge according to God’s standards: Matthew 12:17-20, quoting Isaiah 42:1-2.

    God has given all authority to execute His judgment to His Son. You and I need to execute God’s word in our own lives and be faithful to His justice. We will give an account one day.

Paul Holland

What is Your “Faith Education”?
Ezra 7:10; 2 Peter 3:18

I did some math. If we were to compare compulsory (what is required) education to our “faith education,” I believe we would be shocked.

On average (it varies a little from state to state) it takes approximately 13,000 hours of classroom instructional time to complete a K-12 education. In other words, each grade takes a little more than 1000 hours of classroom instruction.

Now, let’s say that you come to worship and Bible class every time it is available in the week. That’s one hour of Bible class on Sunday morning, one hour of worship, and an hour of Bible class on Wednesday night. That’s three hours of “classroom instruction” for your faith per week. Assuming a normal year of 52 weeks, how long would it take to complete one grade of instruction for your faith?

52 weeks x 3 hours per week = 156 hours per year 156 hours per year x ______ of years = 1000 hours

It would take more than six years to complete one grade of “faith education.”

At that rate it would take 83 years to complete the equivalent of a high school diploma in your faith.

That’s without any skipping!

If you only come two hours a week, it would take 125 years. And if you only come two hours a week it would take over 9.5 years to complete the equivalent of one grade.

On the other hand, if you attend three hours a week and add two hours of personal Bible study during the week (that’s just 20 minutes a day with Sundays off) it would take 50 years to complete your “faith high school diploma.”

For the person who only comes during the sermon hour on Sunday, and does no additional study at home, it will take over 19 years to graduate from “faith kindergarten!”

We simply cannot grow in our faith if we only study the Bible during the times the church comes together during the week.

Clay Leonard

In the photo that accompanied the Associated Press story, Trooper Jimmy Rasaphone and Lilah (a golden retriever) are both wet and muddy.  But there’s a smile on the New York State Trooper, as well as on the face of Lilah’s owner.  After being missing for four days, the retriever had been safely retrieved.

While out walking two other dogs on Sunday morning, the owner heard Lilah barking from inside a culvert.  Nothing he did could lure her out; she was deep inside.  After calling 911 Trooper Rasaphone arrived and crawled 15 feet into the culvert to rescue the beloved pet.

The path to rescue was described as “an extremely tight fit”, but Rasaphone was somehow able to get a choker around the dog’s neck and lead her out to safety.  Why Lilah got into that tight spot will remain a mystery, but the good news is that she is now back home.

If you’ve read the Bible, you’ll agree with my comparison here.  When we go for the bait Satan puts before us, we crawl into some pretty nasty “culverts” of sin.  Only when it’s too late do we realize that we can’t extricate ourselves.  Like Jonah in the belly of the great fish, all we can do is cry out for help, desperately hoping that someone who can help will hear us.

Galatians 4:4,5 tells us that our plight was noticed: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  In those two verses we see One who descended into the mire in which we were stuck to rescue us.

Notice that Jesus was “born of a woman”.  The concept of incarnation (God coming to us in the flesh) is mind-boggling.  Jesus chose to leave his perfect heavenly home to carry out this rescue mission.  He chose to put on a physical body that felt hunger and pain, that could become ill, that could be mocked and spat upon, and that ultimately would be tortured and killed.  In crawling through that mire, though, He took the only path possible for our rescue.

Meditate on Hebrews 2:14,15 for a bit: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”  Without a doubt, Jesus crawled through the mire to pull us out of certain death.

Jesus began the parable of the lost sheep in this way: “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11).  Elizabeth Clephane envisioned that rescue in the old hymn “The Ninety And Nine”: “’Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way that marks out the mountain’s track?’  ‘They were shed for one who had gone astray ere the Shepherd could bring him back.’  ‘Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?’  ‘They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.’”

Such truths help us understand the apostle Paul’s resolution: “For the love of Christ compels us … He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).  How could we do any less for One who risked all for us?

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall

Two of the most distinguishing features of churches of Christ are the teaching of baptism for the remission of sins and the non-usage of instruments in the worship of God. This study will focus on the latter of these and will continue for the next week or two.

MUSIC IN WORSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Clearly, God intends for Christians to worship Him with singing. Notice the following passages:
2. Ephesians 5:19 – “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”
3. Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
4. 1 Corinthians 14:15 – “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”
5. Hebrews 13:15 – “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
6. Looking at the passages above, it is easy to conclude that God has prescribed a certain kind of music in our worship assembly. Note some significant points here…
7. The kind of music is acapella (or, singing alone).
8. The words are intended to be reciprocal in nature, giving instruction and admonishment to one another.
9. The silence pertaining to the instrument in the NT speaks loudly since the instrument was clearly used to worship God in the OT (note just a few examples: 1 Chron. 15:19-21; 16:1-6; 28:11-19; Ps. 150:1-4).
10. Also note that Jesus explains (in Jn. 4:24) that worship in the NT Age is more spiritual in nature. He states, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
11. You may recall at the very beginning of the church, Luke recorded that Christians just added to the body of Christ, “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). From day one they understood that the Lord had given great authority to the apostles to guide them in matters of faith and practice.
12. One of the most powerful arguments against the use of instruments comes in Colossians 3:17, immediately following Paul commanding Christians to sing to one another. There he states, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Paul is talking about the source of religious authority. Everything we do in worship is to be authorized by the Lord. What has the Lord authorized us to do in worship? The verse immediately preceding verse seventeen indicates (see above) that Christians are simply to sing in worship. Christians have authority to worship God in song. No one has authority to worship God with an instrument.

LEARNING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Some appeal to the OT for the practice of instrumental music, when in fact the real appeal from the OT leads us in quite a different direction. Consider the following:

1. Paul said the OT Law was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Note: It was not written as a standard for our faith and practice (except that if we truly follow it, it simply leads us to Christ and His new way.
2. So, in a real sense, when we embrace Christ and the apostles’ doctrine, we are indeed following Moses and the Prophets! That is exactly where they point us!
3. If we learn anything in particular from the OT, surely it is that God means what He says, and that this principle is extremely relevant in the domain of worship. Notice the following:
4. The first time that the Bible records worship unto God, half of it was rejected by God. Cain’s worship was in some way not what God intended it to be. He did “not do well” (Gen. 4:7). Something about his worship was in accord with the will of God.
5. Nadab and Abihu “offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them” (Lev. 10:1). In case anyone had trouble understanding what unauthorized meant, God explains that it is something which God had not commanded to be offered. This OT story should weigh heavy with those who promote adding the instrument to the worship of God today.
6. Perhaps it is helpful to understand the principle that is in play here and why the Lord consumed Nadab and Abihu with fire (see v. 2). The text records in verse 3: “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘That is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Offering worship to God is not a matter to be taken lightly!
7. Other examples could be given, but surely we see that a recognition of who God is demands that we approach Him with care and humility!

Next week we will plan to continue with this study.

Daren Schroeder

In Luke 18, Jesus gives us a parable to teach us the importance and the power of persistence, especially in prayer. Let’s take a look at that parable (18:1-8).

THE REASON FOR THE PARABLE – 18:1:

In verse 1, Jesus tells this parable to show His followers that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. Take a moment and reflect on each word or phrase of this important sentence. “At all times.”

The next word I would like to draw to your attention is the word “ought.” Notice this word. This word carries with it the idea of a compulsion. Jesus is saying that we must devote ourselves to prayer. It is not optional.

We have the verb “to pray,” which of course refers to us talking to God. We can give God thanks in prayer. We can unleash our pent-up emotions to God in prayer. We can ask God for His blessings in prayer.

Finally, we observe the phrase “lose heart.” To “lose heart” means to be “discouraged.” To be “discouraged” is to “lose heart.” Jesus understands how easy it is for us to lose heart.

THE PARABLE – 18:2-5:

So Jesus gives us this parable. This judge did not fear God and he did not respect man. He was not a scoundrel but he was certainly self-centered. He had no respect or fear for God and he equally had no respect for his fellowman. The point Jesus wants to emphasize here is that this man is self-absorbed and would not lift a finger to help someone out.

Does God, to us, seem distant? Uncaring? Unresponsive? How often, in our hearts, do we echo the fear of the apostles in the middle of the storm on the sea of Galilee, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

This man was a judge. It was his job to carry out justice or to see that justice was carried out. In this case, he was not the least bit interested in carrying out justice until this little old widow woman bothered him constantly enough that she wore out his patience! This word translated “to wear out” is used in 1 Corinthians 9:27 where Paul writes that he “disciplines himself” so that he will not become unfaithful. Here, the judge is saying that this woman is persisting and persisting and persisting until she wears out and punctures through this gruff exterior and strikes at the emotions hidden deep inside so that he will vindicate her.

JESUS’ MESSAGE – 18:6-8:

In verse 8, Jesus says that God will bring about justice, vindication, for His elect quickly. The troubles that afflict us in this life often steal our faith and wear us out. The problems that we pray about irregularly, that we ought to pray about regularly, are often problems that wear us out and steal our faith. So Jesus warns us in verse 8 that we must pray regularly, so we do not lose our faith because the question comes to us: when Jesus comes back to earth, will He find faith on the earth?

Family, that’s how important it is for us to be persistent, especially persistent in our prayers. It is all about keeping us faithful to Christ until He comes again.

Paul Holland

    The country music group Alabama has a song titled “5:00 500” in which they compare getting off work and going home to being in a car race. The boss dropped the “green flag” and everyone heads out the door, headed home, and the freeway is packed with everyone trying to get home, all at the same time, as soon as possible.

    One man talked about the traffic he faced every day and how he rushed to get home as soon as he could. Red lights, slow drivers, and drivers cutting in front of him – they all drove him crazy. He would be a nervous wreck by the time he got home. His stomach would be in knots, he was frustrated, tired, and angry. He would lose his temper with his wife and kids. It was not a pleasant routine. And largely it was because he allowed the traffic to get him down.

    After hearing a sermon on patience, this man decided he would make some changes. He could not control traffic, but he could control how he viewed the traffic. He himself would drive more slowly. He would not push to finish the trip as quickly as possible. He would relax and not be so competitive when another driver went around or cut in front of him.

    The first time this man tried his new approach, it actually took him two minutes longer to get home! But the difference in his attitude once he arrived home was the difference between night and day. He was calm, more relaxed, and ready to show love to his wife and kids. His emotions were under control.

    Notice – the situation did not change. There were still red lights. There were still rude drivers. There were still slowpokes on the road. But when he decided he would change his mentality, and not get angry, he lost two minutes. That was nothing compared to what he gained in return! 

    In 1 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul writes that “love is not provoked.” There are many ways we could word this: love does not wear its feelings on the sleeve. Love is not touchy. Loving hearts do not have short fuses. Patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s the best way to live.

    Many people, once they become angry, find it hard to get their emotions back under control. The wise man said, “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out” (Prov. 17:14). The Edenville Dam broke in Midland, MI a couple years ago. It was in May of 2020. A 500-page report was released in May of this year and, to no one’s surprise, the dam break was preventable. There was no single person or group of people responsible for the dam’s weakness but it was the result of decades of neglect by many people. Ten thousand people had to be evacuated; thousands of homes and businesses were damaged at an estimated cost of $250 million. Solomon said that getting angry is like having a crack in a dam. Once you let the flow of anger start, it’s hard to get it stopped.

    Once again, the wise man wrote: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). Let’s give one another one of the greatest gifts we can give: patience – to our families, our coworkers, our neighbors, but especially to our church family. It’s the loving thing to do. If we can’t get along together here on earth, we won’t be in heaven together. We might, however, be in hell together.

    Get over your anger quickly before it causes you to miss heaven.

Paul Holland

A woman in a very nice neighborhood answered a knock at her door one morning and found a destitute man standing there.  He wanted to earn money by doing odd jobs, so she asked,  “Can you paint?” “Yes,” he said, “I’m a pretty good painter.”  “Well, here’s a gallon of green paint and a brush.  Go behind the house and you’ll see a porch that needs repainting.  Be very careful.  When you’re done, I’ll look it over and pay you what it’s worth.” In less than two hours he was back at her front door.  “All finished,” he reported with a smile.

“That didn’t take long,” she said, “are you sure you did a good job?”  “Oh, yes ma’am,” he said,  “come and see for yourself.”  And as they started around the corner of the house he said, “Oh, and by the way, you were wrong about one thing:  that’s not a Porsche back there, that’s a Mercedes.”   (Bruce Thielemann, in Leadership, Summer 1996, page 71)

It is so easy to “get it wrong,” to misunderstand, to think we know what folks are talking about, but to be totally wrong!  And that is particularly true about Jesus!  Everybody thinks they know who Jesus is, but relatively few have taken the time to REALLY get to know him!

Matt 13:13 – Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

–Dan Williams

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? (Proverbs 20:6)

Grandpa used to say that when there is a difference between what a man says and what he does, he had learned to go with what the man does. Sadly, a gap (sometimes a sizeable one) between commitments made and commitments kept is all too frequent. “You can count on me….”

You can count on me to love, honor, and cherish. That is what we vow when we marry. That is what God requires (Ephesians 5:22-23), “until death do us part.” The husband commits to a lifetime of self-sacrificing love, care, and provision for his family. The wife commits to a lifetime of love, respect, and submission to her husband. But alas, even among some Christians, “You can count on me” proves an idle boast. Self-centeredness, anger, dishonesty, laziness, and lust come to be the reliable traits. The importance of getting to know a prospective mate well, learning all you can about his/her spirituality and character, cannot be overemphasized.

You can count on me to do the job. That is what we say to the company that hires us. We are committing to consistent, quality work, “not with eye service… but with sincerity… heartily, as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:22-24). Yet today’s employers say reliable workers are “scarce as hen’s teeth.” One man told me he often hires a crew of ten, hoping six or seven will show up. This is what we say to those who ask us when we agree to contact a visitor, teach a class, or so some work at the building. They are depending on us. Are we trustworthy?

You can count on me to pay the bill. That is what we say every time we make an extended purchase, whether signing a lease, ordering utilities, taking out a loan, or using a credit card. That creditor expects you to keep your word. So does God (Matthew 5:37; Romans 13:8). If you do not have the means to pay, you have no business making the commitment. Bankruptcies and defaults in our society are at an all time high. Do not be deceived into viewing that as anything except what it is — a shortage of trustworthy people.

You can count on me to keep the appointment. That is what we say when we agree to meet another at a given place and time. Not to show up is a personal affront. Tardiness is inexcusable. It is an irksome habit, born of inconsideration and is easily preventable. Some of us are continuously late for the services of the Lord even though they have always been held at the same time. This is not only inconsiderate and disruptive to those who have arrived on time, it is inconsiderate to the Lord.

You can count on me to live as befits a disciple of Christ. Isn’t that what we say to the Lord when we are baptized into Him, when we are appealing for the forgiveness only He can provide (1 Peter 3:21)? Doing the Father’s will is what He requires, not empty claims of devotion Matthew 7:21-23). That is the standard by which we will be judged. Conduct yourselves in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10).

– by Frank Himmel

Why do churches of Christ place so much emphasis on baptism? Have you ever been asked that, or wondered it yourself? Consider three reasons why and then one final reason.

REASON 1: MARK 1 

The very first event in the life of Christ revealed to us by Mark is Jesus coming to John to be baptized (see v. 9). Nothing is said in Mark’s Gospel of the approximate thirty previous years of the life of Jesus! Surely this indicates something of the significance of this event.

Of course, Jesus was not baptized “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38) because He had none (Heb. 4:15). He was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness,” insisting that John baptize him (see Mt. 3:13-15). Baptism was commanded by God’s prophet, John the baptizer (see v. 4) and in doing so, Jesus kept the righteous law of His Father (see Ps. 119:75) and pleased Him (see Mt. 3:17).

If Jesus needed to be baptized, how can we, who have sinned against a holy God, possibly claim not to have the same need to obey the Father, as well as be forgiven of our sins?

REASON 2:  ACTS 2

The second reason for emphasizing baptism is found in Acts 2, the chapter that every previous chapter in a sense anticipates, and every subsequent chapter looks back to. In Acts 2, the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, the Lord’s kingdom came with power (vv. 1-4; see also Mk. 9:1; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8). Christ established His church as He promised (Mt. 16:18).

Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, along with the other apostles (see vv. 1-4), preached to the Jews on that day convincing them and convicting them concerning the crucifixion of the Messiah. In utter desperation they exclaim: “Brothers, what shall we do?” (v. 37). Peter’s response in verse 38 is, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We may not be directly responsible for the death of Jesus, but we have certainly sinned against Him (see Rom. 3:10, 23; 1 Jn. 1:8) and need His cleansing.

REASON 3: JOHN 3

The third reason for emphasizing baptism is found in John three where Jesus is having a discussion with a man named Nicodemus. In verse 3 Jesus says that one cannot see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Nicodemus is puzzled by what Jesus means and therefore Christ clarifies in verse five stating, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Unfortunately, some today are still puzzled with what Christ refers to here, but the context of this chapter, as well as other Scriptures, makes this very understandable. First note that baptism is found in the same chapter down in verses 22, 23 and 26. If we don’t know what Jesus meant by being born of the water and the Spirit, and then soon after we see that He, as well as John, are baptizing in water, doesn’t that answer our question?

Also, a simple comparison of other passages quickly helps clarify this matter. For instance, if being born of the water and Spirit are necessary for seeing the kingdom, and baptism puts one into the kingdom, or the church (see Mt. 16:18-19), then we can safely conclude that these are one and the same. And indeed we see this is the case (see Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41, 47).

Before concluding, understand that we could continue with our reasons. Reason 4 – In Ephesians 4:5 Paul, while mentioning seven fundamentals of the faith, mentions “one baptism.” Reason 5 – In chapter 5 he discusses “the washing of water with the word” (v. 26; compare Jn. 3:3, 5; Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16). In Romans 6:3-4 Paul discusses how baptism conforms to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But let’s end with this…

THE FINAL REASON: MATTHEW 28

We began this short study with the first event in the life of Christ found in the Gospel of Mark. Now we conclude with His final words in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:18-20).

Surely the final words of Jesus are meaningful and important. In fact, we see that this is the message that He intends to be preached to every creature in every part of the world for all time to come, and part of the message involves the response of baptism, which makes one a disciple of the Lord (see the passage above).

These are some of the reasons that churches of Christ place significant emphasis on baptism. Understand one thing… in actuality it is not our emphasis, it is the Lord’s. And why should we call Him “Lord, Lord” and then not do what He says? (see Luke 6:46).

The fact that God has chosen a way for us to be washed free from sin is a testament to His amazing grace. Don’t refuse it as the Pharisees did (see Lk. 7:30), but embrace it with thanksgiving and proceed onward with joy in your heart like the Ethiopian (see Acts 8:39).

Please reach out to us if you need to study this subject more or if you believe you are ready to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. We want to help.

Daren Schroeder