What must I do to be saved?

Baptism is one of the most controversial topics among those who call themselves Christians. Disagreements appear over the purpose (why we do it), mode (how we do it), and result (what it accomplishes). Over the next few articles, we will examine what the Scriptures teach about this vital practice.

The Law of Moses commanded ceremonial washings for specific circumstances; many of these related to ritual uncleanness. Coming home from the attack against Midian, the children of Israel were told to purify their spoils and wash their clothes (Numbers 31:20–24). Numbers 19 provides a lye soap recipe, called “water of purification,” which the Israelites were to use after touching a dead body. The priests were to wash their hands and feet in the bronze sea (laver) before approaching the altar (Exodus 30:20–21). Lepers who had been declared clean were to shave, wash their clothes, and bathe their bodies before returning to the populace (Leviticus 14:8–9).

None of these cleansings provides an exact parallel for the practice that appears in the New Testament. They do, however, provide points of contrast with the teachings of Jesus’ forerunner, John, and later of the apostles.

The word translated baptism came into English through its use in the immensely popular King James Version. Properly speaking, “baptism” is not a translation, but a transliteration of the Greek word baptisma, which means “dipping” or “washing.” In the New Testament, the verb, baptizó, appears much more frequently than the noun. It means to dip, submerge, or plunge, that is to immerse.

Mark 1:4 says, “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Students of Scripture have noted that neither the Old Testament nor Jewish tradition demonstrate any kind of ceremonial washing performed by one person upon another until John. It may be for this reason that he received the name “the Baptist,” or probably better translated, “the Immerser” (cf. Matthew 3:1). This shift from washing oneself to being immersed by another informs our understanding of the distinctions that exist between life under the Law of Moses and under the New Covenant.

In the next articles, we will discuss the mode, purpose and result of immersion (baptism) as it is presented in the New Testament. Throughout this study, we must take care to allow God in His Word to speak, for He alone has the right to assign meaning to this practice.

Clay Leonard

Jesus did not say, “Go therefore and make Christians of all nations…” But He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt. 28:19). Now, in reality, a Christian is a disciple and a disciple is a Christian, but perhaps some have come to see the word “Christian” as meaning something more lax and casual than the word disciple. Or, they see the word Christian merely what one becomes when he obeys the Gospel. The purpose of this lesson is to give emphasis to what the Lord wants His church to produce. One thing is very clear… He does not want us to merely lead people to become Christians, but true disciples of Christ. Let’s study together…

A disciple is one who is a learner of another with the objective of becoming like that person. Jesus said in Luke 6:40, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Disciples are students of Jesus in order to become like Jesus! Obviously, this entails much more than being baptized and “going to church!” Christ has left His followers an example that they “might follow in his steps” (1 Pt. 2:21).

In the “Great Commission,” Jesus indicates the mission of His people is to make disciples and they do so by “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Key to anyone becoming a genuine disciple is ongoing teaching and learning that transforms the mind and the life (see Rom. 12:1-2). Christianity itself is a taught religion (see Jn. 6:45). Through reading and studying the Gospel accounts, newborn babes come to understand not only the pursuit and passion of Jesus, but their own!

Sixteen times in the Gospels, Jesus said, “Follow me.” Many times this phrase entailed going with Jesus somewhere, but it wasn’t just for a walk, but for training and work. Notice just a few such examples:
1. Mt. 4:19 – “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” It is interesting that Jesus begins with sharing the ultimate mission of His disciples!

Mt. 8:22 – “And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.’” In short, disciples are not those who make excuses for not really following Christ.

Mt. 16:24 – “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” Discipleship involves the denial of self for the sake of following Jesus wherever that leads, even bearing one’s own cross. Luke adds the word “daily” to this cross-bearing pursuit (see Lk. 9:23).

If we aren’t careful, we can insinuate to those who come to Christ that the Christian life is about being saved and meeting with the church (at least when it is convenient). We are not minimizing those things, but we need to teach, even before conversion, that a Christian is one who strives to follow Christ in all things no matter where that leads. There is cost to count (see Lk. 14:28).

Jonathan Jones II, in a gospel meeting, said this about discipleship:

“Jesus does not just call His followers to be His students. He’s not just calling us, ‘Come and learn my teaching. Come and learn the facts of my doctrine so that you’ve got all the right answers in your mind.’ He is calling us to fundamentally have our lives transformed and changed in a very real world, real life, practical ways so that my language, my behavior, my attitudes, my actions are literally being reshaped and molded after the ways of Jesus… So a student is one who learns information, but a disciple is one who copies the lifestyle of the Master. Much more than just a learner or a student, a disciple is a follower.”

Let’s be disciples, true followers of Jesus and lead others to be the same!

Daren Schroeder

First, the Bible: “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must 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).

We have commented before that the home is the laboratory for learning the Christian virtues. It is the place, then, for Mom and Dad to learn to control their own behavior, their own anger. Do not get into arguments with your children! You have yielded your moral authority and given them far more power than they deserve when you stoop to arguing with children. They are children; they will act like children. Do not allow yourself to fall to that level.

When your children push you to the edge, say a prayer. Get control of your emotions. And refrain from yelling. Raising your voice at your children has lots of negative side effects. Yes, you might get some temporary obedience out of them, but at what cost? You run the risk of making them feel unloved. Yelling damages your relationship with them; their respect for you is diminished every time you yell. And you may very well feel bad about it afterward.

Additionally, when you discipline your children through consistent yelling and arguing, you can “train” them to react to others in one of two ways. They will learn to use anger and yelling in their relationships with others, which is a recipe for a catastrophe. Or you can “train” them to give in to others who consistently express anger at them so that they become mere pawns or puppets in the world of those around them. You don’t want to raise defenseless children.

You should train yourself as you are training your children to control yourself. Control your emotions. Control your anger. Control your voice. it is possible to be calm but firm in your discipline. We are trying to train our children to make decisions based on values from God’s word and principles. That means you need to talk to your children about expressing a bad attitude. Don’t yell. Tell them where they are wrong from a position of strength and clarity. In that way, you will train their hearts.

Paul Holland

In our country, since Roe V. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, more than 60 million children have been killed in their mother’s womb. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that states must allow same-sex marriage.

How should a Christian view the direction our society is going?

We live in a society where mass shootings have become more and more common; a society that celebrates death in video games, on TV shows, in movies, in musical lyrics; a society that wants to remove any sense of morality, and is not subject to God’s higher authority.

The Christian needs to look at everything through the lens of God’s Word. From that Word he knows there is a God who created all things He doesn’t accept what the evolutionists are saying.

The Christian is not to be conformed to this world, but is transformed by the renewal of his mind, (Romans 12:2).

The Christian understands the source of society’s problems. He believes in the existence and reality of sin and evil. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As long as man keeps rebelling against God, he can expect more war, violence, and injustice. There really is a devil, and he is constantly tempting and seeking to destroy. He aggressively opposes God and His people.

Our society needs to see itself as being subject to God’s law. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man shows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

Our society’s misguided direction has reached Christians on a personal level. We read accounts on a regular basis. A Christian parent objected to an immoral book her child was assigned to read, and the child’s teacher refused to budge. A pro-life pregnancy center was providing tender care for expectant mothers. A state law forced the center to display a sign promoting abortion.

Somewhere along the line, Christians must stand up and say, “We’ve had enough! This has to stop!”

While it is true that we are to live in subjection to our governing authorities (Romans 13:1), this does not mean that we have to accept laws that say an unborn child has no human rights, and no worth; that the child may be deemed as inconvenience and a burden to society, and therefore can be legally destroyed. Just because we are subject to our governing authorities does not mean we have to support unbridled sexual license.

The society in which we live is not going to express the “Christian view,” but Christ’s followers not only need to express it, they must express it!

Danny Tunnell

    “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6). In biblical times people had a different view of dogs and pigs than we have in our society. Therefore, to understand this interesting statement of Jesus, one must first see what the people of the first century thought of these animals, then we can make applications.

Dogs were seldom domesticated in biblical times like they are today. Usually, they roamed in packs and would attach individuals when they were provoked or hungry. Therefore, the Jews had a very negative view of them, A psalmist said about people, “For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me” (Psalm 22:16). This is Hebrew parallelism in which the word “dogs” is equal to “evildoers.” To call someone a “dog” was a tremendous insult. Goliath was insulted when David came to fight him with just a sling and he said, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (I Samuel 17:43). When Shemei kicked dirt on King David Abishai came to his defense and called the kicker “a dead dog” (2 Samuel 16:9). The Jews called Gentile people “dogs” (Matthew 15:26-27). Paul even called false teachers “dogs” (Philippians 3:2).

In the Old Testament, probably for health reasons, God forbade His people from eating pork (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8). They were considered unclean animals. Not only would Jews not eat them, they did not even want to be around them. Often pigs roamed in the wild and would sometimes attack people. The Jewish attitude toward pigs makes Jesus’ story of the prodigal son even more graphic in that this Jewish boy had fallen on hard times in a foreign country so much so that he had gotten a job feeding pigs and was so hungry he would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating but no one would give them to him (Luke 15:15-16).

In his commentary on this passage Sellers S. Crain points out that the phrase “what is holy” was a phrase used to describe the meat that was offered as a sacrifice to God (Exodus 29:33; Leviticus 2:3) and that no Jew would dare offer a dog a piece of that holy meat (Truth for Today Commentary Matthew 1-13, p.243). It is also easy to see that no one would take valuable pearls and throw them into a hog pen. The hogs would just trample them under their feet because the pigs did not see the value in pearls.

What Is the Application?

How are we to apply this message which Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount? What is that which is holy and has great value like pearls? To whom are we not to give that which is holy and precious and why should we not do it?

To help us properly apply this verse we must realize that this verse follows Jesus’ instruction about not judging or condemning others, especially when we have a bigger problem in our lives than the problems of the people we are condemning. So, our text must have something to do with making a judgment or a wise decision. The application also deals with giving something to someone. What are we to give that is holy, but are not to give it to those who do not appreciate it?

First, God’s Word is holy, and everyone needs to hear that word so that they can be saved. But, there are people who do not appreciate it and may even use it to attack us. Some of these people have so little regard for God and His word that we have no common ground from which to present God’s word. It is a waste of time. They are not ready to hear what it says. Something must happen in their lives to make them want to hear what God has said. I have taught hundreds of people in one-on-one study sessions but to the best of my knowledge I’ve only walked away from two of those studies. I walked away because something led me to believe that it was like casting pearls before swine. I thought long and hard about the situation before I walked away because of the seriousness of the situation. As was said, this verse follows a section of Scripture where God speaks about the seriousness of making the wrong judgment. It is true that God did not make us soil-testers, but sowers of the seed. But Jesus also taught that we are to judge people by the fruit one bears (Matthew 7:15-20). If one is constantly twisting and perverting Scripture, then one may have to decide that at this time this person is not ready to accept the Word of God therefore it is like casting pearls into a pig pen.

Second, sometimes there are topics that are very valuable and need to be discussed but troubling to some and to discuss that with them may do them damage. They may not be mature enough to handle the subject at that time. Each of us needs God’s guidance so that we may be wise enough to know when truth on some subjects will help or hurt an individual.

Third, Guy Orbison in Matthew 1-13 –  Workshop in the Word notes gives an interesting idea as to an application of this text. He thinks the whole context is talking about “pretentiousness” with an attitude of “I am right – You are wrong” or an action that makes one look like he or she is more “holy” than others. Some of our actions may shine a light in the dark, but at other times people may view our actions as rubbing religion in their face which is like casting pearls (a religious action) before people who do not appreciate it. In that situation, the people of the world are like pigs who do not see our actions as sincere therefore what we think is a pearl is not seen by the world as valuable and our actions, to them, seem insincere. Therefore, they see our action as “pretentiousness” and are turned farther away from truth.

As an example of this, Orbison gives an illustration about praying in front of people who do not appreciate it. They see our praying as pretentiousness rather than as something valuable as a pearl.

Conclusion

Because Jesus made the statement quoted at the beginning of this article, it is an important truth which we must practice. Even though we may see the application applied in different situations, and may disagree with some of the views people may have about this passage, we must strive to know what He meant and then apply it in our lives. May we strive to apply this truth to the best of our ability.

Wayne Burger

Osman Gurcu recently claimed his third Guinness World Record.  He has long been interested in basketball trick shots and had previously set records for the longest behind-the-backboard shot and the longest bounce shot.  This most recent record was for the longest basketball shot made while blindfolded.  His shot from 65 feet, 7 inches away broke the previous record of 60 feet.

What the United Press International story didn’t report was how many missed attempts preceded the record-breaking shot.  We’re not questioning Gurcu’s abilities, but we seriously doubt he could simply put on a mask and begin making shots.  If that were true, the world would soon become familiar with such a gifted blind shot-maker.

There’s nothing to indicate that God has ever tossed a basketball toward a goal.  If He has, I am totally convinced that every shot would go in.  But we do know that God has done something even more amazing which can be illustrated by Gurcu’s feat: He has foretold future events with precision.

Here’s an example: In Isaiah 44:28 we read this: “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundations shall be laid.”’”  When Isaiah spoke those words in the early 7th century B.C., Jerusalem was standing, and the temple was still in use.  But nearly 200 years later a Persian king named Cyrus would issue a decree that the exiled people of Judah could return to their destroyed homes in Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the temple the Babylonians had demolished (2 Chronicles 36:22,23).

How could Isaiah have made a “trick shot” prophecy like that?  He didn’t just say that the temple would be destroyed and later rebuilt, but he even named the king who would set that plan in motion.  It wasn’t Isaiah’s genius that prompted such a prediction.  Look back to Isaiah 44:24 to learn where this information came from: “Thus says the Lord …”

Precise predictions of the future can be found throughout the Bible.  Some predictions remain unfulfilled, but most have come to pass.  Psalm 22 is an amazing study in this subject as several details of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ are mentioned (e.g. verses 1,6-8,14-15,18).  That prophecy was made about 1,000 years before Jesus appeared on earth!

For people, seeing the future is like wearing a blindfold; we just can’t see what lies ahead, no matter how hard we try.  God has no such hindrance: “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10).  Thus, when the Bible (God’s revealed message to humanity) speaks of future judgment and destinies, we are wise to listen.

I join with others in applauding Osman Gurcu’s lucky shot that placed him yet again in the record books.  But I fall on my knees to praise the God of the universe who is not blinded by the future.  And I praise Him especially for making it possible to have a glorious eternity for all who are found in Christ Jesus, His Son!

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, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

From time to time in our Daily Droplets, we share some insights into studying and interpreting God’s word. No more important topic can occupy our attention.

In Galatians 3:16, Paul writes, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.” Abraham had a host of “seeds” within the nation of Israel and Christians as well (Gal. 3:29). But, the point Paul is making here is that the “seed” which brings salvation is singular: Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 22:29-32, Jesus interprets a passage for the Sadducees and makes His argument on the basis of a verbal tense: “But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Jesus expected His audience, the Jews, to draw a logical conclusion based on the statement God made: there is life after death.

In John 10:34-36, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 and makes a point about the use of the word “gods” in the text: “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? “If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”

Here’s my point… The Bible shows that we need to study deeply, sometimes looking for precise meanings of words in certain contexts, in order to under the message from God. Sometimes that would also include looking at the tense of a verb or the number of a given noun.

Paul Holland

The words in the title above are from a poem entitled “To His Coy Mistress.” The poem was written by English author Andrew Marvell and was published posthumously in 1681. It has been described as a classic example of the carpe diem (“seize the day”) theme. In it the speaker urges his young, beautiful beloved to not be so slow in responding to his romantic advances but rather make the most of their time together before it’s too late. As he thinks out loud about how he could admire her beauty forever if only he had forever, then comes the line, “But at my back I hear Time’s winged chariot hurrying near: And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast Eternity.” When I read those words for the first time recently, they grabbed a strong hold on my ears! Have you yet heard “Time’s winged chariot at your back hurrying near?” or are you too young, or not too young but too busy and distracted to hear it? Sooner or later all spiritually concerned people hear it, and even the unconcerned.

Inspired writers have much to say about “time’s winged chariot” in the Bible. One passage in particular has strengthened its grip on my heart of late. In Psalm 90 the writer (thought to be Moses by some) acknowledged in verse 10 that even if we live seventy or 80 years, life here “is soon cut off, and we fly away.” “So,” he continued to pray in verse 12, “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I recently reached that 70-year mark and find myself wondering, like many people do, where did the time go? I’ve managed to stay ahead of time’s winged chariot for a long time, but more than ever I hear it gaining ground! How much longer do I have before that the swift chariot of time overtakes me, and not only me but you, my friend? God seeks to tell us in His word that wise people will live with an awareness that time travels on a winged chariot, and that no matter how fast we run or at what warp speed we live our lives, the chariot is always “hurrying near.” In the words of James 4:14, “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Our days on earth are book-ended by two gigantic events —birth and death. And our days here are literally numbered, for the Bible urges, whether we pay attention or not, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  I once heard my good friend and mentor Bro. David Sain tell a group of husbands and wives and parents that life moves us from one stage to another, and that we must learn to adjust as time moves us along if we are to be successful at marriage and parenting. King David indirectly alluded to this transitional nature of life when he said in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor His descendants begging bread.” Here he acknowledged not only that we move from youth to older age (be it every so silently and imperceptibly) but that God sees us through every stage of life if we serve Him! It has taken me 70 years to reach 70 years, and now more than ever before I can hear Time’s winged chariot hurrying near! How long before it catches me, or you? We don’t know. But take heart, if we love God and do His will, our move into eternity will bring us home to God and into more joy and life and love than time could ever offer

(Philippians 1:21)! Hallelujah!

by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

In the story Little Women, Amy, the youngest March sister, in a jealous rage that because she has to stay home while her two eldest sisters go to the theater, burns her sister Jo’s manuscript while she’s out. What’s most chilling, though, is Jo’s reaction when she realizes her sister isn’t kidding: “‘What! My little book I was so fond of, and worked over, and meant to finish before Father got home? Have you really burned it?’ said Jo, turning very pale, while her eyes kindled and her hands clutched Amy nervously.”

In this series of studies, we are looking at the qualities of God’s nature, the God who created the heavens and the earth. Today, I want us to meditate on the quality of jealousy as it relates to God.

It is interesting that “jealousy” is one of the few qualities which are used as distinct names for God.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD IS JEALOUS?

First, the word itself means “to be desirous of” or “to be zealous about.” It can mean “to be excited to anger over” or “to execute judgment because of…”

God is jealous: Exodus 20:5; 34:14. God’s jealousy works in tandem with God’s holiness and God’s anger. Let’s meditate on the God who created the heavens and the earth…

Because His jealousy is connected to His anger and zeal, then it comes as no surprise that God’s jealousy is directed at sin, specifically, images which attract man’s devotion: Psalm 78:58; 1 Cor. 10:19-22; Deuteronomy 32:16; 1 Kings 14:22.

POSITIVE RAMIFICATIONS TO GOD’S JEALOUSY:

First, there are contexts in which it is appropriate for human beings to be jealous. The reason why the Bible often forbids jealousy is because we get jealous over things that do not belong to us. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:2, that he was jealous for the Corinthians’ affection, not toward himself, but toward Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

God loves us with that intense jealousy and He will defend us: John 10:27-28. Jesus is jealous for His church because we carry His name.

NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS TO GOD’S JEALOUSY:

We must use God’s name with the most absolute holiness: Leviticus 24:10-12, 23. Since we, as Christians, carry the name of Christ every where we go, our lives need to be clothed with holiness because God is jealous of His name. Since we carry the name of Christ as a church, we need to behave as a congregation with absolute holiness because God is jealous for His name.

Because God is jealous, we need to make sure that we are showing our love and commitment and dedication to God in our love for Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. His nature needs to be our nature; we need to imitate His qualities as closely and as accurately as we can.

Because God is jealous, we must love His words, His truth, His gospel, with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The psalmist wrote: “From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). We need to hate every false teaching with the zeal of Jesus Christ, because it reflects on the truthfulness and holiness of Jehovah God.

Stay grounded in God’s holiness and reverence, for His jealousy is a power to be reckoned with.

Paul Holland

There is a game show where a team of contestants are asked a series of questions.  At various stages of the game, they vote off the member who is hurting the team, the one who is “The Weakest Link.”

The church, as “the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16). Each member of the “team” in our churches supplies some talent, some service, to hold together the congregation and help it grow.  What if your eldership were to look at the congregation to see who was failing to provide anything helpful to the growth of the church. Would your name be a part of their conversation?

According to the Lord’s parable of the Talents (Mat. 25), God gives each of us the ability to serve Him. Your talent, when put together with what others provide, makes the church strong. An old saying states, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” As such we might say that a church is only as strong as its weakest members.   In your congregation don’t be the weakest link!

. -Dennis Doughty