Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 6 of 6

Finally, men use Matthew 18:19 and a smattering of other verses in isolation to preach the “health and wealth” gospel. Out of context from the many other verses that speak about prayer’s purpose and place, there are a handful of verses such as this, taken at face value, that seem to plainly teach in clear language that man may ask for what he wishes, and God will grant it. Yet we know that this is not so.

Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 5 of 6

Acts 2:38 plays off of Mark 16:16. Mark 16:16 reads: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Verse 17: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will…speak with new tongues.” Note that unbelief brings condemnation; failure to be baptized is not mentioned.

Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 4 of 6

Here are a smattering of verses which preach salvation by faith alone, over and over again stressing that faith is the sole criterion set forth by God for the reception of the infinite gift of eternal life. Why so many? I am attempting to demonstrate that Baptismal Regeneration is not derived from Scripture, but forced into the gospel message. This is not “rightly dividing the word of truth,” but “private interpretation."

Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 3 of 6

There is a distinct and profound difference between water baptism (a Christian ordinance) and the baptism of the Spirit (renewal or rebirth when the Holy Spirit is received by faith).The renewing of the Holy Spirit is what John the Baptist referred to as the baptism of the Spirit. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” Matthew 3:11. Jesus stated the same when He said to His apostles, “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now,” Acts 1:5. In light of these Scriptures, we turn to certain key passages and scrutinize them.

Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 2 of 6

As we proceed deeper into Old Testament revelation we read in Jeremiah 4:3-4: “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.” As with so many things which God taught in the Law, the physical act of circumcision carried a far deeper connotation. In Jeremiah 9:26 the prophet writes: “all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”

Refuting Baptismal Regeneration, Part 1 of 6

Is water baptism essential for salvation? This is a question that causes much division in Christendom. Some say water baptism is absolutely essential and that it coincides with faith; one must believe and be baptized to be saved, Mark 16:16. Others teach that water baptism is one of numerous sacraments given by God to impart grace to a recipient, and by means of this imparted grace the recipient may receive eternal life. In my own learning regarding Scripture, I believe and am convinced that water baptism is not necessary for receiving eternal life. I address this issue for one reason: if water baptism is essential for salvation, then anyone who teaches that a person may be saved without it is preaching another gospel, Galatians 1:8-9. Likewise, if water baptism is not essential, then everyone espousing its preaching is guilty of adding to the gospel, Revelation 22:18.

Contending for the Faith, Part 2 of 2

Now, what does it mean to contend for the faith? Did Jude want us to debate, argue, or even become violent if necessary to win our point? We’ll exclude the last choice out of hand, since our Lord’s teachings clearly revealed that we are to refrain from violence when it comes to matters of preaching the gospel. Faith should not, and cannot, be coerced. Coerced love or loyalty is entirely backward, false, and hypocritical. As the old saying goes: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

Contending for the Faith, Part 1 of 2

“It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 1:3. Jude’s exhortation possesses a unique Greek phrase, “epagonizomai.” In English the phrase is rendered “earnestly contend for,” and it simply means “fight.” I pose to the reader two questions:

#1: What is “the faith” we are fighting for?

#2: What does Jude mean when he exhorts us to fight?

The Hard Questions

“If God is perfect and all-powerful, why is there sin in the world? Why must one believe the gospel to be saved? Why does God not save everyone? Better yet, why did He allow this present world to be like this?” Have you ever been personally challenged with these questions? I have, and they challenged me to plumb the depths of my faith to reason Scripturally for a suitable, logical, intelligible, answer. I wanted to explain to this person why these things were so; not explain them away in a broad-side effort to defend God’s character without extending sympathy to a hurting person who is having genuine difficulty reconciling God’s holy character as revealed in the Bible to the everyday sin-filled world we live in.