Volume  3    Issue   27   May 11th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

In last week’s bulletin article we continued a series answering some of the false doctrines taught on baptism.  This article will serve as the last article in this series.  We have found that God demands water baptism, that there are many approved examples of water baptism, who is accountable to God needing to be baptized, and finally we concluded with the fact that baptism puts one into Christ and there is no salvation outside of Christ.  This article is set to deal with mainly one passage (Acts 2:38).  It has been said by past preachers that as long as they had their AX and 2 38’s they could shoot down any Baptist.  Such is true when one properly understands Acts 2:38.

In the second chapter of the book of Acts, Peter and the other Apostles preached the first Gospel sermon after the death of Christ (Acts 2:14ff.).  In verse thirty-seven there was a response from the crowd to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that reads like this: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  Some believe that faith is sufficient to the saving of a soul, but the crowd obviously knew better.  The seed was planted, we infer from their reaction that they believed, but they were not saved.  They knew that they needed something more, as faith is not enough standing alone (James 2:17-26).  Peter answers the question posed like this: (Acts 2:38) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent [active tense], and be baptized [passive tense] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ [by the authority of Jesus Christ – Colossians 3:17] for [“eis” meaning unto as translated in Romans 10:10; this is a preposition pointing forward, not because of.  Sins are not remitted until after one is immersed] the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Peter told the crowd what would have to occur before they could be saved.  They (every one of them) would not be saved before they were baptized, as is pointed out by the preposition “eis” translated ‘for’ preceding baptism.  One cannot be saved in sin (Romans 6:23), thus those sins need remitted.  This occurs in the act of baptism after one hears the Gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17), believes the Gospel of Christ (Hebrews 11:6; cf. Mark 16:15-16), repents of their sins (Luke 13:3 and Acts 3:19), and confesses Christ with their mouths (Acts 8:37 and Romans 10:10).  Jesus died so that we could have the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28).  Baptism is how He chose to have us obtain this benefit of His death.

It is evident in the context of Acts 2:38 that baptism is a direct result of those hearing the truth, being pricked in their hearts, making changes, and responding.  Notice the evidence: (Acts 2:40-41) “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Some would love to conclude that in preaching Christ we do not need to preach baptism.  However, the Bible shows us this is not a fact.  When Phillip preached to the Eunuch he preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35).  The text shows that after Phillip preached to the Eunuch he (the Eunuch) said (v.36) “…See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”  Obviously, preaching Christ includes preaching on baptism.  This is one part of a plan that leads man out of sin and into Christ.  Baptism is a spiritual death, burial, and resurrection leaving the respondent to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6).  Could any Bible student seriously conclude that baptism is not essential unto salvation for those lost in sin?  Not if they wanted Heaven to be their eternal home (Matthew 18:3, John 3:5, and I Peter 3:20-21).
 

Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Mike Lockwood
Lord’s Table – Bill Graham
Assisting – Terry Nannie and (young) Jay Wagner
First Prayer – Serg. Imbarlina
Closing Prayer – Jay Wagner

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Joan Croyle, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer), the Goforth family (Gina is still in the hospital in Fort Worth with pregnancy complications), and Valarie Johnson who is suffering from sinus problems that may result in surgery.