CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

The baptism of John, whence was it?  From heaven or from men? (Matthew 21:25)

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.  He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John . . . Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).

I just finished reading a blog by a Dr. of ministry or theology or divinity, it was never made clear, on why baptism had nothing to do with salvation.  Now who am I to argue with a Dr.?  Many are the doctors out there who are able preachers of the gospel that stumble over the response to the gospel of Christ because they are more in love with their systems of theology and creeds than the word of God.  For them baptism is something that needs to be explained away rather than accurately taught.  They need to answer about Christian baptism the same question that Jesus posed to the religious leaders of his day on earth about John's baptism, is it from Heaven or is it of men?  If Christian baptism is of men then it is not important, but if it is of God, then it must be understood and taught accurately!

Apollos was a great gospel preacher, but he taught the baptism of John.  What was the matter with that?  The difference is only a triviality--nothing to get excited about.  But any preacher and/or teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ must teach it accurately.  Prisilla and Aquilla, in a spirit of love, took the time to explain the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism so that Apollos could preach the good news of Christ, and the response to it, more accurately.

Because my time for writing is limited, over the next 2 or 3 "silver bullets" I attempt to teach more accurately about Christian baptism than is generally taught from the pulpits of our churches.  Almost every church preaches the gospel, the good news that we can have salvation; it is found only in Jesus Christ who is the Lord and Savior.  But when it comes to how one is to respond to the gospel, the answers are different.  How important is Christian baptism in the response to the gospel?  That is the question I will attempt to answer  over the next 2 or 3 postings.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom