baptism – Page 11 – La Vista Church of Christ

21 Reasons Why You Should be Scripturally Baptized

October 5, 2004

by Kenneth E. Thomas Because God commands it. (Acts 10:48) To fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15) To be a friend of Christ. (John 15:14) Because you love God. (I John 5:3; John 14:15) Lest you reject the counsel of God against yourself. (Luke 7:30) To complete the “new birth.” (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5) To enter…

Had Cornelius heard John’s teaching and, perhaps, was baptized by John?

July 16, 2004

Question: Would you please help me to understand why, in Acts 10:37, KJV, Peter says, “That word, I say, ye know.” It sounds as if Peter is aware that Cornelius, and maybe some of the others, had already heard the word, and been baptized with John’s baptism. Although they were the first Gentiles to receive…

Can fellowship be denied?

March 20, 2004

Question: Where is the Bible passage that authorizes you to deny me fellowship as a member of the church when I acknowledge Christ and have been baptized? is there an ugly little secret that only those whose baptismal outlook is baptismal regenerationist are recognized? Apparently, my belief that my sins had been cleansed is not…

What authority is there for re-baptism?

March 16, 2004

Question: Where does the Bible authenticate re-baptizing anyone who believed in Jesus and was baptized in His name? Answer: I know of none. Baptism is an act that is done once. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put…

Does Matthew 3:11 show that eis can be translated “because of”?

March 7, 2004

Question: If the Greek word “eis” (“for” in English) is always forward-looking, then what about Matthew 3:11? Here it says that John baptized for repentance, but the repentance would have had to have come before the baptism. After all, Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3 states John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Therefore, “eis” can be “because of” in Acts 2:38.…

Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace?

March 5, 2004

Question: Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace? Answer: In the Bible, grace is the concept of a freely given gift; a gift that the recipient has not earned nor has necessarily deserved to receive. God’s gift to mankind was the life of His own Son. “For God so loved the world…

A refusal to accept that salvation came to Cornelius at baptism

February 10, 2004

Question: Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. There are two reasons why we know Cornelius was saved before being baptized. 1. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before being baptized; that he had the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:13 states that he abided in God and that God abided in…

Preaching the Gospel … Without Mentioning Baptism

February 7, 2004

by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Number One Gospel Sermons, page 180 (A series of gospel sermons preached at Nashville Road Church of Christ in the NUMBER ONE Community between Nashville and Gallatin, Tennessee, February 5 to 26, 1967. By Foy E. Wallace, Jr. In the sermon on February, 26: The Story That Never Grows Old,…

Plan of Salvation

February 4, 2004

by Foy E. Wallace, Jr Number One Gospel Sermons, pages 46-47. When the time came to reveal that great Plan of Salvation, God assigned that function of revelation to the Holy Spirit. God is the primitive cause of man’s salvation, he willed it. Jesus Christ is the sacrificial cause of man’s salvation, he purchased it…

Misconceptions About the New Birth

January 20, 2004

by Dick Blackford Guardian of Truth Volume XXIX: 5, pp. 144-149, March 7, 1985 I receive the Sword Of The Lord, a Baptist publication that claims to be the largest religious weekly in America. In a recent article on the new birth, the above caption was highlighted in the middle of the article. It jumped out…

Were the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus?

January 14, 2004

Question: Were the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus? Answer: Right after telling Nicodemus that no one can enter the kingdom unless they are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5), we read in John 3:22, “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with…

Can a man be saved without baptism?

January 12, 2004

Brother Lipscomb: Do the Scriptures say that no one can be saved without baptism, or is it only an inference? If an inference, are not all creeds founded on inferences? I have been reading your paper [The Gospel Advocate] for some time, and I like it very well. Lipscomb’s Answer: Inferences are of different degrees…

Is water baptism a work?

January 5, 2004

Question: Is water baptism a work? Answer: I have always been amazed at the dread shown by people toward the word “work.” You would think that it was a dreaded disease or something equivalent to sin. The word “work” by itself is neither good nor bad. It simply refers to something that takes effort. Faith…

Should baptism be done only in Jesus’ name?

December 24, 2003

Question: For many years the churches of Christ have used Matthew 28:19 as a baptism that adds to the church that was built by the word of the Lord that went forth from Jerusalem, a baptism that was not present when Israel was told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.…

Does Mark 16:16 say that someone not baptized is lost?

November 6, 2003

Question: I think I have a parallel that explains Mark 16:16. Suppose I state, “All people who are enrolled and live in the dorm are students in the college. If John is enrolled but doesn’t live in the dorm, does that mean he is not a student?” Similarly, Mark 16:16 says “He who believes and…

Aren’t the references to baptism just symbolic?

October 25, 2003

Question: When looking at Galatians 3:27 or the Romans passages, doesn’t it make better sense to understand the word immerse or immersion literally? I am immersed into Christ, immersed into death in spiritual realms. I am clothed with Christ in a spiritual realm, not putting on holy vestments. I am arguing that to say that…

If man must be baptized to be saved, why do so many passages only mention faith?

October 10, 2003

Question: The Bible teaches throughout the New Testament that faith and faith alone is necessary for salvation. John 1:12-13; John 3:15; John 3:16; John 3:18; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35; John 6:40; John 6:47; John 7:38-39; John 11:25-26; John 20:31; Acts 2:21; Acts 10:43; Acts 11:17; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 15:11; Acts 16:31; Acts 20:21; Romans 1:16;…

Does the term “brother” indicate Saul was saved prior to baptism?

October 9, 2003

Question: Since Ananias calls Saul “Brother” prior to Saul’s baptism, doesn’t this prove that Saul was saved before he was baptized? Answer: The verse in question is Acts 22:13 which reads, “and he [Ananias] stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.” As the conversation between Ananias and…

What about the thief on the cross?

June 14, 2003

Question: I am still a little confused about what I need to actually do. I heard about baptism, but they say that the thief on the cross wasn’t baptized. Isn’t he in heaven? Answer: I appreciate the time taken to ask questions concerning your salvation. Personally, I don’t believe the confusion comes from what the…

What must I do to go to heaven?

June 13, 2003

Question: What must I do to go to Heaven when I die? Please, no opinions. Please use the Bible, it is all we have that is the truth. Answer: I really appreciate your desire for a biblical answer to your question. Far too many only want confirmation that they are right and so they search…