Message from Scripture:  1/15/2021

Our message from Scripture for today comes from Acts 2:38. “Peter said, ‘Repent, and be immersed, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ into the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

In listening to Christian talk radio this morning on the way to the church office, the speaker told his audience they were probably unaware that the root meaning of baptism is to be joined to, to be connected with someone or something. He was trying to convince them one doesn’t have to be immersed in water to obey God’s command, but to just connect with the Lord in one’s heart and you would be saved.

Our English word baptize is a transliteration of the Greek word βαπτίζω (baptize), which literally means to immerse, to sink, to drown, to submerge. In examining all the Greek dictionaries I possess, and various online sources, nowhere does baptize mean to connect or identify with. Scripture is clear it is a submersion in water for, or to bring about, the forgiveness of our sins. We do identify in the act with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (Rom. 6:3-4), but such happens in being literally immersed in water. This is clear in what Peter writes; “Immersion, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).

Satan works through false teachers teaching false ideas to keep people from truly obeying the gospel and having confidence their sins have truly been washed away. We have confidence in a faith that has submitted to the will of God by literally being immersed, knowing in doing so we are cleansed by the blood of Christ. There are a host of other teachings of Scripture that have been twisted or rejected by the will of people, but isn’t it wonderful we have Scripture that confirms God’s truth to us? May our trust and confidence be in God and His word, not the deceit of sin taught be those deceived. Live confidently for Christ today, knowing, in your submission to His will, you have new life in Him. God bless.

Robert