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When the world says,
“Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
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  Baptism and the Blood by
T. Doy Moyer The blood of Jesus saves us
from our sins: the blood was "shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). What does baptism have to do with the blood? Peter preached, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Note that the expression "for remission
of sins" is the same as in Matthew 26:28. Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins. How can both be true? The answer is in Romans 6:3-4: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life." This tells us that when we are baptized into Christ we are baptized
into His death. We contact Christ's blood when we obey the gospel and are baptized into Christ. What saves us? The blood of Jesus. How do we avail ourselves of the blood? Through baptism into Christ. Is baptism
a work of our own merit? No. We simply must submit to the will of God. Now, how can anyone deny the necessity of baptism?
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Without salvation, through the blood of Christ, we have no hope. By the great
mercy of our God, we are told in His word how to be obedient to the gospel call of salvation. No man, no creed, no counsel
and no pope can reveal any truth outside the scriptures for "therein contains all all things that pertain to life and
godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," 2 Peter 1:2-4.
What does it mean to submit?
"Which commandment is the most important
of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"
Mark 12:28-30 What does it mean to submit? The story
is told about a farmer who gave his son plans for a farm. A house, a barn, a fence, and a well were included in these plans.
Where all these things were to go on the property was clearly marked in the plans. The son took those plans and put the house, fence, and barn right where his father asked him, but when he looked
at the location of the well, it seemed to be too far from the house, so he dug the well right next to the house. The question is, When did the son submit to his father? The answer is, NEVER! When he put the house, the barn, and the fence where his father asked he was not submitting
to his father's will, he simply agreed with what him in those cases. Are
we submitting to God or do we just happen to agree with him sometimes? Have we submitted to God's design for worship, organization,
and work in the church or does God's way just happen to suit our preferences? Have we submitted to God's will concerning patience
and forbearance? Turning the other cheek? Meekness? Forgiveness? Do we follow God only when he agrees with what we want to
do anyway? Do we obey only when it is convenient? The bottom line is this:
What do we do when God's instructions just don't make sense? Lord God, give
us a submissive heart. Help us to trust your wisdom in everything. David Maxson
from "Opening the Door Daily Devotion"
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WHAT IS NECESSARY
FOR YOUR SALVATION?
HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR SALVATION?
♦ Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:20-21)
♦ So faith comes
from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17)
♦ And Philip opened his mouth,
and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went
on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God. (Act 8:35-37)
♦ And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every
scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which
is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely
unto every good work. (2Ti 3:15-17)
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BELIEVE ON JESUS AND TO CONFESS HE IS LORD?
♦ Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be
saved, thou and thy house. (Act 16:30-31)
♦ If thou shalt confess
with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:9-10)
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR
REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR YOUR SALVATION?
♦ Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:39)
♦
There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer
of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)
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HOW IMPORTANT IS GOD'S GRACE FOR YOUR SALVATION?
♦ For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8
♦ That, being justified
by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
HOW IMPORTANT TO YOUR
SALVATION IS ENDURANCE, HOLDING FAST THE WORD, AND HOPE?
♦
But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Mathew 24:13
♦ Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive
the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. James 1:12
♦ For we are
saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope
for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:24-25)
♦ Moreover, brethren,
I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are
saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed
in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
Are any of these NOT
necessary for your salvation: God's grace? God's revealed word that teaches us how to be saved? Listening to God's
written word and believing it? Believing in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord? Recognizing our sins and repenting? Being
baptized for the remission of sins? Enduring trials and remaining faithful to the end? Keeping hope ever before you?
Did you choose anything on this list that is not necessary for salvation? If so, why? Is that answer from God's
word or your own opinion or the opinion of the church you belong to?
One more question: Whose opinion counts:
Yours? Your church's? God's word?
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Baptism
is
the
link
between
you
and...
Baptism
is
the
link
between
you
and...
Baptism
is
the
link
between
you
and...
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Remission of sins: And Peter
said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized,
and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16
Salvation:
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Mark 16:16
Which also after a true likeness doth
now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter
3:21
Christ's
death: Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3
Being buried and raised with Christ:
Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who
raised him from the dead. And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together
with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. Colossians 2:12-13
Dwelling in the
body of Christ: For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether
bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
Putting on Christ: For as many of you as were baptized
into Christ did put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
Receiving God's word
and being added to the church: They then that received his word were baptized: and there were
added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41
A new life.
We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the
glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
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bird photo via flickr.com
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