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From: Pastor Dale Morgan <dgrmor...@telus.net>
Subject: Are You Putting Off Your Salvation?
*Are You Putting Off Your Salvation?*
Even though they've come to understand the truth of God, many put off
baptism for years. But is that really acceptable to God? Should you
delay your baptism?
Recently a colleague and I talked to a gentleman who told us that he had
waited to be baptized for several years. Yet circumstances had somehow
sidetracked his intentions. Now he is finally ready to earnestly
consider taking this vital step towards conversion.
Others attend church for years with a desire for baptism somewhere in
the back of their minds while continuing to entertain doubts about
making a lifelong commitment.
Part of the problem for many is a lack of biblical perspective on the
subject. A helpful way to gain that perspective is to look at examples
of people in the Bible confronted by their need for baptism.
Paul's experience
The apostle Paul hadn't always been a Christian. Far from it! In fact,
he had violently persecuted Christ's true followers (Acts 22:4-5;
26:9-11). His life was headed in the wrong direction, away from God's
promise of eternal life. Spiritually, he was on a one-way trip to
Eternal Damnation.
But on Paul's way to Damascus--ironically, on a mission to persecute
Christians--God mercifully intervened, stopping him in his tracks and
granting him repentance.
Shortly afterwards Christ sent Ananias to instruct the future apostle in
the right path.
Perceiving Paul's repentance, Ananias asked him: "And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16, emphasis added throughout). Paul had
flagrantly transgressed God's law, even to the extent of being partially
responsible for putting Christians to death. But a merciful God gave him
the opportunity to put his sins behind him, leaving them in the bottom
of the baptismal pool where they belonged.
God can do the same for you. No matter what wrongs you have done in the
past, you can put them behind you and rid yourself of the guilt that
plagues so many.
What do you need to do? The only requirements are true, genuine faith
and true, geniune repentance --being genuinely sorry for your sins and
firmly determining to follow God's way of life as summarized in the Ten
Commandments and the true Word of the Gospel. The apostle Peter called
this godly sorrow "repentance to life" (Acts 11:18). The result is an
abundant life now as never before (John 10:10), as well as the first
major step toward eternal life in God's Kingdom.
Of course, the salvation process requires doing "works befitting
repentance" (Acts 26:20). This means giving up habits that the Bible
shows are wrong while committing to a life of obeying God's law.
The road to eternal life
Many, and hopefully you as a visitor of All The Good News Of Bible
Prophecy , have already given up many of their old ways. They've begun
the process of repentance, jettisoning old pagan practices along the
way. For years they have been reading the Bible and other material.
Yet they hesitate to take the necessary step of baptism--their passport
to everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. The apostle John wrote: "He
who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have
life" (1 John 5:12). Those words can be a little scary and demand
positive action.
The book of Acts is a window into the life of the early New Testament
Church. One of its most prominent themes is baptism. Does the historical
record reveal much delay and endless procrastination, or is repentance
followed by baptism as a matter of course?
After the historic Day of Pentecost, when the Church was founded,
Peter's first Holy Spirit inspired sermon convicted members of his
audience of their sins. His listeners immediately sought a way out of
their dilemma, and God mercifully provided it. "Then Peter said to them,
'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:37-39).
The role of the True Holy Spirit
The True Holy Spirit is the seed of eternal life that leads us to
salvation. Other passages show that God gives His Holy Spirit to the
truly repentant person after baptism by the laying on of hands by His
true servants (Acts 8:14-18). Then, through the gift of the True Holy
Spirit, Jesus Christ begins to live His life in us (see Galatians 2:20).
The New Testament record shows that "those who gladly received his
[Peter's] word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls
were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts
2:41-42).
Those who were baptized continued in the True and Faithful Christian
life, obeying God and fellowshipping with others on the Sabbath day.
Continuing the story flow, how did those early audiences react when they
heard the true gospel preached? "But when they believed Philip as he
preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus
Christ, both men and women were baptized" (Acts 8:12).
The Ethiopian eunuch
Later Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch (the treasury minister in
the Ethiopian queen's government) reading the book of Isaiah in the
Scriptures. After Philip had thoroughly explained the truth of God, this
official asked him: "What hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36).
Today many might ask themselves the same question.
Philip replied: "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The
eunuch responded, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (verse
37). (We should note that many other scriptural passages make it clear
that true belief should always include repentance and obedience.)
But then what happened? Did Philip recommend delaying the ceremony? Not
at all. "And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he
baptized him" (verse 38). Since baptism pictures the death of the old
sinful man (see Romans 6:3-6), the consistent New Testament example of
baptism is one of total immersion in water. This takes but a second or two.
Considering the realities of baptism--death and burial of the old man in
a watery grave--being sprinkled (Christened) and baptizing those too
young to understand baptism's significance are not in keeping with the
biblical example and teaching.
The day of your baptism
How did the Ethiopian eunuch react to his baptism? Luke tells us that
after Philip left the scene the Ethiopian "went on his way rejoicing"
(Acts 8:39). It was probably the happiest day of his life. His past sins
were forgiven and behind him forever. He could look forward to a
transformed life, basking in the knowledge of God by studying the
Scriptures in ever-increasing understanding made possible by God's True
Holy Spirit.
The day of your baptism is not a day of suffering and sadness. Have you
ever noticed the facial expression of a bride on her wedding day? A big
smile graces the face of blissful happiness and great joy.
Both marriage and baptism are rites of passage into a different and much
better way of life. The former, on the human level, is for this physical
life, but the latter constitutes an important step toward living forever
in God's eternal Kingdom.
Your personal circumstances important
We should note here that baptism is not for those with no understanding
of the law of God. As part of this sacred rite, we enter into a covenant
with God in which we promise to strive to obey His law for the rest of
our lives. This is repentance--turning our lives around to obey God. But
we must first understand what God requires of us before we commit to it.
In the examples above of Paul and the 3,000 Jews baptized when the New
Testament Church began, they all had a background of instruction in
God's commandments. So did the Ethiopian eunuch, because the Jewish
religion--it may surprise some to learn--was commonly practiced in his
home country.
All The Good News Of Bible Prophecy reaches its visitors on many levels.
Some are already truly converted Christians well on their way to the
Kingdom of God. For them this article will be a timely review and reminder.
Many others may have only visited us a few times, and much of this
biblical knowledge might be entirely new to them. It may even strike
them as strange, depending on their previous understanding. These
readers may need more time before even considering baptism--time well
spent in studying the Bible. To assist you in your study we provide many
articles in our Archives and Sermons section.
If you are new to the truth of God, you need to study and receive
instruction in God's commandments and foundational truths. Eventually
you can make an informed decision on an eternal commitment to God.
If you haven't already, perhaps you will visit our Bible Study section,
many helpful lessons will explain the Prophetic plan of God from Genesis
to Revelation. Several highlight the importance of becoming a True
Christian, repentance, baptism and the role of the Church in the
convert's life.
However, the primary focus of this particular article is for those who
are unnecessarily delaying baptism based on ideas or feelings that are
not supported in Scripture. Paul told Timothy to "lay hold on eternal
life" (1 Timothy 6:12). Without baptism this becomes impossible. Baptism
is a command of God, part of His plan of salvation. So why not take the
plunge?
Personal counsel
Lack of repentance or faith is the only valid reason for delaying
baptism. But many of you have already taken significant steps in that
direction. If you understand and seek His truth, God will grant you even
deeper repentance. So why put off what the Bible calls "the baptism of
repentance"? (Acts 13:24). Why delay your start down the road to eternal
salvation? Indeed, as Paul tells us in Acts 17:30, God "now commands all
men everywhere to repent."
If you would like to explore these spiritual matters further, we can
help you - just read our on-line Sermons Archive Document: "Revealing
Testimony: Do You Need To Be Baptized?" at:
http://www3.telus.net/thegoodnews/baptized.htm
Remember what Ananias told Paul nearly 2,000 years ago: "Why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized."
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