WHY GOD DEMANDS WATER BAPTISM (Part One)

By Bob Myhan and Steve Tidwell

eople do not have difficulty understanding the need for faith, repentance and confession of faith. The necessity for water baptism, however, is a stumbling block, because they do not understand the difference between “positive” and “moral” commands. C. C. Crawford explains as follows.

“A moral Command of God requires that a thing be done because it is right in respect to the very nature of things. The Decalogue is a code of moral law; to identify it as such one needs only to follow the principle of universalization, namely, that a man, in contemplating a certain action, by asking himself what the effect would be if every person would do the same thing under the same circumstances, can surely see for himself whether his contemplated action is right and good or wrong and bad. Tested by this principle, it becomes obvious that idolatry...false swearing...disrespect for parents, murder, adultery, theft, false wit-ness...covetousness, etc., if universalized would destroy social order, and in all likelihood the human race itself.... The only exception, of course, is the law of the Jewish Sabbath: this was a positive institu­tion.”

“A positive command, in Scripture, requires a thing to be done because Divine authority orders it. The chief characteristic of this kind of command is that there is no necessary logical connection between the thing commanded and the end in view. The primary purpose of such a command is simply that God has ordained it, for a specific purpose; and He is to be obeyed if the divine purpose is to be actualized. Unbelief will ask why and wherefore, when confronted with a positive command, but faith obeys without asking questions.... One who obeys a positive command does so solely out of faith in God and love for God; the obedience is a manifestation of the faith and love which motivate it. Positive commands are designed to prove the faith of the professing believer.... There are three degrees, we might well say, in obedience to a positive command in attaining the supreme [ultimate] manifestation of faith: (1) To obey when one can see clearly that there is no logical connection between the thing commanded and the end in view; (2) to obey a divine command when one can see clearly that the thing commanded cannot do any good in itself; (3) to obey when one can see clear1y that the thing commanded is in itself wrong, that is, in relation to the structure of the moral life” [Genesis, Vol. 1, p. 443-444. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1966].

[To be continued]

“BEHOLD, I THOUGHT”

By O. C. Birdwell

he above were the words of a provoked and angry man named Naaman. He was captain of the host of the king of Syria, but at the insistence of a little captive maiden he stood with his horses, chariots, and servants before the door of the prophet Elisha. He was there because he suffered from the dreaded leprosy.

Elisha sent a messenger unto Naaman with the words, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." This command is what made him mad! It was not what he expected. He said, "behold, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper." Naaman even complained about the Jordan. To him the rivers of Damascus were far better than all the waters of Israel, so he turned away in a rage. It was then that his servant asked a simple, yet penetrating question. "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, wash, and be clean?"

Naaman reconsidered, obeyed, and was cleansed. But it is pro­fitable for us to notice that he almost failed because of an as­sumption. He said “behold I thought" with no reason or basis for his preconceived position. He had not learned that God's thoughts and ways are different from man's thoughts and ways. Regretfully, we say that many are as was he. They think God ought to do things their way and often become angry and rebellious when they are told that he does not. This is a re­sult of a wrong attitude toward God’s revelation. Paul warned man "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Rom. 12:3). This ought to be in man's relationship with man, but even more so in man’s relation­ship with God. "Yea let God be found true, but every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4).

Much religious teaching and practice today is a result of the thoughts of man. There are false assumptions and then the conse­quences of such. For instance, many centuries ago some religious leaders assumed that infants are born in sin, under total depravity. This was taught disregarding Old Testament teaching that the son was not to bear the iniquity of the father, nor was he to be put to death for his father's sins (Deut. 26:16; Ezek. 18:20). Also, Jesus taught that one, to enter the kingdom, must be converted and become as little children (Matt. 18:3). Surely, if little children are guilty before God of sin, Jesus would not have used such a statement.

Many religious bodies that once taught this doctrine do not em­phasize it today, but they still practice the consequence of the doctrine. They still baptize infants. Really, they sprinkle infants, but that is what they call baptism. Now if infants are not guilty of sin why baptize them? Baptism is unto remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Therefore, only those, in this dispensation, who need forgiveness of sins and birth into God’s family, are to be baptized. This is Bible teaching, yet I can almost hear someone say, “but I thought....”

Furthermore, some assume that God does not expect strict obedience. I recall hearing one woman often say, "If the Lord is that strict no one will make it." She felt most everyone should go to heaven whether they obey the Lord or not. This attitude causes people to change New Testament teaching to creeds that suit the taste of man. If the Lord does not require strict obedience what difference does it make? None, if this is true. But, friend, be not deceived. This is an assump­tion that is as dangerous as that of Naaman. If it is your thought, unless you reconsider as did Naaman, you will turn away without being cleansed from your sin.

Another assumption is that salvation is by "faith only." This is presented as wholesome doctrine, full of comfort. Well, yes, it would be full of comfort if it were wholesome! But to be wholesome it would have to be in the New Testament. It is not there! One consequence of this assumption is the changing of the purpose of baptism. Many baptize but do not believe it is necessary for salvation. They have accept­ed the false doctrine that sal­vation is by "faith only." They then say that baptism is a picture to the world of one's salvation; it is, they say, because one has already been saved. Carefully read the following.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)

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 2:38)

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)

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Rom. 6:3-5)

There is also an antitype which now saves us--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 Pet. 3:21)

Again, do we hear the words, "be­hold, I thought"? You had better reconsider and accept what the men of God say rather than your own thoughts or some man-made creed. God's thoughts and ways are not man's thoughts and ways. Please do not turn away in a rage and say "remove my name from your mailing list." Naaman could have destroyed his servant and died a leper. Yet, he listened to him and was blessed by so doing. [Via Bible Facts, June, 1974] &