Baptism is a much debated subject in the religious world. The necessity and place of baptism in being saved is discussed. Some claim baptism is not essential, only optional, while others affirm baptism is indeed essential and not optional.

J.W. Shepherd, in responding to why he wrote his book “Handbook On Baptism” wrote “WHY should another book be written on the subject of baptism? Why should any one preach about it, or discuss it, ever again? Why not, as do many, ignore the questions arising out of it in our writing and preaching, and say, as do they, that the subject has been worn threadbare, that it is a matter of comparatively little importance, that more harm is done by discussing it than good, and that therefore it ought to be left alone? I reply: the questions concerning baptism are living, practical issues, which must be considered by every human being who intelligently endeavors to follow Christ. Men may talk as they will, but the facts remain. The duty to be baptized confronts every man who reads the Bible. He meets the subject near the beginning of Matthew, and it comes up again and again in many places – in commands, examples, exhortations, and in many incidental ways, as he goes on through the four Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistles; and the last book (Revelation) with tremendous power enforces the necessity of keeping the commandments.”

Consider with me this morning the following as we discuss in the sermon “Why Be Baptized”:

Because God says baptism saves us from eternal destruction.

Verses: ______Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16                    

Because God says faith in Jesus is not enough.

Verses: John 3:16, John 12:42-43, compare Matt. 10:32; James 2:24 .

Because God shows us that sincerity and prayer are not enough.

Verses: Paul sees Jesus (Acts 9:5) prays (Acts 9:11) sorrowful (Acts 9:9) “what he MUST do” (Acts 9:6, see Acts 22:16).

Because baptism is the natural response of a honest heart who has heard Jesus preached.

Verses: Acts 8:35-39    .

Because baptism is found consistently in the Biblical cases of conversion.

Verses:   Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 36-38, Acts 9, Acts 10, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:30-34, Acts 18:8

Because of the obvious urgency associated with baptism.

Verses: Acts 2:40-41, Acts 8:36-38, Acts 16:33    

Clearly the Bible presents many reasons for the person lost in sin to be baptized. If a person has not been baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) they are lost. To delay is dangerous and that person will face eternal destruction after death.

This article has taught what the Bible says in regard specifically to baptism. But please understand, God’s plan of salvation, fully defined according to the Bible is Hearing the Gospel (Luke 11:28), Believing that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24), Repenting of a life of sin (Luke 13:3), Confessing Jesus (Matthew 10:32), and being Baptized for the forgiveness of sin (Mark 16:16).

–Jerry D. Sturgill

To the Romans who were under the rule of the iniquitous Nero, Paul wrote, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). While God does not approve of every decision made by human governments, He has ordained them to be a terror to evil works, administering punishment to curb evil (Rom. 13:3; 1 Peter 2:14). Paul went on to write, by inspiration of God, concerning government, “he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:4). The sword was an instrument of death in the first century. Paul is referring to the exercise of capital punishment. As early as Genesis 9:6, when God was explaining to Noah and his descendants the difference between shedding animal blood and human blood, we find the injunction, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God gives humans an eternal spirit. This is what separate man from the animals. God forms the spirit of man within him (Zechariah 12:1). In God we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). What does the giver of life say about taking life? To take innocent life is such an insult to God and man that the perpetrator under these instructions in Genesis was to have his blood shed by man. This seems to be the origin of God-ordained governmental punishment in the biblical record.

For human government to carry out capital punishment on the murderer was not itself murder. The law of Moses likewise showed this distinction in giving the command, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), while also commanding, “He that that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death” (Exodus 21:12). It is not murder to put murderers to death. This is why the NKJV highlights the distinction by translating Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder.”

In the teaching of the New Testament, Jesus acknowledged that God gives power to human governments to put evildoers to death (Romans 13:1-4). Pilate asked Jesus, “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” (John 19:10). To this Jesus replied, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11). To unjustly put an innocent man to death would be a sin, but Jesus did acknowledge the power of Pilate to crucify criminals was given by God. When he stood before Festus, the apostle Paul declared, “For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar” (Acts 25:11). Instead of arguing against the death penalty under all circumstances, Paul stated that he would take that punishment if he were guilty. Festus found that Paul “had committed nothing worthy of death” (Acts 25:25).

While Paul instructs Christians in Romans 12:19 not to seek personal vengeance, he goes immediately into the role of civil government in exacting vengeance in Romans 13:1-4. A society that promotes the shedding of innocent blood while prohibiting the death penalty on those who have shed innocent blood is diametrically opposed to God’s revealed will.

-Mark Day