The scriptures contain teaching that is comforting and faith producing (John 20: 30, 31, cp. Rom. 15: 4). Jesus’ encounter with Bartimaeus is an example (Matt. 20: 29-34; Mark 10: 46-52; Luke 18: 35-43).

The healing of Bartimaeus contains many lessons. One paramount lesson pertains to faith. “Thy faith hath saved thee”

“35: And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38: And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39: And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40: And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41: Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42: And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God” (Luke 18).

“35: And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging” BEGGARBEGGAR

INQuIRyINQuIRy “36: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.”

JESUSPASSEDJESUSPASSED “37: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.”

B E G A R’ S D E S I R E “38: And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

BEGGARREBUKEDBEGGARREBUKED “39: And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

JESUSCAREDJESUSCARED “40: And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him….”

BEGGARASKEDBEGGARASKED “41: Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

HISFAITHHISFAITH “42: And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

HEWASHEALEDHEWASHEALED “43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

Many attempt to equate salvation with the miracles of Jesus circumstances; hence, the doctrine of salvation by faith only. Let us consider the range of these circumstances.

Bartimaeus:  Took initiative.  His faith was active.

“5: And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6: And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7: And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8: The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9: For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10: When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel….13: And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matt. 8).

“ 39: Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40: Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41: Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42: And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43: And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 45: Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him” (John 11).

“18: And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19: And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20: And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21: And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22: But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23: Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house” (Luke 5).

“39: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40: But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41: And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42: And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23).

Review:

 The conclusion reached by denominationalists: “Upon examining the healings of Jesus, including both cases involving physical and spiritual healing, we observe the total absence of water baptism as a condition. Such absence of baptism proves that water baptism is non-essential to salvation today.”

“24: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house” (Luke 5). “16: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Heb. 9).

Jesus’ system requires:  Faith – John 8: 24.  Repentance – Luke 13: 5.  Confession – Matt. 10: 32, 33, cp. Rom. 10: 9, 10.  Baptism – Mark 16: 15, 16, Acts 2: 38, 22: 16.

Preaching Believed Repented Confessed Baptized Pentecost Believed, 2: 36 Repented, 2: 38 Baptized, 2: 38 Samaria Believed, 8: 12 Baptized, 8: 12 Eunuch Believed, 8: 37 Confessed, 8: 37 Baptized, 8: 38 Saul Baptized, 22: 16 Cornelius Believed, 10: 43 Baptized, 10: 48 Jailer Believed, 16: 31 Repented, 16: 33 Baptized, 16: 33 Lydia Believed, 16: 14 Baptized, 16:15 Preaching Faith Repentance Confession Baptism Rom. 1: 16 Rom. 10: 17 Acts 17: 31 Rom. 10: 9, 10 Gal. 3: 27 Acts, Our History Book

Preaching Believed Repented Confessed Baptized Pentecost Passive 3: 38? Did not Did not Did not Samaria All saved, 8: 12? Eunuch “Elected,” 8: 37 ? Saul Faith only? Cornelius Grace only, 10: 43 Jailer Proxy, 16: 31? Lydia Prayer, 16: 14? Preaching Faith Repentance Confession Baptism Rom. 1: 16 Rom. 10: 17 Acts 17: 31 Rom. 10: 9, 10 Gal. 3: 27 Acts, Our History Book

“14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16: And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Jas. 2).

“6: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5).