UN-DENOMINATING CHRISTIANITY The Current State Of Christ’s Church

STANDING ALONE! The life of a superhero is a lonely one, filled with hardship and danger. The few who answer the call must leave comfort, safety, and often sanity behind. But someone's gotta stand the heat and stay in the kitchen. Someone's gotta don the oven mitts of all that's right and strangle the red-hot throat of all that's wrong. –The Tick The life of a superhero is a lonely one, filled with hardship and danger. The few who answer the call must leave comfort, safety, and often sanity behind. But someone's gotta stand the heat and stay in the kitchen. Someone's gotta don the oven mitts of all that's right and strangle the red-hot throat of all that's wrong. –The Tick

THE DIVISIVENESS OF BAPTISM DOCTRINES The churches of Christ stand among the few gatherings of Christians who insist on the essential nature of baptism for salvation. The churches of Christ stand among the few gatherings of Christians who insist on the essential nature of baptism for salvation. Most denominations have abandoned the idea that a person must be baptized to be saved. Most denominations have abandoned the idea that a person must be baptized to be saved. We have to stand strong to defend the truth. We have to stand strong to defend the truth.

WHY STAND ALONE? As superheroes of the word, we must preach and teach only what Scripture says. As superheroes of the word, we must preach and teach only what Scripture says. What is baptism all about? What is baptism all about? What happens in baptism? What happens in baptism? Why are we so sure it’s essential? Why are we so sure it’s essential?

HISTORICAL ROOTS OF BAPTISM Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.” Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”

OLD TESTAMENT WASHINGS Exodus 30:18 --“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.” Exodus 30:18 --“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.” Exodus 40:30 – “He placed the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing.” Exodus 40:30 – “He placed the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing.”

EXODUS 29:4 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.” “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.” This was a washing from head to foot. This was a washing from head to foot. Would God have accepted them into the Holy Place without this bath? Yet, was the power in the water? Would God have accepted them into the Holy Place without this bath? Yet, was the power in the water?

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN Luke 3:3 – “And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…” Luke 3:3 – “And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…” Luke 20:4 – “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” Luke 20:4 – “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” Jesus validated John’s baptism. Jesus validated John’s baptism.

BAPTISM BY JESUS/APOSTLES John 3:22-24 – “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized….” John 3:22-24 – “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized….”

THE GREAT COMMISSION Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit….” Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit….” EIS TO ONOMA – “into the name of” – meaning into the covering/possession of…. EIS TO ONOMA – “into the name of” – meaning into the covering/possession of….

POST-GLORIFICATION BAPTISM Acts 19:3 – “And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ and they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’” Acts 19:3 – “And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ and they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’” Acts 18:25 – [Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord…being acquainted only with the baptism of John…” Acts 18:25 – [Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord…being acquainted only with the baptism of John…”

IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN BAPTISM 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” Paul called these facts “the gospel which I preached to you.” Paul called these facts “the gospel which I preached to you.” Bible speaks of obeying the gospel. How do you obey facts about Jesus? Bible speaks of obeying the gospel. How do you obey facts about Jesus?

BAPTISM AS A CIRCUMCISION Colossians 2:11-14 – “…and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism…When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions….” Colossians 2:11-14 – “…and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism…When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions….” Can we be saved without our “body of the flesh” being cut away? Can we be saved without our “body of the flesh” being cut away?

BAPTISM IS AN APPEAL TO GOD 1 Peter 3:21 – “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ….” 1 Peter 3:21 – “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ….”

A CLEANSING Ephesians 5: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

A DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION Romans 6:3-6 --Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin…. Romans 6:3-6 --Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin….

A SEALING Acts 2:38 -- Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 -- Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13 – “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13 – “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

CONFIDENT CONCLUSION In baptism we obey the gospel. In baptism we obey the gospel. In baptism we are saved. In baptism we are saved. In baptism we appeal to God for a clear conscience. In baptism we appeal to God for a clear conscience. In baptism we are cleansed. In baptism we are cleansed. In baptism we die, are buried, and are resurrected. In baptism we die, are buried, and are resurrected. In baptism we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. In baptism we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. SO – is baptism necessary for salvation? SO – is baptism necessary for salvation?