Great Doctrinal Errors WINDS OF DOCTRINE

BECAUSE… Ephesians

BECAUSE… Ephesians Corinthians John 1.9

GREAT DOCTRINAL ERRORS All Jews will be saved Baptism for infants – sprinkling/pouring – not for sins Kingdom has not come Miraculous gifts today Organization of the church Original sin Salvation by faith only Ten Commandments (other parts of the Law) in effect today

BAPTISM FOR INFANTS No mention of it in the New Testament, although those who believe in and practice it now argue that when a “household” was baptized it must have included infants The first non-biblical instructions on baptism appear in the Didache (about 100 AD)…speaks of baptism for adults, and required them to fast before being baptized

DIDACHE… "Before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before” (Didache, 7)

THE LORD’S COMMANDMENTS "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Mat 28:19-20 NKJV)

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

THE APOSTLE’S COMMANDMENTS (Acts 2:38-39 NKJV) 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. {39} "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

THE ERROR No one really knows exactly WHEN infant baptism began First explicit mention is in a work by Tertullian about AD where he argues against it 250 AD – North Africa region is first to practice infant baptism and reduced the age of baptism from minors to all newborns. This was opposed to other regions.

THE ERROR By the time of Augustine (about 400 AD) it is taken for granted 416 AD – Infant baptism by immersion commanded of all infants (Council of Melev, Augustine the principal director)

THE ERROR So universally practiced in the Middle Ages that records of these events are about the same as our birth certificates today

THE ERROR Nor does anyone really know WHY infant baptism started The Gnostic teaching of the sinfulness of all flesh may have had an impact Some have associated it with the idea of “Original Sin”

THE ERROR It was so ingrained by the time of the Reformation (1500’s AD) that it passed into several Reformation denominations. It is practiced world-wide today by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Continental Reformed and many other churches Millions upon millions are “baptized” as infants

THE ERROR In most cases a little water (holy water) is sprinkled or poured on the infant’s head This is supposed to impart the grace of God and secure the soul of the infant

THE RESULT Millions upon millions believe they are saved by this baptism Even after coming to faith in Christ, they refuse the baptism required by the Lord and His apostles

WHY IS IT ERROR? It is defended by appeal to Old Testament “precedent” - circumcision

WHY IS IT ERROR? (Acts 2:38-39 NKJV) 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. {39} "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

WHY IS IT ERROR? (Acts 2:38-39 NKJV) 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. {39} "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

WHY IS IT ERROR? Act 16:14-15 NKJV (14) Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. (15) And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

WHY IS IT ERROR? Act 16:31-33 NKJV (31) So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (32) Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

WHY IS IT ERROR? We are born again by the “word” being preached, believed and obeyed: Luke 8.11; John Peter Acts 2.41 Hebrews 11.6; Romans 10.17

WHY IS IT ERROR? The promise to Peter Mat 16:19 NKJV (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

THE SOLUTION? Go back to the New Testament and… (2 Tim 1:13 NKJV) Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.