Featured The Test(s) of Fellowship

One of the basic tenets of interpreting Bible passages is that if one verse/passage seems to contradict what another verse/passage seems to be stating, (1) Check the meaning of each word(s) in that verse/passage in the original language in which the writer(s) wrote this verse/passage. In This case, the Greek preposition "eis" ( Eng. "for") can be translated into English several ways, e.g. "In order to" or "because of. (2) If this/these word(s) cannot conclusively prove the intent of the original writer(s,) one must compare what other similar verse(s)/passage(s) tell us. While there are several NT verses about the proper subject of baptism, I'll just mention a few here: (1) "The Great Commission" in Matthew 28:19 "...baptizing them..." Does this verb mean "In order to" or does it mean "...Because of" salvation? Does one take medicine "In Order to get a cold" or "Because of the cold"? Logic would demand the latter option. But even then the C of C people pull Acts 2:38 out of context to "PROVE" their so-called doctrine (Which, BTW, very closely mimics that of RCathoicism.) to tell us that one needs to be baptized "In order to get" salvation. Rightly interpreted, that option flies in the face of a multitude of NT verse(s)/passage(s)!! The Apostle Paul, probably the greatest evangelist outside of Jesus Himself, minimizes baptism in 1 Corinthians 1:14-17......Would the man who spread Christianity over much of the then known Roman Empire minimize baptism if it was "In order to get" salvation? Moreover, in Acts 16:31 Paul doesn't even include "baptize" in his answer to the Philippian jailors question, "What MUST I do to be saved?" Paul sure goofed there IF baptism is necessary for one to be saved!! Then, Peter (Whom the R Catholics claim "founded" the NT church!!) in 1 Peter 3:21 writes
that baptism is merely a PICTURE of salvation, NOT an essential element of it. Finally, the penitent thief on the cross next to Jesus asked Jesus to, "Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom" (Luke 23:42). What did the very Son of God answer that thief? "Sorry my friend, but you'll have get down from your cross & then be baptized if you want to see Me in My Kingdom"? Contrary to what the "You MUST be Baptized to be saved!!" folks would want us to believe, Jesus said in Luke 23:43, "I assure you, TODAY you WILL BE WITH ME in PARADISE." If the incarnate Son of God got it wrong, then we're all "In a HEAP of Trouble," wouldn't you say?

 

I'm NOT a Greek scholar by any stretch of one's imagination, however one of my former pastors was one. He pointed out that in certain contexts "eis" COULD mean "In order to get." However, when it comes to baptism, he said that in NO WAY could "eis" mean "In order to get." The verses/passages that I cited in my post would lead credence to his assertation. I learn a lot of things when Pastor David C. Auckland, pastor of Faith Baptist Church (Sellersville, PA) I was a member of FBC (1969-72). He's now with Jesus (d. 2008 I believe.) & all of us who served under his leadership I'm sure would say the same. Pastor Auckland stressed the importance of every Christian to get as much education in the things of the Bible because there are many false ideas circling around ("Every wind of doctrine" as Ephesians 4:14 puts it.), and therefore we Christians need to be aware of these deceivers. To this end, almost each week he'd expository preach from one book on Sunday AM, another book on Sunday PM, & another book on Wednesday PM. Also he founded Faith Baptist Bible Institute which would normally meet on Monday &/or Tuesday nights for those who wanted more intense info on various Bible or Bible-related subjects. I attended FBBI for about 2 years, & it was a great foundation for my Bible College years (1972-76). It is a shame that many Baptist churches have lost this kind of emphasis in recent years, & I attribute this general "cooling," if you will, that I've noticed in recent years of many concepts that are making the circles in many contemporary Christian lives.

 

Oh yes, & "Thou Shalt sign 'Just as I Am" at least two dozen times as our Invitation Song" is in there SOMEWHERE, ain't it?"

 

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Back in at least the early 1960s - 1970s there was quite a heated "Discussion" over just how short and/or how long a man's hair MUST be if he's a candidate for a Christian ministry. Some even INSISTED that his hair be like the military's basic training scalping, AND, along with that, exactly what the length of a women's skirt MUST be. (Pants, of course, were DEFINITLY forbidden!!). Should these issues be THE MAIN criteria for a person wanting to enter ANY Christian ministry? They were quite the issue back then, and since God Himself never changes, some INSISTED that these criteria were also unchanging. What they did with beards on men and the flapper-style attire for women in the early 1920s they never exactly said. IOW, If a young person got saved in, say, his/her late 20s - 30s, & subsequently desired to enter any type of Christian ministry, these folks INSISTED that they should have considered the consequences of their life styles since they were practically a new-born physical child (c. ages 2-3). How they handled the Apostle Paul (not to mention Judas Iscariot) they were silent. My question(s) is/are is this what God's Word teaches us as a criteria for anyone desiring to become involved in ANY Christian ministry? (Your providing specific Bible verses/passages would be welcomed!).