There is a prevalent belief in the Christian world that is causing many souls to be lost. It has its foundation in the belief of half-truths. You see the most believable lie is one that contains a portion of truth. The devil clearly understands this principle. The devil mixed truth with a lie when he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:4-5. In a manner speaking Eve now knew good and evil like God, in so doing she caused the fall of mankind. Our Lord warned us it would be so. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.Matthew 24:11-12. Those who were deceived were many who thought they were following the Lord. Unfortunately many in the world have ignored or do not believe the Lord's warning that "many" would be deceived. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth , that they might be saved.2 Thessalonians 2:8-10. Those that come to the Lord must have a sincere love of truth.The great lie is often preceded with the term "only believe." This basic phrase is of course founded in Biblical scripture. The term comes from the Gospels of Mark 5:36 and Luke 8:50. In both of these verses the Lord is encouraging individuals to believe in God's power to heal. It is scriptural for a Christian's need to believe in God's power. Faith in God and his Son Jesus is the foundation of the church. No Christian organization disputes that truth. The problem comes when by a mere rearranging of those words spoken by our Lord "believe only" many souls become lost through "human logic." The deception follows by the insistence that "faith alone" is all that is necessary for someone to find salvation in Christ. Therein lies the half-truth. Many do not wish to believe God would condemn millions who know the name of Jesus and yet do not follow God's word. And yet the Lord warned us; "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
Matthew 7:21-23. Only a close study of God's word can assure one of finding the truth. It is presumptuous to assume God's character would prevent him from condemning great numbers of souls because they failed to follow his word.
Many do not understand that the necessity to be baptized to put a person into Christ was never a question of what is necessary for salvation until the early nineteen hundreds. It is a relatively new phenomenon in Christianity. Often human arguments are used to explain away very clear scripture in the Bible. One must harmonize all of the New Testament scripture to find the truth. Jesus was asked by some of his disciples why he spoke in parables. He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
Matthew 13:11-14. The majority of Jews rejected Jesus because they did not want to hear his message even though they were looking for a Messiah when he came. The majority of Jewish people would not accept Jesus teaching in the first century and it is no different today. The great majority of Christianity has rejected Jesus' teaching because it does not fit with what they want to hear. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.2 Timothy 4:3-4. Only a careful examination of the New Testament with a heart that is following Jesus rather than their "pastors" teaching will bring one to the truth. Jesus said we must trust him and he cautioned us to zealously seek him. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6. Are you diligently seeking him? Or is your's a casual faith? Do you find it easier to listen to your pastor or minister than to study your Bible diligently.Jesus taught his disciples that belief in him alone was not enough. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32. Many Jewish disciples believed he was the Christ but the Lord told them only if you "abide in my word" will you be set free. The Lord was cautioning them "belief in him alone was not enough to find freedom their sins."One of the arguments used to teach that baptism is not part of God's salvation plan is the death of the "thief on the cross." Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:39-43. It is true that the Lord pardoned the thief. Whether or not the thief had been baptized sometime earlier in his life is not mentioned. But the Gospels explain why John the baptizer who began this practice was baptizing disciples. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight."Luke 3:3-4. John's message was to prepare for the Lord's coming and his New Testament which was to come into force with Christ's death on the cross. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.Hebrews 9:15-18. Baptism is a New Testament teaching and was never taught as part of the Old Testament. John's purpose was only to introduce the teaching to prepare the Jews for a transition to new teachings under the New Testament. The "thief on the cross" was more than likely a Jew and lived under the Old Testament although we are not told that specifically. Therefore the Jews were not required to be baptized as part of the Old Testament which they lived under until Jesus died on the cross.The New Testament is quite clear on its teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation. When the New Testament church was first establish on the day of Pentecost following Jesus' death. Peter preached to his Jewish brethren that "baptism" has two specific purposes. Many Jews finally realized they were responsible for Jesus' death on the cross. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 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.
Acts 2:36-39. The first purpose Peter explains once they were repentant, baptism was to wash away their sins. This is spiritually speaking. Once God had forgiven them, He was willing to dwell in them. Peter then said God's Spirit was now a gift because their sins were blotted out. Their sins were no longer blocking God's presence in their life.Unfortunately many in the Christian world wish to ignore these verses because they conflict with what they have already been taught.
Peter again re-enforced the Lord's message Peter gave on the day of Pentecost many years later in his first letter to the church by clearly explaining that baptism now saves them. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us, baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:18-22. True faith accepts God's clear teachings and causes one to respond to God's message. The Lord added many additional verses to support his message to the church. Paul's letter to the Roman Christians explains that baptism is a burial and a reenactment of Christ's crucifixion. Paul also said that the person being baptized was being united with Christ. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
Romans 6:4-5. Paul the Apostle also re-enforced this message when he wrote to the Galatians' Christians. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:27. Paul message is consistent and clear. Baptism places one into Christ. There is no other way unless one is more interested in following tradition than God's word. The Lord condemned the religious leaders of the Jews for their departure from sound teaching inMatthew 15:7-9; Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Is it any wonder that the religious leaders of today have a similar nature? How many of the apostles of Christ had advanced degrees in Jewish law. These were the religious leaders of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The apostles were common men who simply followed God's word.Do not let others deceive you. Listen to Christ's word and respond with a humble heart. Paul (or Saul by his Hebrew name) tells of his conversion in his own words. Saul met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus. Saul was blinded and for three days did not eat or drink. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
Acts 9:9-11. Is there any doubt that Saul had repented? He was in this condition for three full days. Even after personally meeting Jesus, Saul still needed to be baptized to wash away his sins. "Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 'For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'Acts 22:14-16. Paul also warned the Thessalonians that a time would come when many Christians would not endure sound teaching. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. Many would follow after the teachings that would lead them to condemnation. Do you love truth? Do not become deceived by the delusion that has been perpetrated by the prince of evil. It will leave you outside of the grace of Christ on the Day of Judgment.In truth there is only One you can truly trust. It is our Lord and Savior. He will not lead you astray but you must trust his word over the word of men. What does the Bible say? It was meant to be understood by the poorest of the poor and the least educated men and women of the world without having to be explained by "learned" men to be understood.
All references are from the New King James translation of the Bible . ©1982
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Copyright. © 1995