Outfitters for Adventure Study Guides

Eight Rules of Interpretation, by Guy Duty

2010-10-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Study Notes by Neil Thielke

Taken from Divorce & Remarriage, Guy Duty

(Bethany Fellowship, Minneapolis: 1967)

We shall also summarize the rules so the reader can see them together in one place. These rules are the center of all grammatical interpretation. They were developed by specialists in the “science of meaning” over the past 2500 years, from Socrates to the present day. They apply equally to legislative or theological language. Critical analysis is impossible without them. Interpretive scholarship accepts them.

Jesus and the apostles used these rules, and also many prominent fathers of the early church, and also the master theologians of the Middle Ages, to Luther, Wesley, and Calvin, although some were not consistent in their use of them.

When the Emperors Constantine and Justinian tried to settle the doctrinal disputes of their time, they learned that the “word-wars” of the theologians were exceedingly difficult wars to deal with because each word-warrior was determined to make the words mean what he wanted them to mean. (Eisogesis)

This is true of the twisted mass of doctrinal confusion in Christendom today. All false doctrines, or nearly all, are distortions of biblical words. “The Council of Trent avoided a clear definition of terms” (Seeberg).

“God is not the author of confusion” (I Corinthians 14:33). Who then is the author of these many centuries of confusion about the divorce texts? Who are the authors of all the doctrinal confusion about other texts?

The Bible is a legal document, and throughout the Bible there is frequent use of legal terms and illustrations, and much importance is attached to these legal ideas. The word Testament is a legal term, and hundreds of times God spoke of His commandments as “laws”. Why then should our interpretation be objected to as “legalistic” when the biblical writers used the contemporary legal language of the Mediterranean world?

The Apostle Peter said, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy . . . “ and, that no Scripture “is of any private [personal] interpretation” (2 Peter 1:12-20). We cannot have a sure word about the meaning of Scripture or anything unless we have a sure method to interpret the words. Always remember that Satan deceived Eve with words.

When two interpretations are claimed for a Scripture, the construction most in agreement with all the facts of the case should be adopted. When all the facts of an interpretation are in agreement they sound together in harmony, like notes in a chord.

Biblical interpretation is more than knowing a set of rules, but it cannot be done without the rules. So, learn the rules, and rightly apply them, and you can disregard what Jerome, the learned Latin father of the Middle Ages, said: “What fools these people be! Everybody thinks he can interpret the Bible.”

Solomon said, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning . . . to understand a proverb, and the interpretation” (Proverbs 1:5-6).

Here are eight rules of Biblical interpretation:

1. Rule of Definition [Baptism = “dipped”, Faith = “trust”]

Any study of Scripture . . . must begin with a study of words. (Protestant Biblical Interpretation, Ramm, Bernard, p. 129, W.A. Wilde Co., Boston, 1956.)

Define your terms and then keep to the terms defined. (The Structural Principles of the Bible, Marsh, F.E., p. 1, Kregel Publications.)

In the last analysis, our theology finds its solid foundation only in the grammatical sense of Scripture. The interpreter should . . . conscientiously abide by the plain meaning of the words. (Principles of Biblical Interpretation, Berkhof, pp. 74-75, Baker Book House, 1960.)

The Biblical writers could not coin new words since they would not be understood, and were therefore forced to use those already in use. The content of meaning in these words is not to be determined by each individual expositor . . . to do so would be a method of interpretation [that is] a most vicious thing. (Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, Wuest, Kenneth, pp. 30-37, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1945.)

[The author] confines the definitions strictly to their literal or idiomatic force; which, after all, will be found to form the best, and indeed the only safe and solid basis for theological deductions of any kind. (Young’s Analytical Concordance, Prefatory Note.)

2. Rule of Usage

[“Rhema” does not equal “revelation”. Rhema is something God says. Binding and loosing in the context of the rest of the text where those terms are found in the Bible, was referring to rendering a decision.]

The whole Bible may be regarded as written for “the Jew first,” and its words and idioms ought to be rendered according to Hebrew usage. (Synonyms of the Old Testament, Girdlestone, R.B., p. 14.)

Christ then accepted the usage He found existing. He did not alter it. (Pulpit Commentary, Matthew, V. 1, xxv, old edition.)

Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew, spoke to and moved among Jews in Palestine. . . . He spoke first and directly to the Jews, and His words must have been intelligible to them. . . . It was absolutely necessary to view that Life and Teaching in all its surroundings of place, society, popular life. . . . This would form not only the frame in which to set the picture of the Christ, but the very background of the picture itself. (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Edersheim, Alfred, V. 1, xii, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1953.)

In interpreting very many phrases and histories of the New Testament, it is not so much worth what we think of them from notions of our own . . . as in what sense these things were understood by the hearers and lookers on, according to the usual custom and vulgar [common] dialect of the nation. (Bishop Lightfoot, quoted in The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, xii, Moulton & Mulligan, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1959.)

3. Rule of Context

Many a passage of Scripture will not be understood at all without the help afforded by the context; for many a sentence derives all its point and force from the connection in which it stands. (Biblical Hermeneutics, Terry, M. S., p. 117. 1896.)

[Bible words] must be understood according to the requirements of the context. (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 97.)

Every word you read must be understood in the light of the words that come before and after it. (How to Make Sense, Flesch, Rudolph, p. 51, Harper & Brothers, 1954.)

[Bible words] when used out of context . . . can prove almost anything. [Some interpreters] twist them . . . from a natural to a non-natural sense. (Iraneaeus, second-century church father, quoted in Inspiration and Interpretation, p. 50, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1957.)

The meaning must be gathered from the context. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Interpretation of Documents. V. 8, p. 912. 1959.)

4. Rule of Historical Background

Even the general reader must be aware that some knowledge of Jewish life and society at the time is requisite for the understanding of the Gospel history. (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Edersheim, Alfred. V. 1, xiii, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1953.)

The moment the student has in his mind what was in the mind of the author or authors of the Biblical books when these were written, he has interpreted the thought of Scripture. . . . If he adds anything of his own, it is not exegesis. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, V. 3. p. 1489. 1952.)

Theological interpretation and historical investigation can never be separated from each other.

. . . The strictest historical . . . scrutiny is an indispensable discipline to all Biblical theology. (A Theological Word Book of the Bible, 30 scholars, Preface, Macmillan Co., 1958.)

I have said enough to show the part which the study of history necessarily plays in the intelligent study of the law as it is today. . . . Our only interest in the past is for the light it throws upon the present. (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., 1902-1932, quoted in The World of Law, V. 2. p. 630. Simon & Schuster, 1960.)

5. Rule of Logic

Interpretation is merely logical reasoning. (Encyclopedia Americana, V. 15. p. 261. 1953.)

The use of reason in the interpretation of Scripture is everywhere to be assumed. The Bible comes to us in the form of human language, and appeals to our reason . . . it invites investigation, and it is to be interpreted as we interpret any other volume by a rigid application of the same laws of language, and the same grammatical analysis. (Biblical Hermeneutics, Terry, M.S., p. 25. 1895.)

What is the control we use to weed out false theological speculation? Certainly the control is logic and evidence . . . interpreters who have not had the sharpening experience of logic . . . may have improper notions of implication and evidence. Too frequently such a person uses a basis of appeal that is a notorious violation of the laws of logic and evidence. (Protestant Biblical Interpretation, Ramm, Bernard, pp. 151-153, W.A. Wilde Co., 1956.)

It is one of the most firmly established principles of law in England and in America that “A law means exactly what it says, and is to be interpreted and enforced exactly as it reads.” This is just as good a principle for interpreting the Bible as for interpreting law. (The Importance and Value of Proper Bible Study, Torrey, R.A., pp. 67-70, Moody Press, 1921.)

Charles G. Finney, lawyer and theologian, is widely considered the greatest theologian and most successful revivalist since apostolic times. He was often in sharp conflict with the theologians of his day because they violated these rules of interpretation. Finney said he interpreted a Bible passage as he “would have understood the same or like passage in a law book.” (Autobiography, pp. 42-43.)

Finney stressed the need for definition and logic in theology and said the Bible must be understood on “fair principles of interpretation such as would be admitted in a court of justice.” (Systematic Theology, Preface, ix).

6. Rule of Precedent

We must not violate the known usage of a word and invent another for which there is no precedent. (The Greek New Testament for English Readers, Alford, Dean. P. 1098, Moody Press.)

The professional ability of lawyers in arguing a question of law, and the judges in deciding it, is thus chiefly occupied with a critical study of previous cases, in order to determine whether the previous cases really support some alleged doctrine. (Introduction to the Study of Law, p. 40, Woodruff, E. H., 1898.)

The first thing he [the judge] does is to compare the case before him with precedents. . . . Back of precedents are the basic judicial conceptions which are postulates of judicial reasoning, and farther back are the habits of life, the institutions of society, in which those conceptions had their origin. . . . Precedents have so covered the ground that they fix the point of departure from which the labor of the judge begins. Almost invariably, his first step is to examine and compare them. It is a process of search, comparison, and little more. (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo, 1932-1938, The Nature of the Judicial Process, quoted in The World of Law, V. 2, p. 671, Simon & Schuster, 1960.)

7. Rule of Unity

[It is] fundamental to a true interpretation of the Scripture, viz., that the parts of a document, law, or instrument are to be construed with reference to the significance of the whole. (Dean Abbot, Commentary on Mathew, Interpretation, p. 31.)

Where a transaction is carried out by means of several documents so that together they form part of a single whole, these documents are read together as one. . . . [They are to be so read] that, that construction is to be preferred which will render them consistent. (Interpretation of Documents, Sir Roland Burrows, p. 49, Lutterworth & Co., London, 1946.)

8. Rule of Inference

In the law of evidence, an inference is a fact reasonably implied from another fact. It is a logical consequence. It is a process of reasoning. It derives a conclusion from a given fact or premise. It is the deduction of one proposition from another proposition. It is a conclusion drawn from evidence. An inferential fact or proposition, although not expressly stated, is sufficient to bind. This principle of interpretation is upheld by law courts. (Jesus proved the resurrection of the dead to the unbelieving Sadducees by this rule (Matthew 22:31, 32). See Encyclopaedia Britannica, V. 6. p. 615 (1952) and Black’s Law Dictionary, p. 436, Fourth Edition, West Pub. Co., 1951.)

A proposition of fact is proved when its truth is established by competent and satisfactory evidence. By competent evidence is meant such evidence as the nature of the thing to be proved admits. By satisfactory evidence is meant that amount of proof which ordinarily satisfies an unprejudiced mind beyond reasonable doubt. Scripture facts are therefore proved when they are established by that kind and degree of evidence which would in the affairs of ordinary life satisfy the mind and conscience of a common man. When we have this kind and degree of evidence it is unreasonable to require more. (Systematic Theology, Strong, Augustus H., p. 142, Judson Press, 1899.)

It would have been easy to quote many more Biblical and legal authorities on interpretation and evidence, but it would have been needless repetition.

12 ways that God talks to us

2010-10-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

by Neil Thielke

(from Glad Tidings booklet, Knowing God's Will)

John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice

Everyone can hear God's voice and get direction. We have a responsibility to seek for direction for ourselves first. (In the discipleship movement the mentors displaced the Holy Spirit and were removed as a movement.)

1. Close walk with God (the best way to hear from God)

Deuteronomy 10: 12 ". . . and now oh Israel, what does the Lord require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you this day for your own good?"

- prayer, reading word, witnessing, fellowship

2. Godly Motives

Psalm 37: 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

3. Written word- serves as the boundary line

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Mark 7:3 You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

4. A word

1 Samuel 3:21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

3 ways God can give us a word:

a) a “God-thought” (3 places our thoughts orginate: us, the Lord, and Satan)

1 Kings 19:11, 13 The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."…

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

b) something someone says:

Luke 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

c) scripture that "jumps off the page"

2 Chronicles 34:19-21 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: "Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."

5. A fleece

1 Samuel 14:8-12 Jonathan said, "Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands."

So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. "Look!" said the Philistines. "The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson."

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the Lord has
given them into the hand of

Israel

6. Godly oversight

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

7. Visions, dreams – (not dream analysis)

Acts 2:17 " 'In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people… your old men will dream dreams.

8. Prophecy (the entry level gift)

1 Corinthians 14:1, 3 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

9. Circumstances

1 Corinthians 16:8-9 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

10. Inner witness

Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts"

rule = referee

brabeuo, Greek 1018, Strong’s

brabeuo, brab-yoo'-o; from the same as Greek 1017 (brabeion); to arbitrate, i.e. (genitive) to govern (figurative prevail) :- rule.

11. Nothing

Psalm 27:13 "I will wait"

means keep going in the present direction or re-submit the request--timing may be off

12. 2 or more of the above- in major decisions, God will confirm with several witnesses

2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible,
    New International Version®, NIV®.
    Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™
    Used by permission of Zondervan.
    All rights reserved worldwide.
    www.zondervan.com

Shepherding Role of Every Christian

2010-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

by Neil Thielke, September, 2006

Pastors are shepherds of God’s sheep, having the care for their spiritual teaching and ministry, which often includes helping provide physical as well as spiritual needs. Pastors counsel as well as teach, and they are a resource for their people to connect with others in the church as well as with their families, neighbors, employers, and community.

The following list of the Shepherd’s jobs is taken from the small book The Minister as Shepherd by Charles Jefferson.

The nation of

Israel

was a nation of shepherds.

³¹ Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.' ³³ When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' ³⁴ you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

47 ¹ Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen." ² He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

³ Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What is your occupation?"
"Your servants are shepherds," they replied to Pharaoh, "just as our fathers were." ⁴ They also said to him, "We have come to live here awhile, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants' flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen."
⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you, ⁶ and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock." (Genesis 46:31-47:6)

³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. (Numbers 14:33)

And… women were shepherds too!

Rachel:

⁹ While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. ¹⁰ When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. (Genesis 29:9-10)

Zipporah:

¹⁵ When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. ¹⁶ Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. ¹⁷ Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock.
¹⁸ When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?"
¹⁹ They answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock."
²⁰ "And where is he?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat." ²¹ Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.(Exodus 2:15-21)

King David was a shepherd (a fore-shadow of Jesus):

¹¹ So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
      "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
      Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
¹² So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."(1 Samuel 16:11-12)

² In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " (2 Samuel 5:2)

⁷¹ from tending the sheep he brought him
       to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
       of Israel his inheritance.
⁷² And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;    with skillful hands he led them.  (Psalm 78:71-72)

Jesus- the greatest shepherd ever

quoted by teachers of law to Herod

⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
      are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
   for out of you will come a ruler
      who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "  (Matthew 2:6)

¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:14)

²⁰May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, (Hebrews 13:20)

²⁵For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25)

Seven roles of a shepherd of human sheep:
You are a shepherd of the people you are related to. Every line of relationship gives you access to shepherd people: family, fellow workers, neighbors-- regardless of whether they call you “shepherd” or not. Remember, Pharaoh had the Israelites shepherd his flocks too!

¹To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ²Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-2, 4)

I. Watchman

Jesus said, ³⁷What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' " (Mark 13:37)

A. The prophetic is a watch function in our church:

¹ The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. (Amos 1:1)

²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

B. Nine Things we were commanded to watch for by Jesus:

false prophets- Matthew 7:15 (a false prophet is one who gathers sheep after anyone except Jesus)
deception- Matthew 24:4
complacency/lethargy- Matthew 24:42
temptation in difficult situations by praying- Matthew 26:38
yeast of Pharisees and Herod- Mark 8:15
teachers of the law- Mark 12:38
greed- Luke 12:15
sin- Luke 17:3
end time events- Luke 21:36

Prayer is a watch function

II. Guard

A. Protecting from Harm Those Entrusted to Us

⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:40)

B. Killing the Lion and the Bear and Qualify David for Goliath

The lion and bear are the attackers of our immediate flock, our family. How often do we have in our minds a great ambition to guard a large flock, but our primary flock, our family, suffers.
Dating our wives and spending time with our children are forms of guarding sheep in our family.

3. Guide

Two principle ways of guiding:

our words provide direction

⁷In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (Titus 2:7)

our life is a model

(Jesus speaking) ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15)

(our role) ³not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)

4. Physician

We are under a cultural obligation to heal the sick (see Luke 11).

5. Savior

Two kinds of lost

1. the eternally lost

¹²"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? (Matthew 18:12)

2. the saved who have lost their direction

²Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; (1 Peter 5:2)

6. Feeder of the sheep

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15)

¹⁶Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16)

7. Lover of the sheep

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

²²Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)

¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11)

What does the mean today to me?

Is there anyone who is lost?
Is there anyone who needs healing?
Who is God asking me to reach out and touch this week?
Is there anyone I know who is “behind” in being cared for, being touched?
How can I make myself available to help in shepherding at our church?
Am I committed to the flock(s) Jesus has given me?

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

2010-10-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

by Neil Thielke, July, 2006

Some Christians accuse those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit of labeling those who are not Spirit-filled, as “inferior”. Maybe you have bank account. If someone you trust told you that they had put $10,000 in your account, would you think they were calling you “inferior” for having a deposit, or would you run down and check your account? God places an auto-deposit of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian when they ask Jesus into their heart, or become “born again”. When the Holy Spirit is deposited in the spirit of a new Christian, they have access to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is up to each believer to make use of the fruits of the Spirit that were deposited when they were “born again”. It is also up to each believer to desire the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or to “wait for the gift” the Father promised so we will be given power to be His witnesses. Although the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not the same, they are both necessary for those who want to become like Jesus Christ.

Note: Jesus said you would know Christians by their “fruit”, not by their “gifts”.

All the qualifications for leaders in Titus and Timothy are fruit qualifications.

     ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16-20)

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit:
   ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

The DNA of Christ
   The life of Christ was the first cell of the new church. The entire spiritual DNA for the church was in Christ. That is why he said:
¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:19-23)

It was at this point that the disciples were born again. We were called to continue Jesus’ example. Jesus gave his 12 disciples power and authority and sent them out to do the work of the kingdom of God.
¹When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ²and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)

The 12 disciples responded:
⁶So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:6)

Later 72 were sent to do the same:
¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ²He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.³Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. (Luke 10:1-4)⁸"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. ⁹Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'(Luke 10:8-9)

The 72 returned with a similar report:

¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

¹⁸He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.²⁰However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

²¹At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

²²"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

²³Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.²⁴For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." (Luke 10:17-24)

The Holy Spirit is deposited in our hearts when we believe, a mark of God’s ownership, guaranteeing our inheritance at the redemption:
²¹Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, ²²set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
⁵Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 5:5)¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

The fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not the same:
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is a special deposit from the Heavenly Father when we are “born again”, but it is not the same as the “gift” of the Holy Spirit that Jesus encouraged his followers to wait for. In the minds of the disciples, the preaching, healing, etc., is what Jesus was sending them to do! Thus when he said to “wait for the power” they knew exactly what they still needed:

¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

⁶So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

⁷He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.(Acts 1:1-9)

Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “Gift”
• “The promise of the Father”
• “Dipping (baptism) of the Holy Spirit”

Purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit: power

Purpose of the power: to be witnesses

⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Four outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
Many are surprised that there are actually four places where the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs in the Book of Acts. In three of them there is a time difference between when they are born again, and when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Supernatural Gifts Necessary Until Jesus Returns
Cessationists use 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 to justify their theology that the supernatural has passed away. However, this passage is referring to life in heaven in our supernatural bodies when the following will occur:
• “Perfection comes”
• Spiritual metamorphosis from imperfect to perfect
• “Face to face” revelation
• “Knowing fully”

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

I. The first outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred one week after Jesus ascended to heaven:

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.
¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
¹⁷" 'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
      and they will prophesy.
¹⁹I will show wonders in the heaven above
      and signs on the earth below,
      blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
      and the moon to blood
      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹And everyone who calls
      on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

²²"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.²³This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. ²⁵David said about him:
   " 'I saw the Lord always before me.
      Because he is at my right hand,
      I will not be shaken.
²⁶Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
      my body also will live in hope,
²⁷because you will not abandon me to the grave,
      nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life;
      you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

²⁹"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. ³²God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. ³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
   " 'The Lord said to my Lord:
      "Sit at my right hand
³⁵until I make your enemies
      a footstool for your feet." '

³⁶"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

³⁸Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:1-47)

Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “filled with the Holy Spirit”
• “pour out”

They appeared drunk. What did that look like? Not like most church services!
• Laughing
• Loud
• Stumbling
• Hilarity, excess

“All of them” were filled with the Holy Spirit, and
“all of them” spoke in tongues:

⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

When Peter drew his theology from Joel, he included a part that has not taken place yet:
³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness
       and the moon to blood
   before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Joel 2:31)

The sun turned to darkness is foretold in Revelation:

¹²I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Revelation 6:12-14)

Joel’s prophecy includes what took place on the day of Penticost recorded in Acts 2, and continues to be relevant all the way to Revelation 6 which has not taken place yet.

The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is evident today:
• in places where the baptism of the Holy Spirit is taught, or
• among people who are seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit

People can ask others to pray for them to help them receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or they can pray privately asking God to baptize them in the Holy Spirit.

At Penticost, Peter told the crowd in Jerusalem the “promise” of the “gift” of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all those who repent:

³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

³⁸Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:33, 38-39)

Also note that you could “see and hear” the results (v. 33).

Power followed the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)

II. The second place the Baptism of the Holy Spirit recorded in the Book of Acts:

     ⁴Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. ⁵Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. ⁶When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.
     ⁹Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." ¹¹They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. ¹²But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money ¹⁹and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

²⁰Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²²Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

²⁴Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."(Acts 8:4-24)

Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy spirit in this passage:
• “received the Holy Spirit”
• “come upon them”

When hands were placed on them “they received the Holy Spirit” (v. 17). This was different from the deposit they received when they were born again earlier.

You could see it:
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given . . . (v. 18).

Simon was willing to pay money for whatever he saw. Is there anything in your church that Simon would pay money for? It was made perfectly clear that this gift was free and not for sale through the ministry.

III. The third place people were baptized in the Holy Spirit found in the Book of Acts:

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.⁴⁵The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a] and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." ⁴⁸So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:44-48)

Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
• “poured out”
• “gift of the Holy Spirit”
• “received the Holy Spirit”

The sign that convinced the Peter and his associates that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit was that “they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (v. 46).

Water baptism is different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

IV. The Fourth place people were baptized in the Holy Spirit recorded in the Book of Acts:

¹While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples ²and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

³So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.

⁴Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." ⁵On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7)

Buzz word for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “came on”

The question "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (v. 2), illustrates that there was a difference in Paul’s mind between believing in Jesus, and in receiving the Holy Spirit. The notion that the Book of Acts was a transitional time when things were done differently is advanced by some to justify their cessation theology, but it is not supported by Bible.

The sign of the Holy Spirit baptism was they “spoke in tongues and prophesied”

⁶When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)

Water Baptism

2010-10-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

by Neil Thielke, September, 2006

Baptism is prescribed in the Bible as the first act of obedience for a new believer after they have been born again. Their sins were washed away and they were given a fresh start when they gave their life to Jesus. Baptism is an outward picture of what already happened in their heart when the new believer gave their life to Jesus. During baptism the new believer is dipped in water in the name of the Lord.

I. Definition of "baptism"

A. Contextual – same Greek word as what is translated “dipped”.

   Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have
   dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas
   Iscariot, son of Simon. (John 16:36)

B. As modeled- Jesus and the eunuch “came up out of water” when they were
baptized.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the
Spirit descending on him like a dove. (Mark 1:10, NIV)

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39, NIV)

C. Why was the word “baptism” transliterated?

Why didn’t the King James Version translators translate the word “baptizo” from Greek to the English word “immersed”? The Church of England at the time of King James was a reformed Catholic Church, and did not believe in full immersion baptism. The KJV translators wanted an accurate translation. The Greek word “baptizo” does not mean “sprinkle”. “Baptizo” means “to immerse”, “to submerge”, or “to dip”. If the translators had used the English words “dip”, “submerge” or “immerse”, they would have lost their heads. Therefore they used a Greek-based word “baptize” rather than an English word. Thus they kept the Greek word, sustaining the accuracy of their translation, and the obscurity of the Greek word satisfied the King who was underwriting the effort. Because the English people didn’t understand the meaning of the Greek word, they kept sprinkling infants, according to their tradition. It is interesting to note, the King James translators also translated the New Testament Hebrew name “Jacobus” to the English word “James” which endeared them to King James tremendously.

II. Water baptism is not dying in the sense of Romans 6.

The word, baptize, means "to dip, immerse, fully whelm". In Romans 6, Paul refers to what happened when you made your born again commitment to Christ. If you are born again, you are already dead in Christ. Water baptism is an outward act symbolizing that you were dipped into Christ at your conversion.
Just as you are born again once, you only need to be baptized according to the Biblical model once. After that you are called to higher acts of obedience. Who baptized you, the words used, the state of your mind, and your initial ignorance of the significance of the things of God are not a reason to ever be baptized again a second time. Nor is a season of severe backsliding a reason to be baptized again. If you have backslidden you need to obey 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The command is to confess our sins, not to be baptized in water again.

III. Why should we be water baptized?

A. Commanded by Jesus

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, . . ..” (Matthew 28:19)

B. Commanded by Peter:

So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:48)

IV. Baptism is not an option!

We are commanded to baptize new believers.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18- 20)

"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” (Acts 10:47- 48)

V. When should we be water baptized?

Immediately! No instruction was needed, nor was there special baptismal garb required in the New Testament accounts.

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. (Acts 16:33)
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” (Acts 8:36)

VI. Is water baptism necessary in order to go to heaven? No!

A. Thief on cross did not have opportunity to be baptized.

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

(Luke 23:43)

B. Belief is the issue in salvation.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

C. What happens when we are baptized?
1) Reward for obedience

2) Our testimony serves as a witness to others

D. Even though it is not necessary for salvation, baptism is meant to be part

of salvation package.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. (Matthew 3:15)

VII. Why was infant sprinkling introduced?
The Catholic Church introduced infant sprinkling to satisfy the concerns of parents for their children. While we can empathize with their concern, adding a tradition not supported by the Biblical record was a serious deviation from God’s Word.

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matthew 15:1-6)

VIII. What about children who die before they are baptized?

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (1Corinthians 7:12- 16)

IX. Historical record- Historical Bible believing churches mostly all practiced immersion.

Catholic theologians generally agree that there was no infant sprinkling during the first 100 years of the church.
There are no indications of infant sprinkling in first 40 years in the Biblical model found in the Book of Acts.

X. Who does the baptizing?

     Believers. If Paul had considered the utmost importance should be placed on who was performing the baptism, he would have done the baptizing himself. Instead, he wrote:
   Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Corinthians 1:13-18)
   Phillip, plain ordinary man who was a deacon- This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. (Acts 6:5)

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)

When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."… As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. [When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:25-26, 36-39)

XI. What words should be used?

While some sects place importance on the exact words to use, we find different

words used in various places by the early Christians.

A. Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 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)

B. Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

. . . because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:16)

On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:5)

C. Baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, . . .. (Matthew 28:19)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible,
    New International Version®, NIV®.
    Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™
    Used by permission of Zondervan.
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