Articles
So What's the Big Deal? - Baptism
This article will begin a series of articles asking the question, “So what’s the big deal.”
This week’s question is, “Why does the church of Christ teach that baptism is necessary for a person to be saved?” The answer is simple. Because the Bible teaches that baptism is a necessary step for a person to be saved.
A person’s salvation is always a “BIG DEAL.” In fact, it is the biggest deal of a person’s lifetime. It has been rightly said that the question, “What must I do to be saved?” is the most important question a person will ever ask in his or her lifetime.
In Acts 2 the first gospel sermon of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ was preached. The people who were there listening to this sermon already believed in God. They had come for the purpose of worshipping the One they considered to be their Father.
When they heard how Jesus had been crucified in fulfillment of the prophecies of old, they realized that they were guilty of putting to death the Son of God (Acts 2:36). Many who heard this sermon believed it to be factually true. In response they asked the singular most important question that could have been asked at such a revelation: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37.) Was it a “big deal” to those who believed the apostles’ preaching to know what to do to remove this prick that was piercing their hearts?
Friends, if the question they asked was the most important question of their lifetime, what does that infer about the divinely inspired answer to that question? Consider this from a little different perspective. If I were to ask you, “How do I get from here to heaven?” That is indeed an important question. But the simple act of asking such a profound question will not provide what I need to get from here to heaven. The desire to know will not bring to reality the goal. It is only in the accurate answer to the question that the goal may be realized.
Peter’s answer to their question was inspired by the Holy Spirit. They already believed that Jesus was the Son of God. They also believed that they were guilty of putting Him to death. The evidence is that they were pricked in their hearts and, they asked the all important question, “Men and brethren, what must we do?”
Verse 38 is the most important answer to the question that these people had asked. It says, “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.” This answer is still equally important and equally relevant today as it was then.
Why is it a “big deal?” Because sin is still separating men and women from God (Isa. 59:1-2). And because it is the God-inspired answer that will get me from here to heaven. When it comes to my salvation, I do not want man’s opinions or wisdom. I want God’s inspired answer to life’s more important question. On the day of judgment, it will be a “BIG DEAL” to you too.
This article will begin a series of articles asking the question, “So what’s the big deal.”
This week’s question is, “Why does the church of Christ teach that baptism is necessary for a person to be saved?” The answer is simple. Because the Bible teaches that baptism is a necessary step for a person to be saved.
A person’s salvation is always a “BIG DEAL.” In fact, it is the biggest deal of a person’s lifetime. It has been rightly said that the question, “What must I do to be saved?” is the most important question a person will ever ask in his or her lifetime.
In Acts 2 the first gospel sermon of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ was preached. The people who were there listening to this sermon already believed in God. They had come for the purpose of worshipping the One they considered to be their Father.
When they heard how Jesus had been crucified in fulfillment of the prophecies of old, they realized that they were guilty of putting to death the Son of God (Acts 2:36). Many who heard this sermon believed it to be factually true. In response they asked the singular most important question that could have been asked at such a revelation: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37.) Was it a “big deal” to those who believed the apostles’ preaching to know what to do to remove this prick that was piercing their hearts?
Friends, if the question they asked was the most important question of their lifetime, what does that infer about the divinely inspired answer to that question? Consider this from a little different perspective. If I were to ask you, “How do I get from here to heaven?” That is indeed an important question. But the simple act of asking such a profound question will not provide what I need to get from here to heaven. The desire to know will not bring to reality the goal. It is only in the accurate answer to the question that the goal may be realized.
Peter’s answer to their question was inspired by the Holy Spirit. They already believed that Jesus was the Son of God. They also believed that they were guilty of putting Him to death. The evidence is that they were pricked in their hearts and, they asked the all important question, “Men and brethren, what must we do?”
Verse 38 is the most important answer to the question that these people had asked. It says, “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.” This answer is still equally important and equally relevant today as it was then.
Why is it a “big deal?” Because sin is still separating men and women from God (Isa. 59:1-2). And because it is the God-inspired answer that will get me from here to heaven. When it comes to my salvation, I do not want man’s opinions or wisdom. I want God’s inspired answer to life’s more important question. On the day of judgment, it will be a “BIG DEAL” to you too.
