Monthly Archives: March 2013

The Importance of Baptism

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        ImageHow is it that a sinner can one day stand righteous before our eternal judge?  When we look into the commands of God, and most especially what is necessary for our salvation, we see that the act of baptism is essential and imperative to that endeavor.  To illustrate the awesome importance of baptism, let us take a quick look at two paramount events from the book of Acts.

            First, let us look at the event that is recorded in Acts 2 with regards to the importance of baptism.  Peter here is preaching on the Day of Pentecost to a crowd gathered in Jerusalem, many of whom were responsible for the death of Jesus on the cross.  Peter convinces these men of their sin in his sermon.  Imagine what they must have felt when they realized that it was the Son of God that they demanded be crucified by Pilate.  And yet, as heinous as their transgression was, they still have hope if they would repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). 

            Secondly, let us look at the event of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who would become the apostle Paul.  Saul had been persecuting the church and was even complicit in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8).  Later in Paul’s own words he will call himself the “chief” of sinners (1Timothy 1:15).  Saul, however, was not eternally lost, because he was able to have his sins washed away by the power of baptism.  After Paul saw Jesus on the way to Damascus, he was told by Ananias not to hesitate, but to “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16 KJV).  Even Saul could be forgiven his sins through the obedient act of baptism.

            What an important act of obedience that could allow those who had committed such sins to one day stand righteous before the throne of God.  In baptism the sins of both those who had put Christ to such shame on the cross, and the one who had been persecuting the church with such fervor were remitted!    If these men could be forgiven for their transgressions; what forgiveness awaits us at the bottom of that watery grave?  There is no denying the power and the importance of baptism in obedience to God, so that our sins may be washed away.

Reaping As We Sow

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Farming_near_Klingerstown,_Pennsylvania

          Both Jesus and the inspired words of the Bible use illustrations that people were sure to identify with in order to teach them an eternal truth.  Oftentimes these illustrations came back to the idea of spreading seed or of cultivating and growing, since the populace was based on agriculture by and large.  One such illustration is used with regards to our giving, and is found in Paul’s writings to the church at Corinth.

            In the instructions for giving that were communicated by Paul, we find that we are to lay by and store as we have been prospered on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2).  Later Paul also states that as we sow we also shall reap, and the Lord loves one who gives cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:6-7).  Paul tells us that if we will sow bountifully, then we will reap bountifully.

            Let us consider for a moment this idea of sowing and reaping.  Many take the first part of the command to give (give as you have prospered) to mean that they can sow sparingly.  However, God’s word tells us that he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.  If we truly want to prosper, we should be sowing much instead of little.  Imagine that a farmer looks at his fields and thinks to himself that as soon as that bumper crop comes in, he will go out and sow some seed.  Well, we all know that it doesn’t work that way.

            If we truly wish to reap much, especially in the next life, then we need to get busy with sowing much while we have the opportunity.  With regards to our giving we should give so that we can prosper, and not wait for that prosperity to come first.