He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.(Mark 16:16)
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:(I Peter 3:20-21)
Today in our local church, we celebrate the hopeful end of a long draught… the first baptism in more than a year and a half. True, our two baptisms amount to a “cloud the size of a man’s hand” but we humbly rejoice! As it is written,”despise not the day of small beginnings”.
In contemplating baptism, I have been meditating on the scriptures above. In what sense could it be said that “baptism now saves us”? I know that it is faith in Jesus’ blood that has procured the pardon and status of righteousness that I needed in order to “flee the wrath” of a righteous and holy God!
The Christian author Watchman Nee, an early but profound influence on my discipleship is helpful here. In the book “Love Not The World” , Nee points out that the word “salvation” is used not in a general but in a specific sense.
Nee points out that every detail of our sinful and God estranged existence has been answered to by the work of God in Christ. For example, because of our spiritual death, God gives eternal life. Sin has ruined the old creation, but God makes a new creation. Since man is under a just but severe condemnation, through Jesus, God offers man justification by faith. Redemption is multi-faceted.
Another facet of man’s ruin is the fact that he has been born and raised, in this world. The term “the world” , in the new testament usually refers to God estranged humanity as it has organized itself, independently of and to the exclusion of the only true God. It is the greek word “Cosmos”, meaning ‘the order” or “adornment”.
Thus salvation is not so much a personal question of sins forgiven or of hell avoided. It is to be seen rather in terms of a system from which we come out. When I am saved, I make my exodus out of one whole world and my entry into another. I am saved now out of that whole organized realm which Satan has constructed in defiance of the purpose of God.(Watchman Nee,”Love Not The World”,Christian Literature Crusade)
The Word of God says of the World;
* It is already under a judgment- Jesus said, Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.(John 12:31) The sentence has already been passed, the world is already judged by God , the Lord is uncompromising in his resolution. As in the days of Noah, the execution of the sentence hangs over the world like a cloud, the day of Divine vengeance draws near!
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright(Psalm 11:5-7)
* The real ruler of the world is Satan– In the scripture above, Jesus referred to ‘the prince of this world’, who would be cast down, at the judgment of this world. Jesus would later proclaim that in the coming of Judas ,’the prince of this world comes….’. Who was he referring to? Satan, the real ‘god’ of this age, and the mind behind the ‘world system’.John, the Lord’s apostle warned us that “the whole world lies in the wicked one’s power”.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (I John 5:19 NASB)
* The world hates Christ- If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you ( John 15: 17-18)
Don’t let the world deceive you with it’s platitudes about Jesus as a ‘good man’ or a philosopher, the world hates the real Jesus of the Bible. He offends them because he tells them that they aren’t right, and that they need to be saved, and worse yet, that they can’t even save themselves!
The world has crafted another christianity that is more to their liking, but it is anti-christ.They hate the real Christ and would crucify him again if given a chance.That is why the world has always persecuted christians wherever possible.
* The love of the world and the love of the Father are mutually exclusive – John reveals this truth to us, in this admonition of his epistle;
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15)
Therefore we are “saved” out of this world! In this sense do Peter and Mark proclaim that “baptism saves”, or that “he that believes and is baptized will be saved”. In baptism, we are stepping over the line of demarcation, exiting the doomed world, even as Noah did , through the water.
Remember that Israel never really left Egypt until she crossed the Red Sea. Egypt went in with her, but never came out the other side as she did. There is no real leaving of the ties of this world, without a valid new testament baptism whenever possible.
Two brothers, left the World today, calling upon Jesus! They went from one Kingdom to another, they crossed the Red Sea! They passed through the flood of Judgment into the Kingdom of Light! They justified God! Hallelujah!!
Pastor Bill Randles Blog 
Thanks for commenting on this. We had two baptisms this weekend, too, at the church I’ve been attending and I have often wondered how we miss the significance of baptism.
Always enjoy your posts and sermons. Rejoicing with you on recent baptism. We baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus in our church because when we searched the scriptures we could find no other name but the name of Jesus whereby we must be saved, and also could find no example in the Book of Acts where anyone was baptized in the titles, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. When someone first showed me these scriptures (Acts 2:38; 4:12;8:12; 8:16; 10:46-48; 19:3-6) my flesh argued but the truth prevailed and I was rebaptized in Jesus name over 30 years ago. I know it is the right way.
Beautiful! And congratulations.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
You are indeed correct in trying to obey Matthew 28:18-20 and multitudes of honest hearted people have simply repeated these words at baptism (only 1 scripture compared to many that are contrary) thinking they were doing things the right way. However, Jesus told His disciples to baptize in the NAME – Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not names. Peter obviously knew the NAME on the Day of Pentecost when he preached the first sermon and told them to be baptized in Jesus NAME. Your name is what makes any check you sign valid – not the different roles you may play in life. Not being contentious – only concerned because we have a conflict here of mammouth proportions.
Oneness Pentecostals
(from http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/thirdwaveteachings.html)
BRIEF HISTORY
A heresy that emerged from the mainstream Pentecostal movement of the early 19th century. Unlike traditional Pentecostals, “Oneness” followers deny the doctrine of the Trinity in favor of Modalism. “(Modalism is) a second and third century heresy that denies the doctrine of the Trinity, teaching there is only one Person in the Godhead. While the Trinity doctrine teaches three distinct Persons, Modalism maintains that one Person (usually the Father) has manifested Himself at different times under different names (Jesus/Spirit) or modes. Thus, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three names for the same Person. Originally taught in various forms by Noetus, Praxeas and Sabellius. Modified forms of this doctrine can be found in the teachings of William Branham, some Apostolic churches and the United Pentecostal Church. In addition to this heresy, most Oneness Pentecostal organizations also teach that speaking in tongues, baptism (in Jesus’ name only), and maintaining various moral “standards” are necessary for salvation. (The Watchman Expositor, Index, 1997, http://www.watchman.org/cat952.htm)
I have a long paper on the core doctrines of the Church on my site. You can get the URL from me and read about why the Bible clearly teaches the Trinity and not Oneness, and how it is impossible to know many things about God without understanding the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
HERETICAL DOCTRINES
The following are the key doctrinal beliefs that distinguish the Oneness Pentecostal movement:
– Doctrine of “trinity” considered to be demonic
– Speaking in tongues is an essential sign of salvation
– Denial of the pre-existence of Christ
– Jesus was Himself the Father
– Modalism – Jesus is the only person of the trinity, but appears in three modes at different times.
– Baptism “in Jesus’ name” alone is necessary for salvation. (Tom Smith, Background To The “Holy Laughter” Movement, 1997, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4948/vine3is5.html)
PROPONANTS
Tommy Tenney
T.D. Jakes
I wrote a letter to James Morroco in Maui asking him why they invited Tommy Tenney, whose family are some of the most prominent Oneness teachers of our day, to come and teach from his pulpit given the fact that the AOG states in their doctrinal statement that they believe in the Trinity. I go no answer. This is a good example of how churches are being leavened away from the Truth into old heresies like Modalism. If you believe that the Holy Spirit is not a person then you begin to treat Him like and “it” and like a force, then you begin to think you can manipulate the force with your will, actions and words. I believe that Oneness Pentecostalism is very much at the core of the slain in the spirit stuff, because they have been doing in for years. This is because they don’t believe in the same Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit as you and I do. This is why UPC has long been considered a cult, but recently have found their way back into the graces of churches via TBN, books, etc.
I agree with Judy and strongly urge you to go to her links exposing the “oneness” heresy-pas Bill
Are you a member of the UPC? United Pentecostal Church? I consider that a heretical sect because it denies the Holy Trinity.-Pas Bill
If the world is under the devil does that include the office of the president, the congress and the supreme court of the United States. If so is it blasphemous to be patriotic?
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Appoximately 150 passages in the New Testiment state that salvation is by faith through grace alone. No verse or few verses could contradict this overwhelming testimony. What then does Mark 16:16 mean ? We believe it mentions baptism as the expected outward expression of belief. Baptism is not a condition of salvation,but an outward proclamation that the person has been saved.
Wm.MacDonald from the BBC Believers Bible Commentary
Did you read the article John? I stated that our pardon and righteousness was purchased by the blood of Jesus. I have not maitained that there are any conditions for us to be saved. The article is an exploration of what Peter meant by “Baptism now saves…”. The conclusion? We are stepping over a line, out of this world, as Noah left his doomed world, we are renouncing ours to this generation.
Bill, I now understand what you have written. Not to offer any excuses but I have a friend in the faith who thinks his regeneration begain at the time of baptism, not at conversion. Pehaps my old mind was seeing something not there. I very much like your take in leaving this world. Perhaps I am overly sensitive to anything which even remotely seems to indicate confusion between the work of Christ in the atonement with the work of man. My opology to you for seeing something not there in your writings.
John
No problem John I appreciate the fact that you are being a Berean! God bless you-
I can’t figure out how do I subscribe to your blog
Hello Jocuri, in the upper right corner there is an automatic subscription button. Hope this helps,thanks for the interest!
The work of Christ regarding the atonement and the work of man is the core of the gospel and is not well understood by the church.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.2 Thessalonians 2:15
Perhaps the greatest tragedy in all this is arguing over minor points of doctrine that so easily divides the church and alienates believers from each other. I am not saved by a ‘perfection’ of doctrinal belief nor by a particular view of the Bible nor one mode of baptism over another nor a specific manifestation of the Holy Spirit but by the unconditional love of God and the grace of Christ my Saviour. I have seen too many Pentecostal churches split because one or more pastors and elders were convinced their version of faith was right and others, held with equal force were wrong. Which Is why I remain an Anglican where for most of us our emphasis is on our relationships in love with God and with each other and where the finer points of doctrine are – like all truth an ongoing journey of discovery