____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ November 13, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Considering 1 Corinthians 1:17 by Tom Edwards QUESTION: ``What about Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that '...Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel....'? Doesn't this prove that baptism is not part of the plan of salvation?'' ANSWER: If this literally means that Paul was not sent to baptize then why do we read that among these Corinthians he had baptized Crispus, Gaius, and those of the household of Stephanas? (Gal. 1:1-16). When Simon (who wasn't sent to lay hands on others to impart the Holy Spirit as the apostles did) sought after this same gift, it became a sin unto him (Acts 8:18-22). It wasn't what he was sent to do. The Old Testament is filled with numerous examples of those who incurred the wrath of God for doing that which they were not ``sent'' to do. I do not take the above to literally mean that God had forbade Paul from baptizing. Rather, I believe this is an ``emphasis passage.'' What is an ``emphasis passage?'' Compare John 6:27: ``Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life....'' These are the words of Jesus. Is He literally teaching that a man is not to have a secular job, when He says, ``Do not work for the food which perishes''? If you take this literally, you would have to say ``yes.'' To the contrary, however, the New Testament exhorts men to work and to provide for their own--lest they be worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8). Concerning the man who would refuse to work, Paul states, ''...neither let him eat'' (2 Thess. 3:10) and ``do not associate with him'' (2 Thess. 3:15). Obviously, what Jesus is saying is that working for God is much more important than working merely for physical necessities. He is, therefore, emphasizing the spiritual above the carnal. When Paul states that ``Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel'' he is emphasizing the fullness of the gospel over just the one aspect of it of baptism. Surely, there is more to the Christian's life than merely having been previously dunked in water in order to become a child of God. Furthermore, the context shows why Paul was even thankful that he had only baptized a few of them. It states, ``that no man should say you were baptized in my name'' (1 Cor. 1:15). We learn from this that it does make a difference that one is baptized for the right purpose. We certainly would not think of a group of young boys playing in the lake and plunging one another beneath the water as performing Bible baptism--neither should we think of Bible baptism as being any other than what the Bible shows it to be. Apparently, many of these whom Paul addressed would have conceived a wrong purpose for baptism had he been the one doing the baptizing. Many of them had been at fault in glorying in men, and this is apparently what would have happened had Paul done the baptizing. They would have thought as if they were ``baptized into Paul's name'' instead of into the name of the Lord--as if it were Paul himself who had died for them, rather than Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:13). Another observation we can make on the basis of some people's misinterpretation that ``God did not send Paul to baptize'' is that if that were true--and since most of these believe that in order to be a part of their particular denomination, one must first be baptized into their denomination--then we could say, based on their logic, that ``Paul wasn't sent to make _____________ (whatever their particular denomination).'' Of course, we don't want to base our beliefs on other people's misinterpretations. Paul not only baptized, but he also had much to say about it and shows it to be an important step toward having sins washed away and becoming a Christian. According to Romans 6:3,4, it's ``in order that we may walk in newness of life,'' for by it one is able to contact the death of Christ and be saved from sins by Christ's shed blood. The ``newness of life'' is referring to the Christian's new life in Christ. This begins when one obeys the gospel, and part of that is being baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The one who does so now has a new standing before God in heaven. In addition, in Galatians 3:26,27 Paul shows us that one becomes a Christian through faith and baptism. For one must believe, and one must also be ``baptized into Christ,'' as the passage says. (Cf. Mark 16:16.) Furthermore, Paul also speaks about the penitent believer having been buried with Christ and raised up with him through baptism in Colossians 2:12. What's he ``raised up'' to? He's raised up to a righteous standing with God the Father through his faith and obedience. He's raised up to be a Christian. No, we cannot turn to Paul as an example of one who taught that baptism was not necessary--for he taught to the contrary: he taught that one must be baptized in order to benefit from the death of Christ, be saved from past sins, and be raised up to live a new life as a Christian in Jesus Christ! He put baptism before all these things; so it, therefore, leads to salvation--rather than being ``for those already saved,'' as many people today teach. There is more to the gospel than baptism, but baptism is still a part of the gospel and must be taught; and this also involves teaching its purpose as we see in Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; Col. 2:12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21. What is its purpose? Read these verses and find out. ___________________________________________ Write Today To Receive Our FREE BIBLE COURSE We would love to enroll you for lesson one right away! ___________________________________________ SOME FUNDAMENTALS It is appropriate to look at some fundamental truths which all faithful Christians acknowledge: There is but one true and living God, as revealed in the Bible (Deut. 6:4; 1 Tim. 2:5). The Word of God reveals but one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God, from whence He rules over His kingdom upon earth today (1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 1:20-22; 1 Pet. 3:22). There is but one Holy Spirit, who operates through the inspired Word of God, as revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles (Eph. 4:4; John 6:63; II Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2). The Scriptures are given us by the Holy Spirit through the apostles, and is our sole guide in matters of faith, morals and religion, and they completely furnish us unto every good work (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10; II Pet. 1:3; II Tim. 3:16-17). Christ built His church, which is non-denominational and non-sectarian in any sense (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). One is added to the Lord's church by the Lord Himself subsequent to the new birth (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:47). The Lord's church is a spiritual relationship which is composed of all His followers, regardless of color, race or sex (Acts 10:34-35; Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Pet. 2:5). The golden rule governs the everyday lives of Christ's followers, as exemplified in the story of the Good Samaritan (Matt. 7;1; Luk. 10). Christ's followers honor and respect the authority of Christ as revealed in His Word (the Bible), and are obedient to all lawfully constituted authorities, both human and divine, but they never compromise their convictions to save their lives (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17; Rev. 2:10). The moral standards as revealed in the Scriptures are accepted by the followers of Christ (Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 5:16-24). Christ's followers reject the authority of all human traditions, inner feelings, man-made creeds, and all the assumed spiritual claims of men (Matt. 15:8-9; Jer. 10:23; 17:9; Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8-9; Titus 1:13-14; 1 Tim. 4:1-4; II Tim. 4:3-4; John 1:48). -- Selected, Via Sound Words, July 11, 1993 ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________