Doctrine that Adds to Scripture

Major1 said:

Those are excellent thoughts. I think that it would be helpful to remember that
baptism did not begin with Christians. For many years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John the Baptist took baptism and applied it to the Jews themselves—it wasn’t just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many believed John’s message and were baptized by him because the baptisms John performed had a specific purpose.

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms:.........
“I baptize you with water for repentance.”

Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4:............
“John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

John’s baptism had to do with repentance—it was a symbolic representation of changing one’s mind and going a new direction.

Matthew 3:6 says.............
“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River”.

Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival.

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ScottySAM said:

Let me put this another way....Let's say that there are just three category 2 doctrines and each doctrine is simply binary (you either believe it, or you believe the contrary). That means there are 8 possible combinations of these beliefs. Now, lets say that you live in a community with just 7 churches and each church believes some different combination of these three category 2 doctrines. It's possible that no church holds to the same combination of beliefs that you hold. Even though you hold to all the category 1 doctrines, you cannot join any of the 7 churches in your area. On what basis do these churches exclude people that they themselves say are brothers / sisters in Christ? Does that basis imply that these churches are more akin to private clubs than they are to local bodies?

Is this like saying "In essentials unity, in non-essentials segregation"?

It just seems like there's something inherently wrong with elevating debatable doctrine to criteria for membership in a local body. Sure, it can be criteria to enter a private club, but to enter a local body??

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brinny said:

What comes to mind for me is a church (that i attended), that in order to become a member there, one must confess that they "speak in tongues" and that this is "evidence" of salvation.

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Major1 said:

It has been my experience with those in the Charismatic Pentecostal church, that that is what they all ask you.....

"Are you born again with the evidence of speaking in tongues"????

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~Cassia~ said:

I agree with all but that the baptism of John was a commitment to follow God's laws. John the Baptist awakened within some the desire to become acquainted with Him to Whom he pointed but most went away unaffected it would seem.

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brinny said:

It was a non-denominational church.

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Major1 said:

I understand. One of the problems with a non-denominational church is the lack of responsibility to a higher authority.

They open the door to many false teaching because they do not answer to anyone.

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Major1 said:

I understand. One of the problems with a non-denominational church is the lack of responsibility to a higher authority.

They open the door to many false teaching because they do not answer to anyone.

214,000 posts!!!!!!!! WOW! Have you been on this site for 20 years or so?

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Major1 said:

Agreed. Baptism is a process of "obedience". Jesus was baptized and we as an act of obedience should want to be baptized as well.

But IMO there is no salvation per say in the act itself. Salvation comes from the inside out from the heart by confessing that Jesus is the Christ and that He died and rose from the dead.

Paul told the jailer............"BELIEVE upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved".

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~Cassia~ said:

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

Looking to the spiritual law rather than the letter of the law is an inward act of the person for sure Jesus demonstrating being right with God in being baptized by John seems to allow for His human qualities to suffer death in able to perform according to ressurection power before His own death wouldn't it seem to you?

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Major1 said:

That is an excellent point and YES I agree. As He was 100% man and 100% God He demonstrated all obedience to the Father.

Isn't it exciting to think back to the day when Jesus was actually baptized????

There is John baptizing people by the thousands without any idea of when the Messiah would come.
Until one day, out of the crowd steps Jesus.

He wades into the water and John takes him under like everybody else and doesn't know he's any one special until he comes up out of the water and the thin curtain between heaven and earth is torn open and the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father says, "That's my boy and I'm so proud of him!"!!!!!!

Can you imagine what went through John's mind and his very being????? THIS IS THE ONE I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND HERE HE IS!!!

This is such a significant event in the life of Jesus that all three members of the Trinity show up, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all outwardly involved here. And it's beautiful. The gospel of John adds us that John the Baptist wouldn't have even known who Jesus was if it wasn't for the Spirit that landed on him like a dove.

So Jesus is baptized by John, not because there's sin in his life that needs to be confessed and forgiven. There isn't any sin in Jesus' life. Instead, Jesus is baptized by John because he's identifying himself with John's message that it's time for Israel to wake up and turn back to God.

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Major1 said:

Agreed. Baptism is a process of "obedience". Jesus was baptized and we as an act of obedience should want to be baptized as well.

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DeaconDean said:

Now you touched on something here.

In Matt. 3, we see:

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." -Mt. 3:1-2; Jn. 1:29 (KJV)

Why was Jesus baptized? What did He need to repent of?

I can say truthfully, it was not to set the example for us to follow.

So why was Jesus baptized?

God Bless

Till all arfe one.

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~Cassia~ said:

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

Looking to the spiritual law rather than the letter of the law is an inward act of the person for sure Jesus demonstrating being right with God in being baptized by John seems to allow for His human qualities to suffer death in able to perform according to ressurection power before His own death wouldn't it seem to you?

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Major1 said:

Since Jesus had no sin and did not need to be baptized, then what was the reason He did it if it was not to set an example?

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Major1 said:

Since Jesus had no sin and did not need to be baptized, then what was the reason He did it if it was not to set an example?

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DeaconDean said:

Jesus came to be our "perfect sacrifice".

According to the Torah, the Lamb, examined, was washed.

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin. He was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. The Levitical law regarding sacrifices demanded the sacrifice be "washed" after being slain. (cf Lev. 1:9, 13)

(See the sacrificial laws in the OT.)

God Bless

Till all are one.

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Major1 said:

I do not know what you are tring to say but the fact is that there is no Biblical record of Jesus being washed before or after the cross.y

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Steve Petersen said:

It was and is Jewish custom to wash the body before burial.

Burial Customs

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Major1 said:

I agree with you. It may have taken place. All I am saying is that there is no record of that taking place in the Scriptures. Washing of feet before the Last supper, yes, the body, No.

If you find it please let me know.

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DeaconDean said:

Now you touched on something here.

In Matt. 3, we see:

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." -Mt. 3:1-2; Jn. 1:29 (KJV)

Why was Jesus baptized? What did He need to repent of?

I can say truthfully, it was not to set the example for us to follow.

So why was Jesus baptized?

God Bless

Till all arfe one.

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