Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Mount
Baker
Beacon Volume 02, Number 17
04/23/2023 Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692 Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site:
Mt. Baker church
Editor......John Bass
| In this issue:
Is Baptism Essential to Salvation?
Dennis Abernathy Baptism, and its relation to salvation is a much discussed and hotly debated question. Is baptism essential to salvation? Will God save a person without that person being baptized? Sincere people can be found on both sides of the issue, but a person can be sincerely wrong. For example, before he was saved, Saul of Tarsus sincerely thought he must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus (Acts 26: 9), which he did "in all good conscience" (v. 1)), but he was wrong as could be.
In the publication, Good News, March 2, 1972, we read the following: "Is baptism necessary for salvation…a plain definite NO! No, baptism doesn't save, doesn't help save…it doesn't have anything in this world to do with the saving of a soul." Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…" (Mk. 1: 16). Peter said: "…eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…" (1 Pet. 3: 20-21). You decide! In A New Manual for Baptist Churches, p. 44-45, we read: "…We say Acts 2: 38 does not teach that baptism is, in any sense, essential to the salvation of a soul." Acts 2: 38 says, "…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…" You decide!
The Watchtower publication The Truth that leads to Eternal life, p. 183- 184, says: "What, then, does Christian baptism signify? It is not washing away of one's sins, because cleansing from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ." Revelation 1: 5 says, "…"Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" Rev. 1: 5. Acts 22: 16 says, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." You decide! Top
“Living your Truth”
Jesse A. Flowers "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
A modern expression that seems to be gaining in popularity and acceptance is: "Live your truth." What does that mean exactly? Writer Carly Victoria expressed it this way: "To live in your truth simply means to live as your most authentic self, doing things daily that bring you happiness and joy, living as true to yourself as possible." Kamal Ravikant, author of the book, Live Your Truth, stated: "Whatever human endeavor we choose, as long as we live our truth, it is success." In other words, to "live your truth" suggests that truth is subjective and relative; that truth is personal for each individual; to live your truth is all about YOU; it's whatever you think, feel, desire, and makes you happy; it can evolve over time; and you are your own standard.
Granted, the expression may be new, but the mindset is quite ancient. "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). "And the LORD said, 'Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them'" (Jeremiah 9:13-14).
The Bible calls us to live God's truth, not our own. After all, it is His Word that is truth and that sanctifies us. Jesus declared to Satan: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). As Christ stood before Pontius Pilate, He stated: "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37). Furthermore, as Paul wrote to the saints in Ephesus: "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:20-21).
Where do we find "truth"? The truth is in Jesus! As the Lord testified to His apostles: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is THE TRUTH - not me, not you, or anyone else!
Perhaps one of the greatest lies of Satan today is the belief that we can define truth and determine reality from within ourselves. Let us resolve to live God's truth in our lives, by coming to know His truth and obeying His truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 5:3). And let us resolve to share that truth with one and all that they might be truly set free (John 8:32). Top
Are You God’s Vomit?
Kyle Campbell Jesus had some harsh words for the church members of Laodicea when He wrote, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). I’d imagine that Jesus had a long time to watch over this church; His remarks weren’t made lightly.
Another way of describing the phenomena of lukewarmness is putting it in the context of halfheartedness vs. wholeheartedness. An example of wholeheartedness would be Jesus’ charge in Matthew 22:37-38: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” Jesus didn’t want us to love God a little; He wanted us to love God with everything we have.
Perhaps the most pervasive problem that churches face now is lukewarmness. Saints are lukewarm when they don’t support the work financially like they could. Saints are lukewarm when they don’t volunteer in various congregational roles like they could. Saints are lukewarm when they let other activities interfere with worshipping God like they could. All of this makes members inherently weak. When these weak members raise children, they either fall away or become replicants of their weak parents. In either case, the local church struggles harder to advance, and inevitably succumbs to dying interest and a dying membership.
The good part about lukewarmness is that it can be corrected. Jesus told the Laodiceans, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19). If you’re lukewarm, all you have to do is repent and return to the zeal that you most likely had when you became a Christian — a zeal that produced joy (Acts 8:39), hospitality (Acts 16:15), service (Acts 16:33), etc.
And yes, I understand the irony of issuing a call to action to someone who has demonstrated that they care little about the Lord. But remember that you are going to have to give an answer to what you’ve done (and what you haven’t done). Jesus said that you can’t live with a divided heart (Matthew 6:24). James said this makes you “double-minded” and “unstable” in all your ways (1:8). Top
A Gospel Meeting
Joe R. Price Assembling ourselves together (Heb. 10:25). Gathering to hear God’s word (Acts 10:33). Opportunity to grow in Christ (1 Pet. 2:1-2). Saving power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). Preaching the word (2 Tim. 4:2). Edifying the saints with the gospel (Acts 20:32). Looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2). Minding things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5). Exposing the works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Enduring faith (Heb. 10:36-39). Taking time to be holy (1 Pet. 1:13-17). Interceding in prayer (1 Tim. 2:1). Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Go and teach all nations (Matt. 28:19). The Mt. Baker church of Christ welcomes you to our gospel meeting, and invites you to join us for Bible study as we learn God’s will for our lives (2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Cor. 13:5). One goal of our gospel meeting is for each person to hear the word of God. Personal faith is produced and salvation is received by hearing the Bible, believing it and obeying it (Rom. 10:17; Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9).
We welcome your Bible questions, and we will gladly study more of God’s word with you if that is your wish. We want to live by faith, and we want that for you, too. We live by faith in Christ Top
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 04/22/2023 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149 or johnbass2468@gmail.com |
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