When preparing to teach about the errors in the book “The DaVinci Code” by Dan Brown, I learned that at the time of Constantine (325 AD) the church believed that baptism washed away sin. (sort of Roman Catholic and Lutheran). That is why Constantine didn’t want to get baptized until he was going to die – that way his sins would be washed away w/ the baptism.
The paedo Baptists argue their case from church history. However, as early as the 4th century, the teaching on baptism had been polluted.
Showing posts with label sacraments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacraments. Show all posts
Friday, June 27, 2008
The STATUS of NON-BELIEVERS
1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Unregenerate people are "not a people" and "objects of wrath". Paul applies this pre-conversion status to himself by saying "we". The newborn are “not a people” and are “children of wrath”.
At a recent infant dedication at Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis), the pastor quoted the Ephesians “object of wrath”, calling that child of a believing couple an child of wrath. This sounds strong, almost harsh, but it seems to be Biblically true.
Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Unregenerate people are "not a people" and "objects of wrath". Paul applies this pre-conversion status to himself by saying "we". The newborn are “not a people” and are “children of wrath”.
At a recent infant dedication at Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis), the pastor quoted the Ephesians “object of wrath”, calling that child of a believing couple an child of wrath. This sounds strong, almost harsh, but it seems to be Biblically true.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Baptism
There are several signs which God instituted which, prior to their new significance as given by God, were "natural".
I would imagine that there were rainbows prior to the Noahic flood. At a minimum, any mist in the air may create a rainbow. But after the flood, God took the rainbow and gave it a new or additional meaning. (Genesis 9:8-17)
Prior to the Abrahamic covenant, circumcision was practiced by several tribes. In Jeremiah 9:25-26 five people groups (plus Israel) are listed as practicing circumcision. Yet God called them all "uncircumcised in heart."
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh — Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart."
In instituting circumcision with Abraham and his descendants, God was giving a special meaning to the "sign" which was already practiced among the people.
The baptism of Christ is different than the baptism of John (as seen in Acts 18:24-28). The significance of Christian Baptism is given by Christ, his death and resurrection and the new covenant. It is BELIEVERS that are in the new covenant. Review the verses quoted in June 8. The unregenerate children of believers are not in the new covenant. They participate in the blessings but they are not born again.
Thus, it is appropriate to reserve baptism only for members of the new covenant.
I would imagine that there were rainbows prior to the Noahic flood. At a minimum, any mist in the air may create a rainbow. But after the flood, God took the rainbow and gave it a new or additional meaning. (Genesis 9:8-17)
Prior to the Abrahamic covenant, circumcision was practiced by several tribes. In Jeremiah 9:25-26 five people groups (plus Israel) are listed as practicing circumcision. Yet God called them all "uncircumcised in heart."
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh — Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart."
In instituting circumcision with Abraham and his descendants, God was giving a special meaning to the "sign" which was already practiced among the people.
The baptism of Christ is different than the baptism of John (as seen in Acts 18:24-28). The significance of Christian Baptism is given by Christ, his death and resurrection and the new covenant. It is BELIEVERS that are in the new covenant. Review the verses quoted in June 8. The unregenerate children of believers are not in the new covenant. They participate in the blessings but they are not born again.
Thus, it is appropriate to reserve baptism only for members of the new covenant.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Greg Bahnsen on baptism
In a paper on paedo baptism, Greg Bahnsen used the following two verses to argue that God’s principles do not change:
Psalm 89:34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.
James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Bahnsen argued that baptism is the New Covenant equivalent of circumcision. Therefore, since God doesn’t change his principles, baptism must be given to infants.
If we are to take Psalm 89:34 in a wooden / literal fashion, God’s covenant included circumcision and circumcision must be continued.
Bahnsen quoted numerous verses about the “sprinkling with water” and “sprinkling with a clean conscience”, both of which are arguments for believer baptism.
Acts 2:39 says that "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
However, it also says that the promise is for "all who are far off". Bahnsen correctly calls these "Gentiles". But Bahnsen does not apply it to "all" - he reserves baptism for believers and their children.
Given that Peter has said that the promise is to "all whom the Lord our God will call", he has qualified the scope of the promise. It is to "you" (who believe - not even all the hearers believed), "your children" and "gentiles" (people that were not at sermon and will be reached with the gospel ("God will call").
Since I am not strongly "covenantal", I like being challenged when covenantal NT texts are pointed out. One such verse that Bahnsen cited is 1 Cor 10:16:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
This implies that the communion cup is more than just a memorial. It is a cup of blessing to the partaker.
The word translated "blessing" is eulogia. In the NIV it is translated "thanksgiving", which mitigates the covenantal implications.
The primary meaning of eulogia is "fine speaking". The gospel (the euaggelion [notice the similarity?]) is God speaking finely to us. In Christ, we are blessed.
Psalm 89:34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.
James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Bahnsen argued that baptism is the New Covenant equivalent of circumcision. Therefore, since God doesn’t change his principles, baptism must be given to infants.
If we are to take Psalm 89:34 in a wooden / literal fashion, God’s covenant included circumcision and circumcision must be continued.
Bahnsen quoted numerous verses about the “sprinkling with water” and “sprinkling with a clean conscience”, both of which are arguments for believer baptism.
Acts 2:39 says that "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
However, it also says that the promise is for "all who are far off". Bahnsen correctly calls these "Gentiles". But Bahnsen does not apply it to "all" - he reserves baptism for believers and their children.
Given that Peter has said that the promise is to "all whom the Lord our God will call", he has qualified the scope of the promise. It is to "you" (who believe - not even all the hearers believed), "your children" and "gentiles" (people that were not at sermon and will be reached with the gospel ("God will call").
Since I am not strongly "covenantal", I like being challenged when covenantal NT texts are pointed out. One such verse that Bahnsen cited is 1 Cor 10:16:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
This implies that the communion cup is more than just a memorial. It is a cup of blessing to the partaker.
The word translated "blessing" is eulogia. In the NIV it is translated "thanksgiving", which mitigates the covenantal implications.
The primary meaning of eulogia is "fine speaking". The gospel (the euaggelion [notice the similarity?]) is God speaking finely to us. In Christ, we are blessed.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Baptism
Its been about 10 days since I wrote about "washing by water" and "regeneration".
I've been reading articles about infant baptism (paedo baptism) versus believer baptism (credo baptism) and believe that most authors write from their prepositional stance.
Paedo baptists 1) are strongly covenantal in their exegesis and 2) view baptism as the substitute for circumcision.
Credo baptists see baptism as symbolizing entrance into the new covenant.
The texts from my prior two posts steer me towards this credo baptist stance. Those "born of water and the spirit", "sprinkled with clean water", who believes in Christ has "living water flowing from them" are all in the new covenant by faith.
I think it was Luther who said that infants have faith in their parents and parents have faith in Christ. So infants have faith in Christ (indirectly). Is this the "faith" described in the NT?
It seems to follow the paedo baptist logic to its end, they should view baptism like Lutherans or Roman Catholics.
A friend of mine that is in the Federal Vision camp calls the children of believers "saints". He says that these children are objectively under the covenant with their believing parents. A problem with this is that some of those children are not elect. Therefore, they cannot believe in the "perseverance of the saints" - I have not yet heard his response to this.
I've been reading articles about infant baptism (paedo baptism) versus believer baptism (credo baptism) and believe that most authors write from their prepositional stance.
Paedo baptists 1) are strongly covenantal in their exegesis and 2) view baptism as the substitute for circumcision.
Credo baptists see baptism as symbolizing entrance into the new covenant.
The texts from my prior two posts steer me towards this credo baptist stance. Those "born of water and the spirit", "sprinkled with clean water", who believes in Christ has "living water flowing from them" are all in the new covenant by faith.
I think it was Luther who said that infants have faith in their parents and parents have faith in Christ. So infants have faith in Christ (indirectly). Is this the "faith" described in the NT?
It seems to follow the paedo baptist logic to its end, they should view baptism like Lutherans or Roman Catholics.
A friend of mine that is in the Federal Vision camp calls the children of believers "saints". He says that these children are objectively under the covenant with their believing parents. A problem with this is that some of those children are not elect. Therefore, they cannot believe in the "perseverance of the saints" - I have not yet heard his response to this.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
washed by water / regeneration
In my 6/7/08 post, I listed several verses about Living Water.
Jesus tells us that he is the Living Water of Zecheriah 14 and Jeremiah 2.
This Living Water cleanses us of our sins, regenerates, sanctifies, and justifies us.
Ephesians 5:26
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Titus 3:5
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior
Hebrews 10:22
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
John 15:3
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
1 Corinthians 6:11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Jesus tells us that he is the Living Water of Zecheriah 14 and Jeremiah 2.
This Living Water cleanses us of our sins, regenerates, sanctifies, and justifies us.
Ephesians 5:26
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Titus 3:5
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior
Hebrews 10:22
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
John 15:3
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
1 Corinthians 6:11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
River of Life
Two Sundays ago, Jon Piper's sermon was on Psalm 1 (an overview of the entire chapter)
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2785_Songs_That_Shape_the_Heart_and_Mind/
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, ....
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
Verse 3 had me ping-ponging mentally through the scriptures. I will list them off here and discuss them on other posts.
There is the River of Life and the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:1-3a:
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed
This is a restoration of creation, an "uncursing" from the curse of the fall in Genesis 3.
In Genesis 2:
8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
Ezekiel 47:1-9
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.
2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep.
5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.
6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.
9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very any fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live here the river goes.
Zechariah 14:6-9
6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.
7 And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 2:12-13
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,
13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jesus told Nicodemus that a person must be "born again" to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
John 3:5-6
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This is a reference back to Ezekiel 36:25
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
John 7:37-39a
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive
Some important cross references:
Ephesians 5:26
Titus 3:5
Hebrews 10:22
One reason I am listing these verses is that the Reformed camp equates the water with baptism and they equate Jesus statement about eating his flesh in John 7 with commumion. I am investigating and evaluating this.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2785_Songs_That_Shape_the_Heart_and_Mind/
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, ....
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
Verse 3 had me ping-ponging mentally through the scriptures. I will list them off here and discuss them on other posts.
There is the River of Life and the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:1-3a:
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed
This is a restoration of creation, an "uncursing" from the curse of the fall in Genesis 3.
In Genesis 2:
8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
Ezekiel 47:1-9
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.
2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep.
5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.
6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.
9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very any fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live here the river goes.
Zechariah 14:6-9
6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.
7 And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 2:12-13
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,
13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jesus told Nicodemus that a person must be "born again" to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
John 3:5-6
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This is a reference back to Ezekiel 36:25
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
John 7:37-39a
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive
Some important cross references:
Ephesians 5:26
Titus 3:5
Hebrews 10:22
One reason I am listing these verses is that the Reformed camp equates the water with baptism and they equate Jesus statement about eating his flesh in John 7 with commumion. I am investigating and evaluating this.
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