Question: Of whom was the apostle Paul speaking when he said, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed” (2 Thess. 2:7-8 RSV)? Answer: Who is the “lawless one”? Paul … [Read more…]
Answer: God is long-suffering with sinners. He does all He can to get them to repent and turn from their evil ways, even if they backslide. When they repent and cease doing wrong He extends His forgiveness. Such is the message of Isaiah: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: … [Read more…]
Question: What did Paul mean by “baptism” in 1 Cor. 10:1-4: “I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers…were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea”? Answer: The Corinthians, at the time of Paul’s writing, had been baptized into Christ and felt safe and secure. Paul … [Read more…]
Question: Is the baptism of Matt. 3:11 (administered by John) the same as the baptism spoken of in Mark 10:38 where Jesus asked “Can ye …be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Answer: No, in Mark 10:38 Jesus is not referring to literal water baptism as administered by John. Although anyone may be … [Read more…]
Question: Basically, you state in your writings that baptism is simply an outward form representing an inward cleansing. I’m not saying this is untrue, I just cannot find any scriptures which really say this. I find removing baptism from the Gospel is wrong. In Acts 2:38 Luke links baptism and repentance with salvation and 1 … [Read more…]
Question: Would you mind explaining why you do not believe it matters whether you are baptized, even when Christ said that to fulfill all righteousness, you must be. Please, I need to know. Answer: The text to which you allude was spoken by Jesus at the time of His baptism in the River Jordan by … [Read more…]
Question: In your response concerning foods clean and unclean you make the statement that “Baptism was a definite command to some, but not to others.” How do you get past the words of Acts 2:38-39, “Be baptized everyone of you”? Verse 39 goes on to include as many as are called by the Lord. Answer: … [Read more…]
Question: What is the one baptism of Eph. 4:5, a baptism into Christ’s death? Answer: The “one” baptism, is a spiritual baptism, not to be confused with literal baptism in water. [Romans 6:3-4; Col. 2:12-13, 1 Peter 3:21 are all excellent examples of the “one” spiritual baptism.] Of the two, the “one” baptism ranked highest … [Read more…]
Answer: No, our church does not practice any form of immersion in water. Water baptism was dispensational (that is, belonging only to the people of a particular age) and here are a few additional thoughts on this. Remember, though, that the point is one of emphasis and not correctness for the command to baptize was … [Read more…]
Question: Your views, on baptism as being synonymous with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gift of miracles, appear baseless. None of the references to baptism I could find support a parallel with the bestowing of the Holy Spirit gifts that I could see, and most mentioned nothing of the Holy Spirit gifts on the … [Read more…]