PREACHING ABOUT BAPTISM

Bulletins

Dennis Abernathy
10/13/24 - General

No subject has been discussed and debated more than baptism. Is it essential to salvation or is it not? Is baptism immersion, sprinkling, or simply pouring water on one? Are infants to be baptized? Is one to be baptized because he is saved, or in order to be saved? The questions are almost endless. Therefore, many just decide the subject of baptism is too controversial, and they do not preach or teach on the subject at all.

For example, let me tell you a little story. Preachers in a small town proposed a meeting in which all the preachers would take alternate turns to preach. A certain gospel preacher, had not been consulted on the arrangement, so he called the other preachers to request his turn to preach. He was informed that an agreement had been made that the subject of baptism would not be mentioned-that they had agreed to preach Christ and say nothing about baptism. The preacher accepted the conditions and agreed to preach without mentioning the word baptism. It was agreed, and he announced in advance his subject was "What Must I do to be Saved."

People came from all over to hear him preach. He preached with such animation and eloquence on salvation, and the love of God, that brought salvation to man through Jesus Christ. When he reached the point of the question-What must I do to be saved? he turned to Mark 16:15-16 and read the words of Christ: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and doeth that thing I promised not to mention, shall be saved." He then read Acts 2:38: "Repent, and do that thing I promised not to mention, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." And he proceeded to read every verse in the New Testament on baptism, and called it that thing I promised not to mention!

Isn't it strange how many people and preachers will detour around such a plain and positive command of Jesus and His apostles; so simple to be understood and performed, so easy to accept and obey, and so much emphasized in the New Testament? What about you, my friend? Would you like to study this biblical subject in order to understand what the New Testament says about it?

(Taken from Lenexa Edifier, edited by Jim Stauffer)