HOW CAN WE KNOW?
A. Ralph Johnson
A.
-Have
a “good and honest heart.”
-Luke 8:15 And
that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.
-Heb 1:9 Thou
hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath
anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
If people do not love the truth, God
allows them to follow falsehood.
2Thes. 2:10-12. for
this cause God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a
lie: 12 that they all might be
judged who believed not the truth,
Matt. 13:10-15. Because they would not see, Jesus spoke in
parables that they might not see.
Matt. 11:25. At
that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and
understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:
1Cor. 1:19, 21, 25, 27-29; 2:2-14. but
God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that
are wise 29 that no flesh should glory
before God.
2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound
doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after
their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside
unto fables.
Acts. 22:3-16. God called Paul because he was honest.
B. We must have the WILL TO DO GOD'S WILL. John 7:17
1. We must be determined to put into
action what we learn.
It is not enough to have an idle desire to know something about the Bible. As each new step is revealed before us, we must obey. God then reveals more.
Matt. 7:21-23. 21 Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the
will of my Father who is in heaven.
James 1:21-25. 22 But
be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
James 2:14-26. 14
What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not
works? can that faith save him? 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified,
and not only by faith. 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead,
even so faith apart from works is dead.
Luke 6:46. And why call ye me, Lord,
Lord, and do not the things which I say?
John 14:15. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.
John 14: 21-24.
21 He that hath my
commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me
23 If a man love me, he will keep my word
24 He that loves me
not keeps not my words
John
15:14. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things
which I command you.
John 8:31-32. If ye abide
in my word, (then) are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.
John 12:47-48. And if
any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not. He that
rejects me, and receives not my sayings, hath one that judges him: the word
that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
1John 2:3-6. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keeps his word, in him verily
hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abides in him ought
himself also to walk even as he walked.
Heb. 5:9.
he became unto all them that obey
him the author of eternal salvation;
2. We must do the will of God rather
than that of ourselves, our relatives, or our friends.
-Luke
9:23-25.
23 And
he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24
For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man
profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?
-Luke
14:18, 26, 33. So therefore whosoever
he be of you that renounces not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
-Matt.
6:10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
-Matt.
12:50. For whosoever shall do the
will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and
mother.
-Matt
26:39. not as I will, but as thou wilt.
-James
4:3. Ye ask, and receive not, because
ye ask amiss, that ye may spend (it) in your pleasures.
3. We must ask of God.
-James
1:5 if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
-1Co.
3:6 I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
-John
6:44 No man can come to me, except
the Father that sent me draw him:
4. We must search
the Scriptures.
-Acts. 17:11-12. Now these were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining
the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. 12 Many of them
therefore believed;
-James 1:21 receive
with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
-2Tim. 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is
in righteousness. 17 That the man of
God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
-Col. 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms (and) hymns
(and) spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
The way is narrow (vss. 13-14)
Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord,
shall enter,-not even if they claim to prophesy, or to cast out demons, or to
have done many mighty works. (vss. 21-23)
The wise man built upon the rock is he who hears and does
what Jesus commands.
Matthew 15:1-14
Worship is vain when the doctrines of men are being taught.
(vs. 9)
If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the
pit. (vs. 14)
John 8:31-32
We must abide in His work to be His disciples. (cf. 1John
2:3-6; 5:3; John 14:21- 24)
It is the TRUTH that makes us free. (cf. John 17:17)
“The time will come when they will not endure
the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers
after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn
aside unto fables.”
John 12:48
“The word that I have spoken shall judge you
in the last day.” (cf. Lev. 10:1; Prov. 14:12; 28:26; 2Co. 4:3-4; 1John 2:3-6; Luke 12:51-53; Gal.
1; 6-10; 2 Thes.; 2:10-12)
-Why? “Faith comes by hearing” (cf. Rom.
10:14; Acts. 18:18; 11:13-14; Luke 8:15; 1Co. 1:21; Is. 53:11; John 8:47)
-Hear what? “The word of God.” (John 12-48-50;
Jas. 1:18-25; 2Tim. 3:16-17; Eph. 6:17; Col. 3:16; Acts. 17:11-12; Luke 8:11,
15; John 17:17; 8:31-32; Matt. 7:21-24;
4:4)
-What is faith?
Heb. 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.” (cf. Rom. 8:24; Tit.
1:2; 1Co. 15:16-20; 2Co. 5:7)
-Why must we believe?
1. Heb. 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please
God.
2. Mark
16:16 He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be
damned.
(John
3:16; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 10:39)
-What must we believe?
-About God: Heb. 11:6
1. That God is
(cf. Rom. 1:19-22, 25, 28; Ps. 53:1; 2:4; Deut. 4:35, 39; Acts. 17:24, 28; Ex.
3:14; Heb. 10:30-31; Gen. 1:1).
2. That God
rewards those who seek him (cf.
Jas. 1:5-7; John 7:17; 1John 5:14; Matt. 6:33; Luke 11:13; Rev. 22:12-14).
-About Christ: (cf. John 20:27; 1:14;
Heb. 1:1-3; Col. 1:13-23; Acts. 16:30-33)
1. John 20:31.
That Jesus is the Christ. He is
the promised “Messiah” or “anointed one” foretold in the OT (Dan. 9:24-27; John 8:24; 20:31; Mat. 16:16;
Acts 2:38)
2. 1Cor. 15:1-7
-He died for our sins (Rom. 3:25; 4:25; 5:8-10; Rev. 1:5; Is. 53:4-6, 8; 1Pet. 1:18-19)
-He was buried (Rom. 6:4-5; Col. 2:12).
-He was raised the third day (Rom. 10:9-10; 6:4-8;
John 2:19-22; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:37-40;
1Thes. 4:14; Acts. 2:26-27, 31).
-He was seen” by many (John 20:19-29)
3 2Tim.
4:8. He will appear again
from the heavens to raise the dead and reward each man according to his
works (1Thes. 4:14-17; Heb. 9:27-28; 2Pet. 3:11-13; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:23,
27, 30; 25:31-46; 2Thes. 1:7-10).
C. REPENT: Acts. 3:19 Repent
and turn again that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts. 2:38; 17:30;
2Cor 7:10)
D. CONFESS JESUS AS LORD Rom. 10:9-10 (cf.
Matt. 16:15-16; 10:32; Philip 2:9-11; 1Tim 6:12-13; Heb. 10:23)
Calling on the name of the Lord
(Acts 22:16; Rom. 10:13; Matt. 28:18-19)
Appealing to God for a clear conscience. (1Pet. 3:21)
Revelation
2:10. Be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (cf. Rev. 3:11; 1Pet. 5:4; 1Tim. 4:8
(Note:
This is not sinless perfection)
Matt.
3:6. John
baptized in (Greek: en) the Jordan.
Matt.
3:16. Jesus went up from (Greek: apo)
the water.
Mark 1:5. John baptized in (Greek: en) the
river Jordan.
Mark 1:9. Jesus was baptized of
John “in”
(Greek: eis --into) the Jordan.
Mark 1:10. Jesus came from (Greek: “apo” the water.
John 3:23. John baptized in
Aenon because there was much water.
Acts 8:36. They came to a certain water.
Acts 8:38. Both
Philip and the Eunuch went down into
(Greek: eis) the water and he
baptized him.
Acts 8:39. They came up out of (Greek: ek) the water.
Acts
16:13, 15. Lydia was baptized at a river.
Acts
16:32-33. The Jailer had to take them out to be
baptized.
Acts
22:16. arise
and be baptized (necessary to go to the water--not to be sprinkled)
1Cor. 10:2 “Baptized into Moses in (Greek: en) the cloud and in
(Greek: en) the sea.”
Eph. 5:26. “Cleansed
by (Greek: dative case) the washing (Greek: 2067 lutron)
of water with the word.”
Heb.
10:22. “...body
washed[1] with
(Greek: dative case) pure water...”
1Pet. 3:20-21 Noah's family saved through
or by (dia) water of the flood, which after a true likeness we are saved
by baptism.
Rom.
6:4-5 “buried” “in likeness of his death” and “raised” (Col. 2: 12; 3:1;).
Note:
If baptism is like the burial of Jesus it would not be a little water ( Matt
27:59-66)
1. This
is confirmed by Lexicons, Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries.
Dictionaries
sometimes define it as, “make whelmed” meaning “fully wet”. The thing baptized was completely covered
such as when the hands or body was washed.
The same is true when speaking of their baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was poured out in such great
measure that they were immersed..
2. Greek
was the language of the New Testament.
Greek speaking peoples have always
immersed.
3. Ancient
baptisteries, back to the time of Constantine, were large enough to immerse.
--Ency.
Britannica, 1956, Vol. 3, p.86, “Baptistery”
4. Pouring
was first introduced in the third century for the sick. It was called “clinic” baptism because it
was only permitted if someone was too ill to be immersed. If they became able later, they were
baptized scripturally.
5. Great
theologians (Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc.) agree that immersion was the ancient
form.
6. The
root word from which it comes is “bapto”
(Strong, #911). It is repeatedly used
of dipping or immersing (Luke 16:24; John 13:26).
Acts. 2:38
(cf. vss. 39-40)
-Remission of sins. (Note Matt. 26:28 Blood is also “for” remission of sins.)
Acts. 22:16 “Be baptized. and wash away sins.”
(Note:
He had seen Jesus, fasted, prayed, was healed, called Jesus Lord, saw a vision,
etc. but still had his sins. (cf. 9:9,
11; 22:10)
Eph. 5:26 “Cleansed by washing of water with the word.” (The word says be baptized)
Rom. 6:6-7 (cf. vss. 3-5) Sins done away...freed from sin by
death (in baptism).
Heb. 10:22, 19;
9:13-14; 12:24. Having our hearts sprinkled with blood to cleanse an evil
conscience and our bodies washed in
pure water conscience cleansed.
-Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
1Co. 12:13 (cf. vs. 3) “Baptized...drink
of Spirit.” (cf. John 7:37-39; Luke
11:9-13)
1John 5:7-8 (cf. vs. 1) “Water,
Spirit and Blood agree in one.” (cf. John 19:30, 34)
(cf. 4:13; 3:24 We
know we abide in him by the Spirit he gave us.)
Tit. 3:5-6 “Saved by washing of regeneration and renewing of Holy
Spirit.”
John 3:3-5 “Born of water and Spirit”
(cf. 1:12-13; 7:37-39; Gal. 5:25)
(Note: “water” in vs. 23 and 2:7-9; cf. Heb. 10:22.
Note: “How…when old?”)
Acts. 5:32 “Given to them that obey”
(cf. Rom. 6:3, 7, 17, 18)
Note: Without the Spirit we are not Christ's. Rom. 8:9-11, 14, 16, 26-27; 5:5; 15:30.
(Spirit of Christ or God, see: 1Pet. 1:11-12 (cf. 2Pet.
1:21); Acts. 16:6-7; 1Co. 6:19; Eph.
2:18, 22; Matt. 3:16)
The Spirit is the “earnest”
of our salvation, Eph. 1:13-14; 2:18, 22; 2Co. 1:21-22; 1Thes. 4:8; Heb. 6:4.
Rom. 6:3-7
-Into Christ Gal. 3:27 “put
on Christ.” 1Cor. 12:13 Into
his Body.
cf. 2Co. 5:17
if one is in Christ he is a new
creature.”
Rom.
8:1 “No condemnation.”
See
also Acts. 4:12; 2Tim. 2:10-11.
-Into the death of Christ...crucified
with Him...Dead to sin.
Note: By “baptism into death” we die with
him, sharing the blood He shed.
If this takes place we are justified,
saved, and reconciled. (cf. 5:9-10;
2Tim. 2:10-11; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 2:12-13, 20; 3:1-3, 9)
Note: “Water, Spirit, blood agree in one.” (Heb.
10:22; 9:14; John 3:5; Acts. 22:16)
-Receive “New Life”...Old man
done away,
6:3,
“into Christ” (above) with 2Co.
5:17; “Is a new creature.”
John
3:3-5 “Born” (see line 16 above). cf. John 1:12-13: 1John 3:1-2; 2:29; Gal. 5:25.
Gal.
3:26-27 “Sons…for as many as we were
baptized did put on Christ.”
Col.
2:13 “made alive with him” Eph. 2:5-6; Tit. 3:5
cf.
Also on “Born”, James 1:18; 1Pet. 1:23; 2:2; 1Co. 3:1; Heb. 5:13
1Pet. 3:20-21
To be “SAVED”.
(R.S.V “Baptized.. the appeal for a clear conscience.”)
Compare
Rom. 6:3-4, 7, 17, 18; Col. 2:12; Acts. 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:26-27 on the
purpose.
Mark
16:16 “He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
Tit.
3:5 “Saved by
washing of regeneration” (cf. Acts. 22:16; Heb. 10:22; Eph. 5:26)
Acts.
2:38, 40-41 “Repent and be baptized...Save yourselves..”
Note
Eph. 2:5-6; 2Tim. 2:10-11 compared with Rom. 6:3-7 on “died” and “raised”.
John
baptized unto repentance:. We must be baptized into Christ. (cf. Rom. 6:3;
Gal. 3:27). After Jesus' death, (cf.
Heb. 9:15-17; Rom. 7:1-4) baptism had to be repeated if it was not “into
(Greek) the name of the Lord Jesus” (cf. Matt. 28:19; Acts. 8:16; Acts. 19:5)
because it was necessary to participate in his death. (Rom. 6:3-8; Col. 2:12-13)
Also it must be in faith from the heart. (Rom. 6:3, 17; Col. 2:12; 1Pet. 3:21; Acts. 2:38; 22:16; Gal.
3:26-27) No mere performance of an act
is sufficient (such as doing it to join a church or doing it as a baby). Here in Acts. 19, even baptism just for
repentance was not enough.
ANSWER:
James
2:14-26
We
are “NOT justified (or saved) by faith
only”. (see vss. 14, 19) James tells us that there are two kinds of
faith. A faith that has no works
cannot save (vs. 14) because it is “dead”
(vs. 26). Demons have this kind of faith and even tremble, but they are not
saved. Such a faith is not “made Perfect” and thus being defective
is incapable of salvation.
Saving
faith is one that is alive by combining conviction with action. Obedience is the spirit that makes this
faith live. This is not to earn our
salvation, but that our faith may be “obedience from the heart”. (Rom. 6:16-18; cf. 3-7; 16:26; Acts. 5:32;
Matt. 7:21-26; Luke 6:46; John 15:14; 7:17; James 1:22-25)
1Pet.
4:17 “What
shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God.”
1Pet.
1:22 “Ye have purified your souls in obeying
the truth”
In
Gal. 3:26-27; Col 2:12; 1Pet. 3:27 etc. we find baptism considered as being
related to faith rather than being regarded as a work of merit. Thus, if one was not baptized, his faith was
not yet “made perfect.”
Illustration:
John
9:6-7 The man was required to wash in the pool. He was not healed until he did so, but this
certainly did not EARN his healing.
While obedience was necessary, his healing was by God's grace
rather than by works. (cf. 2K. 5:9-14)
Question: Why do some scriptures say we are saved by
faith but do not mention baptism (Acts. 16:30)?
ANSWER:
Because
it is not necessary in each and every scripture to specify every factor or
condition relevant to salvation (such as blood of Christ, love of God, Grace,
calling on the Lord, confession of Christ, repentance, etc.). In one text it may focus on some things and
in another on others. All of them are
essential parts of the plan. One
statement does not nullify another. One situation may need emphasis on
repentance or baptism. Objecting to
different answers in different situations is like of the fellow who asked the
time at different periods in the day and then said, “That's funny, I've been
asking the same question all day and keep getting different answers.”
When
faith is specified it is understood that it is the kind that is given life
through obedience. This includes
baptism
(Rom.
6:3-7, 16-18; Gal. 3:26-27).
Question: “Why does Paul say he was not sent to
baptize? (1Co. 1:17)
ANSWER:
Baptism was not his job. His duty was
to preach. Others baptized for him.
Jesus did the same (John 4:2).
This does not contradict Matt. 28:18-20. While Paul did not regard it as his primary work, he certainly
did baptize and he taught the
importance of baptism. Paul does not
contradict Peter and others.
Question: “Was not the thief on the cross saved
without baptism?”
ANSWER:
I
can’t say that he was. He may have been
baptized with John’s baptism, like Peter, and then backslid.
The
thief lived under the Old Testament which required “repentance unto
forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).” We
live under the New Testament which requires us to be baptized “into Christ.” The New Testament did not come into force
until after the thief had already been forgiven. (Heb. 9:15-17)
In any case, the whole question is
entirely irrelevant because an exception made by Jesus in his lifetime cannot
be urged against the rule that was laid down for us to follow.
Luther
wrote, “It cannot be proved by the sacred
Scriptures that infant baptism was instituted by Christ, or begun by the first
Christians after the apostles.”
We
have no example in the Bible of any child being baptized. Even after infants became older Christ
affirms them to be pure. (Matt. 18:1-6;
19:13-15.) Note they were old enough to
“believe” and “come” to him.
Jesus
did not baptize them. While it is true
that physical death came upon all men through the transgression of Adam yet it
is also true that through Jesus all will be raised. It is false to claim that the Bible anywhere teaches that neglect
of baptizing an infant will result in its eternal torment. The death of the body was the consequence of
Adam's sin, but the death of the soul can only be the consequence of each man's
own sin. (Jer. 31:29-34. compare Heb. 8)
Baptism is only for believers
Mark 16:15-16
“Preach…to every creature. He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Rom.
10:9-17 “How
shall they believe without a preacher?...faith comes by hearing...”
Col.
2:12 “Raised with him through faith in the
operation of God.”
Rom.
6:17-18 cf. vss. 3-8 “Obedient from the heart.”
Heb.
10:22-23 “Hearts sprinkled from evil conscience
and bodies washed with pure water.”
1Pet.
3:21 an appeal to God for a clear
conscience...” (RSV)
Gal.
2:26-27 “Sons...through faith, for as many…as
are baptized. into Christ, put on Christ.”
Eph.
5:26 “by the washing of water with the word.”
Acts
2:38 “Repent and be baptized…FOR the
remission of your sins.: cf. vs. 41 “received the word.”
Note
vs. 39 that the same requirements were for their children.
Acts
8:12, 14, 16 Only Samaritan believers were baptized.
Acts
22:16 Paul had to call on the name of the Lord.
Acts
10:2, 42, 44; 11:14, 17-18.
Those who heard, believed and repented were baptized.
Acts
16:30-31-32, 34 Those who heard, believed and repented
were baptized.
Acts
18:8 Crispus and the Corinthians believed before
baptism.
Matt. 28:19-20 “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing..”
(cf. Mark 16:15-16 “preach...baptize”)
OBJECTION:
It
is argued that since Matt. 28:19 says we are to baptize the nations, and
nations have children, therefore we should baptize infants.
ANSWER:
They
were told to “make disciples…baptizing them.”
Disciples are learners.
The
Greek here does not say to baptize the nations and then make them
learners. It tells them to make
disciples (learners) and baptize them.
(Rom. 10:17 “faith comes by hearing”)
Nothing
is said of infants.
Nations
have unbelievers also. We are no more
to baptize them in their unbelief than to baptize infants in unbelief.
OBJECTION:
Some
have claimed that baptism should be for infants because of baptism of
households were said to be baptized.
Stephanus's
household (1Co. 1:16) was only three years later old enough to work in the
ministry. (1Co. 16:15-16)
The
Jailer’s household (Acts 16:31) was apparently old enough to hear the word of
the Lord (16:32).
Concerning
Lydia (Acts 16:14) we have no indication that she had any infants in her
household. It seems unlikely since she
was a business woman from Thiatira, living across the sea in Philippi, who
seems not to have had any husband to consult about inviting Paul and his
companions to come into her house.
Heb. 8:11
(cf. Jer. 31:29-30 from which it was quoted. cf. also Ezek. 18:19,20) cf. vs.
6-12
Christ
established a “New Covenant,” “not according to the old” (In which the child began as an infant
circumcised the eighth day and had to be later taught to “know the Lord'). The new covenant would be based upon
faith. They would accept the Lord
themselves and therefore would already know Him from the least to the
greatest. It would be written upon
their hearts, not with ink or upon tables of stone (2Cor. 3)
The
basis for infant baptism has been primarily on the claim of inherited
guilt. according to the claim, unless
baptized to remove original sin, infants are damned.
This is one of the most repugnant and obviously false doctrines that developed during the period of apostasy (2Thes. 2:2:12). It defies all reason and revelation t