“Well, It Seems Right To Me!”

By Alexander Caldwell

Introduction

A. This is a statement that is used by many people to justify their religious beliefs: “Well, it seems right to me, and that is all that’s important.”

B. But can you truthfully say that your religious practices are scriptural? (Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8; Jer. 10:23).

C. We cannot guide ourselves, we must look to God for direction in our lives.

D. God’s way is the right way and the only way that brings salvation (1 Cor. 1:18; John 14:6).

Examples

A. To Eve — it “seemed right” that the fruit was good to eat (Gen. 3).

B. To Cain — it “seemed right” that his vegetable sacrifice was just as good as the animal sacrifice Abel brought (Gen. 4).

C. To Nadab and Abihu — it “seemed right” to offer that strange fire before God (Lev. 10:1-2).

D. To King Saul — it “seemed right” to spare the best of the animals to bring back sacrifices to God (1 Sam. 15:22).

E. To Naaman — it “seemed right” that other rivers were just as good as the Jordan (2 Kings 5:1-13).

Point: What seemed right in most of these cases brought nothing but tragedy. Why? Because (they) it opposed God’s will (Rom. 10:1-3). In the world today, there are many things that “seem right” to good and honest, religious people, but they are not.

I.   “The Good Moral Man” Will Be Saved.

A. No one in their right mind would argue that the immoral man will be saved.

1. 1 Corinthians 6:9-19.

2. Homosexuals, liars, stealers, fornicators . . .

3. Morality is good, but it will not save!

4. There are a lot of good people in the world.

B. That is why Christ came. He died on the cross and shed his blood so that we might be forgiven.

1. Our morality, no matter how good, could never gain forgiveness (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22).

2. If morality was enough, there would have been no need for God to send his Son to this world!

3. John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12.

4. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

 5. Morality without Christ can never offer any spiritual blessing.

6. Cornelius was a good man, but in order to be saved, he had to hear and obey the Gospel (Acts 10:33; 15; 11:14).

II. “One Church is as Good as Another.”

A. Most religious people believe this statement because it “seems right.”

1. When you look around and see all the different denominations and sincere people in them, you might be tempted to think this too.

2. But that idea ignores what the Bible says (Matt. 16:18).

3. The Lord adds the saved to his church (Acts 2:47).

4. The Lord purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28; Heb. 9:22; Eph. 5:25).

5. That church is his bride (Eph. 5:22-32).

6. His body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

7. His kingdom (Col. 1:13-14).

Point: All of these Scriptures show the value of the Lord’s church.

B. If one compares churches which were built by men, he may be right to assume that one is as good as another.

1. But no church built by man can compare with the church which Jesus built.

2. Denominationalism assumes that Christ’s church is not important.

3. Division is sinful (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:3-6).

4. One church is as good as another is nothing but false teaching.

III. “We Are Saved by Faith Only.”

A. A favorite text a lot of people use is Eph. 2:8-9.

1. If we are saved, it will be by God’s grace: we do not deserve it, but God offers us complete forgiveness in Christ.

2. Now that is grace  (Heb. 2:9).

B. This must be a working faith (Jas. 2:24-26; Luke 6:46; Rom. 5:1-2; Gal. 5:6; 1 Pet. 1:22; Phil. 2:12; Acts 6:7; Rom. 2:8; 1 Pet. 4:17).

IV. “Women can be preachers.” (Women can teach children and other women but they can’t preach over men, Tit. 2:4).

A. Women evangelists? (Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5).

B. A woman’s place is not in the pulpit (1 Tim. 2:9-11).

V. “You Don’t Have to be Baptized to be Saved.”

A. Many say, “There is no power in water to save any one. So, baptism has nothing to do with being saved.”

1. Friends, this is not true. Listen to Jesus (Mark 16:15-16).

2. Now, where did God put salvation? (1 Pet. 3:21).Water!

3. Before or after baptism?

4. Compare the accounts of the cleansing of Naaman and the healing of the blind man. B. On Pentecost (Acts 2:38).

C. Some claim that we are saved by the blood of Christ and they think that nullifies baptism. Don’t need it.

1. But Paul tied the two together (Rom. 5:8-10; 6:13; Matt. 26:28).

2. Search the Scriptures for yourself (John 5:39).

D. The apostles forcefully preached that it is only in Christ that anyone can be saved (Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:3).

1. Every spiritual blessing is found only “in” Christ.

2. Salvation is found “in” Christ (2 Tim. 2:10).

3. All promises of God are “in” Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).

4. Forgiveness is “in” Christ (Eph. 1:7).

5. We are children of God “in” Christ (Gal. 3:26-28).

E. But, what does being “in Christ” have to do with baptism? Answer: Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27.

1. Baptism puts us into Christ.

2. Unless, one is baptized in Christ, he is not in Christ.

3. God reveals no other way to enter into Christ. No other way.

4. It does not matter what “seems right” to man, we need to do what God says.

VI. “We Don’t Have to Study Daily.”

A. Matthew 22:39; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 5:17; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

VII. “We Should be Able to Dress Like we Want to Regardless of What People Say.”

A. What does the Bible say? (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15; 1 Tim. 2:9-11; 1 Pet. 3:16).

VIII. “Church Attendance is Not That Important.” A. Hebrew 10:25.

1. Bible classes.

2. Worship.

B. Where does the Bible authorize the church to arrange assembling for the following:

1. Fellowship meals?

2. Group singing?

IX. “Where Does the Bible Say ‘Not To’?”

A. It seems right to some brethren to have the following without any Scripture:

1. Social meals, birthday socials, recreation activities, entertainment, Preacher’s Day, ball teams.

2. Supporting orphan homes and colleges out of the Lord’s treasury.

3. This is not the work of the church (Eph. 4:11-14; 3:10).

B. Book, chapter, and verse please? We must know where the Bible says to do something, not just where it says “not to.”

Conclusion

There are many things which seem right to man that are not revealed in the word of God. Please do not assume that something is right because someone tells you or because “it seems right.” Go to the word of God for the answer. Search the Scriptures for yourself!

(Note: Some good ideas for this outline were borrowed from Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, but sad to say he approves of the unauthorized things covered in the last part of this outline.)

 

Did Your Baptism Benefit You?

By Bobby Witherington

With the exception of the so-called “Christian Scientists” and the Quakers, virtually every religious denomination requires something they call “baptism” in order for a person to become a member thereof. I say “something they call ‘baptism’” because the word “baptism” (Gk. baptisma) is defined as “the process of immersion, submersion, and emergence” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W.E. Vine). The word “baptize” (Gk. baptizo), even before being given its religious connotation by New Testament writers, “was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc.” (Ibid.). Hence, baptism, by definition, denotes “immersion, submersion, and emergence.” That being the case, it should be evident that sprinkling and pouring do not constitute Bible baptism. Regardless of what it may have been called, a person who has merely had some water sprinkled or poured on him has not been baptized! Calling sprinkling “baptism” no more makes sprinkling baptism than calling a cow a “pig” makes the cow a pig!

However, it is possible for a sincere person to be baptized (immersed) and still be no better off in the sight of God. While I firmly affirm the necessity of baptism in order for an ac- countable person to be saved, I deny that baptism alone will save anyone. This fact is substantiated simply by reading Acts 19:1-5 which cites the example of some twelve men, who had formerly received “John’s baptism,” having to be baptized again — this time “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” The baptism they had received (evidently after “John’s baptism” had gone out of effect) had not benefited them. Yes, even in the first century some people had to be baptized again for the simple reason that their former baptism did not accomplish its objective.

Baptism Is Invalid When

1. It involves the wrong subject. Every biblical example of a person being baptized was one which involved a responsible individual. There is not one case of infant baptism recorded in all the Bible! Bible baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), but infants are not sinners (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). Bible baptism is preceded by faith (Mark 16:16), repentance (Acts 2:38), and confession (Acts 8:37, 38), but infants are capable of doing neither.

2. It is carried out by the wrong authority. Now-a-days we hear preachers affirm that “there are two ordinances of the church — baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” An ordinance is “an authoritative rule; an order, decree, or law . . .” (Funk and Wagnalls New Practical Dictionary). However, the church has no authority to issue any rule, order, decree, or law. Jesus Christ has “all authority” (Matt. 28:18), which leaves no authority for the church, the Pope, or any man-ordained ecclesiastical body. Hence, if one is baptized simply because some church or denominational body has so decreed, then, from the standpoint of the hereafter, his baptism availed him nothing!

3. It is designed to put one into the wrong church. The Lord’s church “is his body” (Eph. 1:23), and the Bible teaches that we are “baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). However, the “one body,” or church, is as different from a human denomination as Castro is from Thomas Jefferson. Surely any church which wears the wrong name, was founded by the wrong person, which began at the wrong time, has a different creed, is organized differently, and has a different program of work from the church described in the Bible, cannot be the church described in the Bible! What spiritual or heavenly benefit can be obtained by being baptized into that which  our “heavenly Father has not planted,” and which in that last day will be “uprooted” (Matt. 15:13)?

4. It is preceded by the wrong confession. Multitudes have made the confession, “I believe that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned me of my sins,” and then upon that confession were then baptized. In the first place, in the Bible (which is the only creed book our Lord allows us to follow) one never reads of a person making such a confession. We do, however, read of the Eunuch confessing “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” and then being immediately baptized (Acts 8:37, 38). In the second place, if baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), then a person who, before being baptized, confesses, saying “I believe that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned me of my sins,” is confessing a lie. Notwithstanding how sincere a person may be when he makes that confession, we ask, can true baptism be based upon a confession which is untrue?

5. It is entered into with the wrong understanding of its very purpose. Multitudes have been baptized with the belief that “baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace” — the “inward grace” signifying the fact that they were already saved (at the point of faith), and thus their baptism served as a public attestation of a salvation experienced before baptism. The only thing wrong with this understanding is the fact that it is false; it is a baptism based upon a misunderstanding of the very purpose of baptism. Please answer the following questions: If “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), then what is the state of the believer who has not been baptized? If baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), then have the sins of one who has not yet been baptized been remitted? If one is “baptized into Christ” (Gal. 3:27), then is he “in Christ” before he is baptized? If “salvation . . . is in Christ” (2 Tim. 2:10), then is one who is out of Christ saved?

6. It is entered into after having gotten permission from the wrong source. Legion are the ones who have “gone forward,” claiming to have “accepted Jesus as my personal Savior,” stated their “experience of grace,” but whose candidacy for baptism was still based upon the vote of the members of that denomination! On the one hand, the Bible is completely silent about such a practice. And on the other hand, what human being has the right to vote on whether or not you can do what the Lord has commanded (cf. Matt. 28:18, 19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:48)?

7.  It  is  entered  into  with  the  wrong  understanding concerning who is really doing the work accomplished in baptism. For years, false teachers have denied the necessity of baptism, contending that baptism is a work, that we are saved “by grace through faith,” and that salvation is “not of works” (cf. Eph. 2:8, 9). It is true that we could not be saved apart from the grace of God. In like manner, no person could ever do enough work to earn salvation! But that misses the point of the whole discussion. God is the One against whom we have sinned (Gen. 39:9); hence, he is the One who pardons our iniquities (Isa. 55:6, 7). But the pardon he provides is based upon our compliance with his conditions. One condition he has stipulated for this the Gospel Age is baptism (Mark 16:16). When all is said and done, the person being baptized is not performing a work. But if the one being baptized has been properly taught, he, in the process of being baptized, is manifesting his “faith in the working of God,” for it is God who then forgives the person of “all transgression” (Col. 2:12, 13), and it is God who then adopts this person into his family (Gal. 3:26- 4:6).

Conclusion

If obedience is “from the heart” (Rom. 6:17, 18), and if the “heart” includes the mind, the will, and the intellect (Matt. 13:15; Rom. 10:10; 2 Cor. 9:7), then it is impossible for one to be taught wrong, and then be baptized right! When all is said and done, a person who is scripturally baptized is a correctly taught (Matt. 28:19), penitent (Acts

2:38) believer (Mark 16:16), who has confessed his faith in Jesus as “the Son of God” (Acts 8:37), who came “unto” the water, went “down into” the water, and came “up out of the water” (Acts 8:35-38) wherein he was “buried with Christ,” and from which he was raised “to walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3, 4). Through this process, he entered “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27), into his “one body” (1 Cor. 12:13), or church, to which he was “added” upon his obedience to the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41, 47).

Incidentally, we want to add this concluding thought. Many people, who were immersed for all the wrong reasons many years ago, later learn the true meaning and significance of baptism. They then predicate the purpose of their past tense baptism, upon their present tense information, and thereby assume that all is well with their souls. This is analogous to the builder who erected a structure many years ago while inadvertently using defective building material, and then years later he learns about the materials he should have used, but didn’t. If that builder concludes that the building is a quality building because he now knows about quality building materials, he may be likened to the person who justifies his former unscriptural baptism upon the basis that he now knows the truth regarding the purpose of baptism! In the material world some things cannot be repaired; they must be re-made. The same is true in the spiritual realm. Consider ye well!

Are You More Than What You Have Become?

By Richard Boone

A few months ago I was watching Walt Disney’s Lion King one night with my two daughters. In this movie the main character, Simba, is searching for his identity and place in the “circle of life” as the future king of his pride. In one scene he makes contact with his dead father, King Mufasa, through the sorcery of the sage baboon Rafiki. During that seance Mufasa said, “Simba, you are more than what I have become!” I had heard that line several times, but this time it hit me like a ton of bricks. The moral? Become what you are capable of being rather than settling for what you are! How many times do we as Christians settle for what we are rather than becoming what we can? Are you more than what you have become . . .

As a personal disciple of the Lord? Is your personal relationship (scripturally defined) with Jesus as it ought to be, or are desires and tangles of life hindering your service (cf. Mark 10:17-22)?

As a student then teacher of the Bible? Compared to where you were in your understanding of God’s word a year ago, how far are you progressing in 1998? This is a vital part of strengthening and maintaining your personal relationship with Jesus (1 Pet. 2:2). We must not, however, keep what we learn to ourselves; we must also share it with others (2 Tim. 2:2; Matt. 10:1; Acts 3:6; 20:35).

As an active member of a faithful local church? Each member of a local church impacts the other members who comprise a local church (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:25). We must do all we can to insure that our impact is positive, not a hindrance to a local work.

As a contributing family member? Each member in the fleshly family has specific roles (Eph. 5:22-6:4). Are you, as a spouse, parent or child, being what you can and should be, or are you settling for what you are?

As a good citizen in your community? We are to be good citizens, thus good influences on those around us (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:14-17). How well does your light shine in your community? Are you hiding it under a bushel or keeping it on the lampstand God gave you?

For the benefit of all, are you more than what you have become?

Public Reading Of The Scriptures

By Donnie V. Rader

I’m not sure that the public reading of the Scriptures is given the place that it had in Bible times. I wonder if it is not minimized in the mind of some today as one of the less important things we do as we assemble. Some may think that those who read Scriptures publicly are doing something “less” than those who preach or lead the singing. After all, it takes some ability to preach and some musical talent to lead singing and anyone can read the Scriptures. So, maybe Scripture reading is for those who can’t lead singing.

To the contrary, in the Bible, public reading of the word of God was treated with the utmost respect.

Examples

God’s word has always been read publicly to his people. After all, it is his word and it is how he communicates his will to them.

1. Moses — Exodus 24:7: “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.’”

2. The Priest — Deuteronomy 31:11-13. Moses gave the written law to the priest and told them to read the law every seven years. He said, “When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing” (v. 11).

3. Joshua — Joshua 8:34. As the children of Israel gathered (half in front of Mount Ebal and half in front of Mount Gerizim), Joshua read the law that Moses gave to them. “And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them” (vv. 34-35).

4. Ezra — Nehemiah 8:5, 8, 18; 9:3. Ezra worked with post-exile Israel trying to restore the law in their hearts. In so doing he read to them from the word of God. They stood in respect as he read for long periods.

5. Baruch — Jeremiah 36. This chapter records the reading of the scroll in the temple (vv. 1-15). “Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, in the hearing of all the people” (v. 10).

6. Jesus — Luke 4:16-19. Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth. “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (v. 16).

7. The Jews — Acts 13:27. It was the practice of the Jews to read from the Old Testament Scriptures every Sabbath day in the synagogue.

8. The Thessalonians — 1 Thessalonians 5:27. When Paul concluded his letter to the Thessalonians, he told them to read his letter to all the brethren.

Thus, we conclude that there has always been a place for the public reading of the will of God.

Points To Consider

1. It is important. The public reading of the Scriptures is very important. It is as important as prayer. Prayer is man talking to God. Through the reading of the Scriptures, God talks to man. That’s important!

The reading of God’s word was thought to be so important that the people stood when Ezra opened the book (Neh. 8:5). Let’s not minimize Scripture reading whether we are the reader or the listener.

2. Prepare. Those who are assigned to read the Scriptures should think of themselves as privileged. If you were asked to be the one to read a letter that the President sent to the local church, would you be honored? How about being asked to be the one to read what God, the creator, has written to us?

That being the case, the reader should be well prepared as the song leader, preacher, and class teacher should be. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing it well. Read over the verses more than once to make sure you can read them well. Make sure you know how to pronounce the words. Don’t forget how that Ezra read “distinctly” to the people (Neh. 8:8). Speak out loud and clear; else the listener can’t hear.

3. The listeners should listen. I wonder if we don’t think that the “Scripture reading” is just good “space filler” during our services. Many of us don’t even bother to follow along.

We must listen with respect. Remember, those in Ezra’s day stood when he read from the law. I don’t think that’s a bad idea for us today. Literally! The reading of the Scriptures ought to be given great reverence.

Our listening should accomplish more than showing a little respect. In the case where the Priests were reading the law it was for the effect it would have on God’s people:

Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law (Deut. 31:12).

Public reading of the Scriptures has an important place and purpose. Let’s lift our attitude and practice to the level that we have described.