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TO BAPTIZE OR NOT
By Greg Hooker
The Apostle Paul was perhaps the greatest soul winner of his time, possibly of all time. He traveled extensively to share the awesome news that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah and that He conquered sin on the cross.
We all know the story about how Paul (then named Saul) was blinded by the light of Jesus’ glory on the road to Damascus. After this conversion experience, Paul was never the same. He became proclaimer of the Gospel instead of the prosecutor of the the Church.
Paul was one of the most powerful men of the Roman army. He was a murderer and prosecutor of the Jews, especially those who professed Jesus Christ as their Messiah and King. He ordered thousands of the Lords followers to be put to horrible deaths. Those in the infant Church feared this man like the plague.
However, following his extraordinary encounter with the risen Savior, his life was changed in a brief moment. Paul’s soul was changed from a heart of stone to one of love and grace.
Paul went on to become a great defender and witness of the Gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord made him a witness among the Gentiles. In addition, God chose him to pen down thirteen books of the Bible. What a difference the Lord can do in the life of such an ungodly man!
But I want to focus on a statement Paul made in the book of 1 Corinthians,
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)
The calling by the Lord of Paul was unusual in the sense that “Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel”. If baptizism was part of the means by which a person was to be saved, why on earth would God not instruct the greatest of preachers to baptize those who received the Gospel by faith? Would that not be excluding something that is essential to salvation, or would it?
The Greek word “baptize” used in this passage means ‘to submerge, as in a ritual’. During the early Church, the main focus of Paul, and all of the Apostles were to spread the “glade tidings” of the risen Lord. It may come as a surprise that deacons were given the task of baptizing the new converts as well. Yet the primary function of the apostles was "to bear witness" (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8, etc.). To preach the gospel. To spread the Good News of salvation made possible through the new covenant of grace and obtained as a Gift by faith apart from our works.
Because salvation is solely apart from works, man has no right to “boast” or brag. There is no “work” we can do to ‘obtain’ or ‘retain’ salvation, lest it becomes polluted with our human efforts. We need only to believe and receive Gods free Gift of eternal life.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We do know, according to the Scriptures, that Paul did baptize a few individuals, but not many. Gods main goal for Paul was to travel among the Gentiles and relay the news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the all important message that people needed to hear. News that would, like Paul, change their lives forever and set them free from the bondage of the law and of sin.
While I believe strongly that baptism was commanded by Jesus, it is not the means by which our sins are ‘washed away” as some claim. It’s only the blood of Jesus Christ, Gods Son, that cleanses from all sin, which is appropriated through faith in the death, burial and resurrection as Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches.
As I have posted the Gospel message on Facebook over the past few years, I have been attacked, called names, and even cursed at for claiming that turning (repenting) to Christ and accepting His Gift of eternal life by child-like faith is how we are saved and born into Gods family.
However, many say you have to be “baptized”. If that be the case, then why did God instruct Paul to mainly preach the death, burial, and resurrection and not include baptizing each one who believed? Wouldn’t that be unusual to leave all his converts still lost because he didn’t baptize them?
Some have un-friended me and labeled me as a “false prophet”, some have written long arguments trying to change my convictions, but like the Apostle Paul I have to say,
“... Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel...”
While I personally have baptized a few people, my calling has been to tell others of the greatest gift to all mankind, the message of the Gospel. For it is that message that will deliver a soul from a life of sin and an eternity in Hell.
By Greg Hooker
The Apostle Paul was perhaps the greatest soul winner of his time, possibly of all time. He traveled extensively to share the awesome news that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah and that He conquered sin on the cross.
We all know the story about how Paul (then named Saul) was blinded by the light of Jesus’ glory on the road to Damascus. After this conversion experience, Paul was never the same. He became proclaimer of the Gospel instead of the prosecutor of the the Church.
Paul was one of the most powerful men of the Roman army. He was a murderer and prosecutor of the Jews, especially those who professed Jesus Christ as their Messiah and King. He ordered thousands of the Lords followers to be put to horrible deaths. Those in the infant Church feared this man like the plague.
However, following his extraordinary encounter with the risen Savior, his life was changed in a brief moment. Paul’s soul was changed from a heart of stone to one of love and grace.
Paul went on to become a great defender and witness of the Gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord made him a witness among the Gentiles. In addition, God chose him to pen down thirteen books of the Bible. What a difference the Lord can do in the life of such an ungodly man!
But I want to focus on a statement Paul made in the book of 1 Corinthians,
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)
The calling by the Lord of Paul was unusual in the sense that “Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel”. If baptizism was part of the means by which a person was to be saved, why on earth would God not instruct the greatest of preachers to baptize those who received the Gospel by faith? Would that not be excluding something that is essential to salvation, or would it?
The Greek word “baptize” used in this passage means ‘to submerge, as in a ritual’. During the early Church, the main focus of Paul, and all of the Apostles were to spread the “glade tidings” of the risen Lord. It may come as a surprise that deacons were given the task of baptizing the new converts as well. Yet the primary function of the apostles was "to bear witness" (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8, etc.). To preach the gospel. To spread the Good News of salvation made possible through the new covenant of grace and obtained as a Gift by faith apart from our works.
Because salvation is solely apart from works, man has no right to “boast” or brag. There is no “work” we can do to ‘obtain’ or ‘retain’ salvation, lest it becomes polluted with our human efforts. We need only to believe and receive Gods free Gift of eternal life.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We do know, according to the Scriptures, that Paul did baptize a few individuals, but not many. Gods main goal for Paul was to travel among the Gentiles and relay the news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the all important message that people needed to hear. News that would, like Paul, change their lives forever and set them free from the bondage of the law and of sin.
While I believe strongly that baptism was commanded by Jesus, it is not the means by which our sins are ‘washed away” as some claim. It’s only the blood of Jesus Christ, Gods Son, that cleanses from all sin, which is appropriated through faith in the death, burial and resurrection as Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches.
As I have posted the Gospel message on Facebook over the past few years, I have been attacked, called names, and even cursed at for claiming that turning (repenting) to Christ and accepting His Gift of eternal life by child-like faith is how we are saved and born into Gods family.
However, many say you have to be “baptized”. If that be the case, then why did God instruct Paul to mainly preach the death, burial, and resurrection and not include baptizing each one who believed? Wouldn’t that be unusual to leave all his converts still lost because he didn’t baptize them?
Some have un-friended me and labeled me as a “false prophet”, some have written long arguments trying to change my convictions, but like the Apostle Paul I have to say,
“... Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel...”
While I personally have baptized a few people, my calling has been to tell others of the greatest gift to all mankind, the message of the Gospel. For it is that message that will deliver a soul from a life of sin and an eternity in Hell.