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Official: something or someone prescribed or recognized as authorized...
Last year I had the opportunity to
talk to a group of young Christians. The question was asked how many of them believed they were sinners
(condemned to eternal punishment) before they obeyed the gospel of Christ? I was surprised to find that only
one of a group of about 15 answered “yes” to the question. I then proceeded to view some scriptures that told
of our condition before we become Christians.
1. Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10 etc... After looking at passages from God’s word only two
more would acknowledge that they had previously been sinners before obeying the gospel and was condemned to
eternal punishment if they had not. I must tell you I was somewhat shocked to say the least. I must say that
further examination and conversation did not convince them that they as well as all men are sinners and in
desperate need of a saviour before they become Christians through obedience to the gospel of
Christ.
As I thought and continue to think
of this discussion, it becomes very apparent that something is seriously wrong when Christians don’t realize
their need to be Christians before they become Christians! I would think that this sentiment would be shared by
all of us as older Christians. I do not for one moment believe this situation is unique to just this group of
teenagers but is common among a vast many others also. I wonder if these as well as so many others thought that
when they were “baptized into Christ” they were simply “officially or publicly” making it known that they were
Christians instead of making the decision to become Christians?
Many denominations believe and
practice that baptism is simply an “outward show of an inward grace”. In other words one is actually saved
before baptism and baptism is just a public showing of that already acquired salvation. I wonder if that
mentally is present to whatever degree even among Christians? This may very well explain the above situation.
The scripture very plainly teach that baptism is essential to salvation.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believes not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16
It is however also essential that
all those who are baptized understand what the Bible teaches about what baptism means relative to their
condition before it occurs and what it means after it occurs. Baptism is but one step a person has to take in
order to be saved and along with faith, repentance, and confessing Christ, all are equally essential to
obtaining eternal life. The scriptures go on to teach that one must be faithful in order not to to lose that
salvation received (Romans 6:1-23; 2 Peter 1:4-10; 1 John 1:6-10). We become alive through Him. But notice that
as we are told that we have been made alive, we are also told that we were dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians
2:10-13). We must accept all that the scriptures teach regarding becoming a Christians including what we were
before that...
“ For the love of Christ compels
us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live
should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
2
Corinthians 5:14-15
The blame for this lack of
understanding must be laid at our feet as parents, grandparents, etc. We spend so much time being “proud” that
we fail to be honest. We spend so much time telling them all how “good” they are we fail to see that no one is
so good as to warrant salvation (Matthew 19:17). We must not allow our
children to be immersed simply because they want to serve on the Lord’s table, or because other young people
have, or because they want to partake of the Lord’s Supper, etc... Their reasons must be just as Biblical as
their response. They must obey the gospel because they are sinners and need salvation in order to go to heaven
or to avoid hell. If they or you cannot admit that they are not becoming Christians but instead “church of
Christ-ers”, which is denominational to its very core!
No one “officially” becomes a
Christian; all who obey the gospel of Christ are made Christians by the kindness, mercy and forgiveness of God.
All people are either, safe, saved, or lost and it must be determined by the word of God of course, what that
condition is or they will be the latter.
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© Copyright 2008, Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.. All rights reserved.
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