THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

The connection of Jesus to Scripture is essential to a Christian’s thinking because Scripture is essential to our faith. What we believe about Scripture often influences what we believe about Jesus. Still, what Jesus believed about Scripture should influence what believers think of Scripture. What He thought we should think. There is no better place to show Jesus high view of Scripture than at the time when Satan tempted Him.

He believed Scripture was the words of God. After Satan tempted him to turn stones to bread, Jesus answered him and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD'" (Matthew 4:4, NASU). What He is saying is that this writing is in fact that it proceeds from God. Paul says the same. In 2Timothy 3:16, the Greek, theos (NT:2316) "God", and pnein (NT:4154), "to breathe," say that “All Scripture is” indeed “inspired of God” (2Timothy 3:16-17). It is the breath of God Himself. The words of inspired men, those words both spoken and written, are indeed the word of God (c.f. 1Thessalonians 2:13).

He believed Scripture did not contradict itself. After Satan tempted him to throw Himself down from the temple’s peak, Jesus’ response to his charge that Scripture guaranteed His Own protection was “On the other hand, it is written” (NASU). Jesus believed that the Scripture the devil quoted could in no way contradict the Scripture He knew said that you could not tempt the Lord. Truth harmoniously fits together. One truth will not contradict another. Otherwise, it is not truth at all. If one Scripture says that “baptism now saves you,” how can any other Scripture to teach otherwise. One Scripture will not contradict another.

Last, Jesus believed Scripture was empowering. When Satan tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus courageous response, “Get out of here Satan” (4:10, NLT), clearly shows that Scripture empowers us to resist temptation. Although He was Son, He stood face to face with the Devil Himself. Couple with faith and what Scripture said, Jesus could, in essence, tell the Devil to get lost. Scripture is not merely the inculcation of dogma. Rather, it “was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NIV). Further, “all Scripture … is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed” (2Timothy 3:16-17, TEV). The Bible raises our confidence and capability to say “no” to the works of darkness.

Christians who follow Christ need to see Scripture the way He did. Scripture is the words of God in the word of God. Scripture is truth and does not contradict itself. And Scripture as truth empowers us to live right. No longer should we meander through the paths of indecision that leads to exalting human opinion in religion. We need to speak where the Bible speaks – because that is what Jesus did.

Being diagnosed with both endometrial and ovarian cancer is certainly a mountain to be reckoned with. The chemotherapy and radiation treatments can be a larger mountain to climb than the actual cancer.

I have put my trust in certain things and people and this has produced in me a good attitude and a positive outlook on what is happening to my body. You should never put your faith in anything until you have evidence that it is trustworthy and loyal. I have been blessed with many people whom I have relied upon and have complete faith in, including my doctors and nurses, my devoted husband and family members, friends, coworkers, and, last but not least, my church family at Valrico.

In Philippians 2:3, Paul is advising the Philippians to “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.” This passage is describing our Valrico church family to a tee. We all know how blessed we are to be a part of a loving and caring group. Any act of kindness simply builds up a person’s faith and makes them strong. That is true for the giver and the receiver. When good deeds are done on your behalf, it humbles you to want to do good to others as well. It’s contagious and that is exactly what God intended! I pray that we never take advantage of this blessing we have at Valrico and that our love for each other will only grow deeper so we can guard ourselves against the devil when he tests our love for one another and our love for God.

Whenever I find myself in a “pity party” (which I have had over the last 8 months and probably will have more in the future) I read Philippians 4:4-8. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Thinking about the good things of life and all the blessings God gives us every day, even when we are sick, leaves no room in our mind for the negative or depressing things of this world. As I think of good things like children laughing and playing, sunny days and magnificent sunsets, I find myself more and more looking above the clouds and thinking more of heaven and how beautiful, lovely and excellent it will be. Thoughts of heaven where there is no pain or suffering and being able to praise the Lord for eternity will certainly build you up and allow you to move mountains, no matter how large or small.

In discussions about the role of baptism in conversion, people sometimes defrock baptism of its purpose by saying it is necessary but not essential. But is there a valid distinction in those words? Listen to what www.dictionary.com says. Essential as a noun is “a basic, indispensable, or necessary element; chief point.” As an adjective, it is “absolutely necessary; indispensable.” Necessary as a noun is something necessary or requisite; necessity. As an adjective, it is something “essential, indispensable, or requisite.”

“Discipline is essential in an army” is the way the dictionary illustrates the word. For “necessary”, the dictionary illustrates with “it is a necessary part of the motor”. Is there a substantive difference between the two? If discipline is essential to an army, is it not necessary? If the part is a necessary part, is it not essential. The army and the motor will never work the way it is supposed to work without either constituent element. Even in the dictionary’s definition, it says that something essential would be a “necessary element.”

Hence, the statement that “baptism is essential” is just as correct as saying that “baptism is necessary”. A simple reading of the New Testament shows that baptism is a fundamental element of our human response to Divine grace – even as faith (Ephesians 2:8) and repentance (Acts 20:21). If faith and repentance are necessary, then so too baptism. If necessary, they are essential since they are a “basic, indispensable or necessary element.” Making critical differences in the meanings of these words is baseless.

So, to what is baptism essential? Church membership? No. I believe the Bible says baptism is necessary and essential to receiving salvation. Jesus says, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). This salvation is the result of Divine forgiveness of sins. When Peter said, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), his statement declared that baptism is essential to one’s own personal salvation. Very few challenge that belief and repentance are necessary responses to receive salvation. Yet these very passages connect baptism to the same salvation promised on belief and repentance. Baptism is not an outward sign of an inward grace. It is essential to the salvation that grace will bring.

Paul was told, “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). Ananias’ statement indicates clearly that Paul needed baptism: “Get up” – “washing away your sins” is evidence that for Paul, salvation, new life and the significance of the death of Jesus were inherently connected to baptism. Peter also wrote, “Baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 3:21).

Martin Luther wrote: "Baptism has been instituted that it should lead us to the blessings (of this death) and through such death to eternal life. Therefore IT IS NECESSARY that we should be baptized into Jesus Christ and His death." (Commentary On Romans, 6:3 Kregel Publications, p. 101, my emphasis).

In questioning the essentiality of baptism, some turn to the thief on the cross. They say he was saved without baptism so therefore, baptism may be necessary but not essential. The fact is Jesus saved him. “Today with Me in paradise” seems pretty conclusive. However, the announcement to save came even before Jesus’ death. It came before His resurrection. It came before His Ascension when “He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle …having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). Jesus promised salvation before He had secured it in Heaven because He could. Exceptions do not invalidate God’s expectations.

Furthermore, Jesus saved the thief before the Apostles were commissioned to carry His words, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” It was before the Holy Spirit told Peter to tell the Jews at Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). It was before the Holy Spirit told Ananias to tell Paul to “get up and be baptized” so he could “wash away His sins.” Jesus could save at His command. But Jesus commanded what He wants people to do to be saved and what to be told to be saved. What humble servant would care to argue His command with The Master?

Baptism is necessary. Baptism is essential. And baptism is essential to those who want to receive the blessing of forgiveness. For just as faith is necessary because it is “impossible to please Him” without it (Hebrews 11:6), then “unless you are born of water and the spirit you cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5), as spoken by Jesus, demonstrates the same about baptism. Baptism is both necessary and essential to pleasing Him and to receiving from Him the blessings of His redemption and His pardon.

When a flippant youth heard an Indian evangelist preach, he interrupted him by saying: “You tell me about the burden of sin. I feel none. How heavy is it? Eighty pounds? Ten pounds?” The preacher answered: “Tell me, if you laid four hundred pounds weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?” “No, because it is dead,” replied the youth. The preacher said: “That spirit, too, is dead which feels no load of sin.”