2017/02/05 PM: Baptism (Part 3) – In For the Plunge (Various Scriptures)

Two Dangers to our Soul in this matter of Baptism
1. Pride in a (Credo) Baptistic Position
  - 1 Corinthians 4:7 / Jeremiah 9:23 / Rev 2:2, 4
  - Faithfulness in this area of baptism does not excuse us in other areas of Christian living & doctrine.
2. A Belief in Baptismal Regeneration
  - Defined as the belief that baptism actually enacts salvation; that it is the vehicle by which forgiveness is applied, and spiritual life imputed to a person; that apart from being immersed in water as a believer a person is ‘not saved’.
  - This is a cultic distortion of Acts 2:32 & 1 Peter 3:21
  - It is answerable by the balance of Scripture’s teaching on Justification by grace through faith alone. (c.f. Galatians / 1 Pt 3:21 in context / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Luke 23:42-43)
Why Won’t Christians Be Baptized as Believers?
1. Sincere Convictions about Paedobaptism
2. Insincere Convictions about Paedobaptism
3. A Belief that it is Outdated / Irrelevant
4. “Pilgrimage Mentality” concerning baptism
5. Fear of being Unworthy (or ‘Fear of being thought a Hypocrite’)
6. Fear of Publicity
7. Fear of Disappointing Family
8. Fear of Subsequent Failure
9. Fear of being thought to have been an unbeliever / immature Christian (or ‘Fear of being seen to have been wrong’)
10. Because they have never been called…