Missing Words

Billy Graham, in his book Approaching Hoofbeats, wrote: After the people had heard Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, “They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Then “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,’ “We cannot escape that word repent. (Page 147)

Did you notice the conclusion, “We cannot escape that word repent”? What happened to the words “be baptized”? Apparently they did escape notice. Ironically, baptism has escaped the attention of a large segment of the “Christian” world. This has occurred in spite of the emphasis placed upon it in the New Testament (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

Baptism is intrinsic to the whole scheme of redemption as set forth in the New Testament. It is neither more nor less important than the other commands of Christ: faith (John 8:24), repentance (Luke 13:3), confession (Matthew 10:32, 33), and faithfulness (Matthew 10:22). It is, like the others, an essential part of His plan, and those who ignore it commit a serious error.

Baptism in no way makes salvation a matter of works. It is simply man’s loving and obedient response to the demands of a loving God. When man responds faithfully to God’s commands, he is then the beneficiary of God’s promises.

Jesus, in a conversation with Nicodemus, clearly revealed the essentiality of baptism when he said: “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). The “new birth” and “baptism” are inseparable (John 3:5). We cannot escape that word (baptism) either!

Have you been baptized?