This is such an important question, and one that is necessary to understand as we learn about biblical obedience to the Lord. Last week we began to examine this question carefully from the Bible. It was then that we saw the Bible accounts of the baptism of Jesus by John the baptizer, and the Great Commission of Jesus to His apostles to both preach the gospel and baptize all who are willing to obey the Lord. We also studied the conversion example of the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), and read that 3,000 obeyed the Lord in baptism the day the church was established.
Today, we will begin by examining the conversion example of Saul of Tarsus. In the book of Acts, chapters 9, 22 and 26 teach us of the conversion example of Saul, who later would be known as the apostle Paul.
Jesus appeared to Saul as he was traveling on the road, going to the city of Damascus. The Lord asked Saul why he was persecuting Him. In Acts 9:6, Jesus commanded Saul, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” For 3 days, Saul was blind, did not eat or drink, and was praying to the Lord (verses 9 and 11). A man named Ananias was told to go and talk with Saul, and tell him what he must do to obey the Lord (just as Jesus had said would happen). We are told more about the things he told Saul in Acts 22:16. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
In this verse, the Bible has actually given us the very definition of what is meant by “calling on the name of the Lord.” Calling on the name of the Lord involves a person’s obedience to Christ’s commands for baptism so that he may enjoy having the Lord’s forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life. The Bible therefore, removes all speculation and ideas that men try to introduce for calling on the name of the Lord. We must always obey Christ by His teachings. Thus, we must approach the study of the Bible with great respect.
In Acts 10, a man named Cornelius is seen praying to God in the first 4 verses. God sent an answer to Cornelius by giving him a commandment in verses 4-6. “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” Though God knew of the prayers of Cornelius (and even gave a great complement), the angel gave him the command to have Peter come and give him the Lord’s instruction on how to obey the Gospel. (Please note there is no Bible reference saying that a prayer of faith brings a person into salvation in Christ).
As the context of chapter 10 continues, it shows that at the time Peter was preaching to Cornelius and his household, Peter’s concluding words and command is found in verses 47, 48. “’Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” (This is the same command Peter had given to the Jews in Acts 2:38).
In Acts 8, the conversion example of the Ethiopian Eunuch is given. After a man named Philip came and preached Christ to him, the conclusion of this chapter gives information about how we find water to be an important part of our obedience today. Notice verses 36-39. “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” And why shouldn’t he rejoice? He had just received the forgiveness of his sins, because he obeyed the Gospel of Christ.
Let’s look at a simple fact. What Jesus commanded the apostles to teach, they did. What the apostles taught the people concerning obedience in water baptism, they obeyed. Since these early Christians were promised eternal life now that they were in Christ, it is important that we continue today to do the very same thing they did in order to have the same promise of Heaven that they had. That’s not hard to understand.
The apostle Paul instructed the churches in the region of Galatia, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
Paul also gave the Galatians an important warning in chapter 1. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
With all of the confusion in our modern religious world, it’s important that we simply put off all opinions and ideas of man, and get back to what the Bible says, and only what it says. God does not offer to us a multiple choice of ways to obey Him. It is when we are baptized into Jesus Christ, that the Lord adds us to His church, the body of the saved in Christ (Acts 2:47).
Please remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
It is important that we obey the Lord according to the Bible’s instructions. Heaven is in the balance.