Explain it away

 by David Long

Acts 2:38

Acts 22:16

Roman 6:3-4

Gal. 3:27

1 Pet. 3:20-21

Explain those verses away that teach immersion is necessary for salvation. 

Works based salvation

 by David Long

Is salvation works based? Depends on what you mean by works? If you mean man-made works then no. The sinners prayer is a man-made work. If you mean the works of the flesh then no. If you mean the works of the Old Law then no. If you mean the works of God then yes (James 2:17-26). Faith is a work of God (John 6:28-29). Does faith save? Yes. Baptism is a work of God (Col. 2:12). Does baptism save? Yes. Do we earn salvation because we work the works of God? No. Can we be saved if we do not the works of God? No.  

ye are saved, if...

 by David Long

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1 Cor. 15:1-2).

See the little word "if"? That means that there is a condition to being saved. There are those who deny that salvation has conditions. Well, they need to read 1 Cor. 15:1-2. "By which also ye are saved, if....". 

Spiritual zombie

 by David Long

"Honor widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth" (1 Tim. 5:3-6).

Here is a spiritual zombie, "dead while she liveth." This not only applies to a widow who lives in pleasure but any Christian or person who lives the same kind of lifestyle. "Even when we were dead in sins..." (Eph. 2:5). Spiritual zombies don't go to heaven. 

A dead mule

 by David Long

If you will ride a dead mule to Kansas City, I'll ride it back. You say, "That's stupid, a dead mule can't go nowhere." That's right. So likewise a dead faith can't go nowhere. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:14-26). Saved by faith only or alone is a dead mule. 

Just a Christian

 by David Long

I'm not a hyphenated Christian, I'm just a Christian, a member of the church that Jesus built, the church of Christ (Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16). What are you?  If you are Christian plus something else, like a Christian who is a Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. then how could you be just a Christian?  

Sheep or goat?

 by David Long

Read Matthew 25:31-46

Judgement Day will be a a time "He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides sheep from the goats." Which one will you be on that day: a sheep or a goat? You can't live like a goat and get the blessing of a sheep.  

Come and see

 by David Long

Read John 4:5-42

It has been said that Jesus' trained disciple went into the city to buy bread and when they came back to Jesus they never brought a soul back with them but when the untrained woman went into the city and came back, she brought the whole city to see Jesus. What did she have that the disciples didn't have? Desire! Zeal! A wanting to tell others about Jesus. 

What does it say?

 By David Long

What does Mark 16:16 say?

He that believeth and is baptized shall not be saved.

He that believeth not and is baptized shall be saved.

He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved.

He that believeth not and is not baptized shall be saved.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. 

More important than the cure for cancer

 by David Long

"And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and wen they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion" (Mk. 2:3-12).

Healing the man, though Jesus would do it, was not the big issue. It was important but it lagged behind the most important thing. The most important thing was having his sins forgiven. Having one's sins forgiven is more important than the cure for cancer. Do we understand that? 

Earn it? Never!

 by David Long

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:28-29).

We can't "earn" salvation but that doesn't mean we don't obey God and do the works He has commanded to be saved. Do you "earn" salvation when you to do the work of faith? No, and yet you can't be saved if you don't believe. Do you "earn" salvation when you repent? No, but if you don't repent you will perish (Lk. 13:3). Do you "earn" salvation when you are immersed? No, but baptism saves (Mk. 16:16). We don't take away from a gift from being a gift just because we have to do something to receive it. 

As a roaring lion

 by David Long

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it" (Job 1:7).

"And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it" (Job 2:2). 

Satan is not God. He can't be in two places at once. He is roaming the earth trying to destroy God's creation. He is trying to destroy God's creation because he hates God. His pride has condemned him (1 Tim. 3:6). He wants you to fall into the same trap. 

Be direct

 by David Long

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:22-23).

Your are gonna have to be direct. Peter got direct with those people, he said, "you have taken." It's time we stop beating around the bush. People are not gonna change unless they know they need to change and if they don't change, at least they were told. Jesus got direct. "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:1-5).

Lord, Lord

 by David Long

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46).

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23).

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" (Lk. 13:24-27).

Baptism does not wash away tomorrow's sin

 by David Long

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

Christians to whom Paul was writing were at one time guilty of the sins lists in these verses. But those sins has been washed away, they had given up those sins and sanctified for God's purposes and they had been justified from those sins. Could they continue to commit those sins and be right with God? Could they had been washed from those sins if they didn't repent of them? 

Rules of marriage

 by David Long

God is the author of marriage so He sets the rules. Here are some of the rules.

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:3-9).

Trembleth at my word

 by David Long

"For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Isa. 66:2). 

Biblical examples of "poor and contrite spirit and trembling at God's word:" (2 Kings 22:11, 19; Ezra 9:4). People who tremble at the word of God will humble themselves and obey it. 

Do you think you can win?

 by David Long

Do you think you have a fighting chance against God? The Devil did but he lost. You think you can do better? Through out the Bible Satan tried to destroy God's plan to save man but he failed. Hell awaits him (Matt. 25:41) and it awaits you if you rebel against God. Obey the gospel today (Rom. 6:3-4) before its too late. 

Life in the womb

 by David Long

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" (Psa. 139:13-14). 

"And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy" (Lk. 1:41-44).

What's in a mother's womb? It's a baby. A human being and to kill that baby is sin, wrong.