| ( E ) WATER BAPTISM, ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS AND JDS ( JESUS DIED SPIRITUALLY ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The scriptures share sufficient and clear evidence that it was the physical body of Jesus Christ which was the propitiation for the sins of all mankind. That is to say, the flesh and blood body of Jesus was the sacrifice offered to God, who is holy, so that God could judge and condemn the sins of mankind without destroying mankind. Jesus Christ tasted death, that is to say He experienced death, for all sinners so that we would not have too. Christs’ offering of Himself on the cross removed Gods’ wrath from sinful mankind and directed Gods’ wrathful judgement for sins and iniquities onto Jesus Christ on the cross. And in taking Gods’ wrathful judgement and condemnation for sins upon Himself, Jesus Christ thereby makes peace and reconciliation between God and mankind. God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, provided the sacrifice that was needed so that He could condemn sin and iniquities of sinful mankind and thus make peace between Himself and mankind. And that sacrifice was His very own begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This is the propitiation of Jesus Christ for our sins and iniquities. This is salvation and it is the work of God, not the work of men. It is the work of God alone and thus God offers salvation freely, a gift to all who will believe in that propitiatory work of His Son, Jesus Christ. With these things in mind, it is important to address certain issues which are both taught and believed to have an equal and active part along with Christs’ propitiation for sins for the purpose of the salvation of mankind. Within the context of Christs’ act of propitiation for our sins, it is important to remember that His propitiatory act alone has fully and sufficiently accomplished the work of obtaining our peace with God who is holy. Christs' propitiatory act alone has obtained our salvation and thus eternal life with God. Therefore, with this simple understanding in mind. It is sin and a lie for any person to believe and teach that some other work and act of men must also be done in addition to the propitiatory work of Christ for our sins, in order for a person to be saved. Water baptism, Roman Catholic Mass and Jesus died spiritually ( JDS ) are three issues ( among various others ) that have been taught with the intent of being additional necessities to the propitiatory work of Christ for the salvation of mankind. First off, the JDS issue claims that it was necessary for Jesus Christ to not only have physically died for our sins but also to have spiritually died for our sins. This particular issue is scripturally examined in another section of articles that can be found here . Suffice it to say for this topic concerning Christs’ propitiation, the JDS issue has no scriptural support whatsoever. Rather, in several instances the issue actually denies the blatant truth of numerous scriptures with direct regard to Christs’ propitiatory offering for sins. As far as the JDS matter is concerned, it is an issue which does not have any truth in helping provide salvation for sinful mankind. And therefore, no born-again Christian should embrace and believe that such a thing has a part to play in our propitiation for sins. Next, the issue of Roman Catholic Mass ( Mass ), makes a claim of necessity for salvation in that it is a continual sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sins. Mass has within it, the belief of transubstantiation in which it is believed that the wafer and wine literally change into the flesh and blood of Christ and thus His physical body is offered again and again as a sacrifice for sins. Let me say once more regarding this particular issue, that it is scripturally examined in another section of articles that can be found here . Suffice it to say for this subject matter, the Mass blatantly denies the evident truth of numerous scriptures with direct regard to Christs’ propitiatory offering for sins. As far as the Mass is concerned, it is an issue which does not have any truth in helping provide salvation for sinful mankind. And therefore, no born-again Christian should embrace and believe that such a thing has a part to play in our propitiation for sins. Finally is the issue of water baptism. This topic is somewhat different in that, as opposed to the topics of JDS and Roman Catholic Mass, water baptism is an issue which has scriptural support. Water baptism is an activity which every born-again believer in Christ should participate. Water baptism is of God. However, there are persons who take the necessity of water baptism in a direction of which God does not approve and His Word does not support. By this I am saying that certain people believe and teach that water baptism is a necessity for salvation. But this mentality is not gospel truth. Water baptism is an activity which occurs after a person has believed on Christ in their heart and confessed Him to be Lord and Saviour of their lives. Water baptism occurs after the person is born-again, saved. It is by no means an activity which saves a person from sins as did Christs' act of propitiation for our sins. But let us go to the scriptures. In the book of Romans is written; 1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. - Romans 6:1-9 In his writing, Paul reveals that water baptism is a symbolic activity which represents Christs' burial in His grave and then finally Christs' resurrection from His grave. Christ died for our sins, was buried and then He arose from the dead. He was resurrected. The apostle Paul writes in verses 4 through 8 to say that, water baptism is a physical act of the Christian which symbolizes Christs' burial in His grave after having died for sins and then Christs' resurrection from His grave. This act of water baptism also symbolizes or signifies that having now been born of God, the Christian has also died to the old sinful ways of their past life. The Christian has died to their old man or woman. The Christian is a now new creation in God, ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). This is what the apostle is writing in verse 5. The Christian who participates in water baptism is in a symbolic way acknowledging and giving witness to the truth of Christs' death for his/her sins and Christs' burial in His grave and Christs' resurrection from the dead. Water baptism is the likeness of His, Christs', death and it is also a likeness of His resurrection. But this is all that water baptism is. It is merely a symbol, a signifying, a likeness of what Christ has done for the Christian. Water baptism in no manner is an act which saves the sinner as did Christs' act of propitiation for sins. The outward physical activity of water baptism in which the Christian is submersed under water and then brought back out of the water is a symbolic sign of Christs' burial and resurrection. Christ died on the cross for our sins and thus having died, His body was laid in a tomb. Then in His resurrection, Christ arises from death and from the grave. There is more that could be said concerning water baptism. Suffice it to say for this particular topic concerning Christs’ propitiation for sins, God never intended for water baptism to have a part in the propitiatory work of Christ in order to remove His wrath of judgement and condemnation for sins and thus make peace and reconciliation between Himself and mankind. Water baptism has no part whatsoever in the work of God and Christ for the salvation of sinful mankind. Water baptism is only a symbolic likeness of Christs' burial and resurrection. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |
 |
| background and Home button design by webmaster |