Did Christs disciples baptize only disciples?
Jhn 4:1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
Jhn 4:2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),
NASB
Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
What do ye gather from the above verses?
1) Christs disciples baptized disciples.
2) Therefore baptism did not make one a disciple, but believing in Christs message did.
3) It wasnt for the forgiveness of sins, because only Christ could forgive sins (when he was on the earth, as coc'rs say. I dont disagree with them, but it doesnt preclude Christ to forgive sins in the same way now).
4) It wasnt to show his disciples how to baptize, as they already know it from Johns baptism. Also in Jn 6:66, many of his disciples left him.
5) Johns baptism is similar to Christs baptism (Jn 3:22 - 4:2). So the baptism of John couldnt have forgiven sins.
6) The purpose of baptism therefore must be to publicly announce that they have accepted Christs message. As it did not forgive sins, neither did it make one a disciple.
7) Did the purpose of baptism change after Christ died, from baptizing disciples to the "washing away sins" and making disciples? Where in the bible does it explicitly say so?
8) If Johns baptism was for the forgivness of sins, then during Christ's and John the baptist's time, there were three different ways for sins to be forgiven. a) by the law b)by John the baptist c)by Christ. ?????
posted by abraham n konda @ 2:34 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Good points-however baptism could be thought of as a "symbolic" remission of sins, or washing away of sins- Paul was told"Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
in Acts 22:16-the actual washing comes with the calling on the name of the Lord-Romans 10:9-13 it is true but baptism is a symbolic representation of this hidden action,
couple of reasons y i dont agree
1)paul later tells us how we are saved - just as abraham believed and was called righteous, in the same way we 2 are saved
2)paul was talking to a jewish audience. it wud have been much easier to talk figuratively to the audience as they are more familiar with their ordinances and traditions and what they represent.
3)wen Christ said 'it is finished' He meant that he fulfilled Gods purpose. All we now have to do is receive the free gift of righteousness thru faith not thru baptism.
they used 4 different hermeneutics used during Pauls time to explain scripture. please read about them, one of them was symbolic interpretation also known as the midrashic method, along with the literal, pasher? and allegorical. so some parts of the bible are not straight forward readings but one needs to put themselves in the writers shoes and find out wat the author is trying to convey. this many in the coc dont do, hence come up with wrong conclusions
Post a Comment
<< Home