Comments on: Saying “Yes!” in Baptism

By: Don Morrison

Don Morrison — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:06:02 +0000

Baptism is a grace from God. It may sound morbid, but I love the image of being united with Christ in his death through baptism. It is a gift that we receive and which I imagine the apostle Paul desires to take forward into his own life by “taking hold of that which Christ took hold of for me” and joining with Christ in his sufferings.

Blessings

By: James

James — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:29:05 +0000

We visited a Christian Church on Saturday night and heard almost word for word the same message for the invitation.

By: Roger Butner

Roger Butner — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:19:42 +0000

Great post, Mike! Thanks for sharing that quote. The doctrine of baptism has been one Chemaine and I have really considered, studied, and re-considered with much prayer as we made our transition from the Church of Christ to a non-denominational Bible church.

By: GRH

GRH — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:48:39 +0000

Thanks for the extended quote. I like the “co-crucifixion” language and the idea of baptism as an expression of faith.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:05:48 +0000

Good and true thoughts.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:43:54 +0000

“Being clothed with Christ as an experience to be renewed every day”, what an important concept. Instead of concentrating on when I “asked Jesus in my heart” or “when I was baptized”, let’s focus on living every day for Him. Take up your cross daily. Persevere to the end. It is not about you, it is all about Him!!

By: Keith Brenton

Keith Brenton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:32:04 +0000

I still believe that baptism - as well as what it represents - is God's gift to man, not vice-versa. Otherwise, Jesus wouldn't have asked the question the way He did in Matthew 21:25, Mark 11:30 and Luke 20:4.

By: Les Ferguson, Jr.

Les Ferguson, Jr. — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:57:00 +0000

Thanks for this good stuff!

By: kathy s

kathy s — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:20:51 +0000

Thank you, Mike, for pointing us to these words of Michael Gorman, which, to me, not only enrich my view of baptism, but also enrich my understanding of the loving pursuit of God as he reconciles the world to himself.

By: nick gill

nick gill — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:51:56 +0000

Of course they’re God’s work in us (Php 2:13), but we have to work towards them (go with the grain of God’s work, I mean — rather than working against the grain, Php 2:12).

I don’t doubt that there are people for whom that is NOT an “of course” statement. I just struggle to understand how they got there — why anyone would lead them there.

By: Tim Archer

Tim Archer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:46:53 +0000

Very good quote. And I agree with Rex… any attempt to define baptism as a human work is a misunderstanding of Scripture.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

By: K. Rex Butts

K. Rex Butts — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:35:58 +0000

I love the fact that he keeps the work of grace, reconciliation, transformation, etc… as God’s work in us rather than our own work. Although I have heard baptism claimed as human work by both those for and against it role in salvation, it is a misreading of scripture to make such claim.

Grace and peace,

Rex