Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Baptism is not the gospel
Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and God raised him from the dead. Just like the Bible said. This is true. And this is the good news gospel that saves us.
The Bible is true but does not save us.
Correct doctrine matters, but does not save us.
The gospel saves us. Jesus dying and being raised is the good news.
Baptism is not the gospel.
It is however, the response to the gospel. It is where we encounter/enter in to the gospel.
Baptism is where we die with Jesus and are buried with him. Then raised to a new life.
But we have sometimes confused response to the gospel with the gospel.
Christians have often assumed everyone knows and believes the gospel (Jesus) so we spend much time convincing them how to respond to the gospel.
Perhaps more time should be spent on the good news that Jesus died for our sins and was raised.
Teaching baptism while assuming everyone knows the gospel is the wrong gospel.
Teach the gospel and assume people will be baptized.
First things first.
I baptize a lot of people. I believe it is the way to enter into the good news. But baptism is not the good news.
First things first.
