A Divisive Denomination
The following is an excerpt from my letter to a Baptist reader of my ASK YOUR PREACHER articles who disagreed and accused me of being divisive with my teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation.
“I’ve always found the Baptist doctrine on baptism peculiar. They say baptism is NOT necessary for salvation, but INSIST a person be immersed to be a member of the Baptist denomination.
Strange isn’t it? The Baptism denomination believes you can be a Christian without baptism, but not a Baptist. They believe you can go to heaven, to be a member of God’s family, WITHOUT baptism – even their own baptism – but immersion in water is ABSOLUTELY necessary to be a member of their denominational family.
In fact, so narrow is the Baptist doctrine of baptism that they will NOT accept/receive one’s baptism from another denomination. Now, they believe God accepts the other denominational baptisms, but not them. No, according to the Baptist denomination you have to be re-baptized to be a member of their denomination.
And why is that? I mean, if God accepts – as they believe and teach – the baptisms of other denominations, why doesn’t the Baptist denomination? Talk about a divisive denomination.
Why not ASK YOUR PREACHER that a question. Ask him by what authority does the Baptist denomination have to insist that a person be re-baptized for membership into his and your denomination.” (End of excerpt).
Does the above describe the faith and practice of the church where you worship? If so, ASK YOUR PREACHER for the Biblical testimony of his baptismal doctrine.
In New Testament times, people with penitent hearts and a confessed faith in Jesus as Lord were immersed in water for salvation from their past sins (cf., Acts 2:36-41; 8:35-39; 22:16). Their baptism was FULLY accepted by the Lord AND His church without ANY required repetition (cf., Acts 2:47; Acts 22:16; 9:26-28; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-28; 1 Cor. 12:13).
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