Old Paths Advocate - Church of Christ

PAGE TWO THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE APRIL 1, 1946
“ONE BAPTISM” (Eph. 4:5)
Paul 0. Nichols
Surely if a man claims to believe the teaching
of the Bible to be the word of God, he must con-
cede that this statement of the Apostle Paul is
’ true, whether he thoroughly understands it or
not. He may not be willing to admit that that is
all that is in vogue today or was all at the time
of the writing of the Ephesian letter, but he must
of necessity-as a matter of honesty-admit that
that much is right.
Now let us search the scriptures with the atti-
tude, “Speak Lord, thy servant heareth ; com-
mand and I will obey.”
The apostles were told by the Savior before
His ascension to the right hand of God, “Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). In this we see the
Savior commanding that the apostles go teach
people from every nation, and then after having
taught them to baptize them. Solomon said,
“Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this
is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). And
a blessing has been pronounced upon those who
keep the commandments of the Lord according to
Rev. 22:14. The men of God, who were chosen
by Christ to further the interests of the kingdom
after He went back to the Father, did not try to
do away with the commaEd of baptism, but did
as the Lord told them, for that was their duty;
and the Lord blessed them for it.
There have been a number of baptisms insti-
tuted by the Creator, such as the baptism of the
Israelites, who were baptized unto Moses- in the
cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. lO:l), the baptism
of repentance by John the baptist (Mk. 1:4), the
baptism of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 3:11), and the
baptism in the name of the Fdther, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins
(Matt. 28 :19 ; Acts 2 :38).
The command to be baptized was gi+en on the
first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ.
While Peter was preaching to the vast multitudes
of people who had gathered themselves together
on that momentous occasion, people began to cry
out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do.” The
answer that they received was, “Repent and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins. . . ” (Acts 2:1,
37, 38). The seekers realized that there was some-
thing they needed to do, and they.were told some-
thing that they could do. Now Moses was dead,
and the baptism in the Red Sea was over, John
the baptist had been beheaded by Herod several
years before (Matt. 13), and the baptism of the
Holy Gnost was not something that they could
do, neither did they have power to bestow it upon
themselves, so it must have been some other kind
of baptism. Peter said it was baptism “for the
remission of sins.”
. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
-
God” (Jno. 3:5). Someone may say, “But that
was not literal water.” Well, let us see. “Can
any man forbid water, that these should not be
baptized. . .”, asked the Apostle Peter in Acts
10:47. And- now let us take up the case of the
Ethiopian treasurer in Acts 8. On his way home
after having gone to the city of Jerusalem to
worship, he was approached by one Phillip, an
evangelist, who inquired about his understanding
concerning the scriptures that he was reiidiag.
The man readily admits that he is unable to un-
derstand without help from someone else. Then
the account tells us that Phillip “began at the
same scripture, and preached Jesus to him.” After
a while, as they were riding along in the chariot
that had brought this worshipper from the land
of his nativity, they came to a certain water. And
the Ethiopian said, “See here is water; what cloth
hinder me to be baptized?” Then the recording
tells us “They went down both into the water,
both Phillip and the eunuch: and he baptized
him.” In the case of this man after he had Christ
preached to him, he made up his mind that he
was going to be baptized. And when they came
to some water, he asked that he might fulfill
this sacred ordinance. Phillip granted his wish.
He did not tell him it was a foolish whim, or that
it was unnecessary. The man was baptized then
and there on the spot.
A person may say, “Well, that is all right. I
believe that a person ought to be baptized, and
water is necessary, but how much does it take?
An ocean, a glassful, or just a few drops?” The
Apostle Paul says, “We are buried with him by
baptism into death. . .” (Rom. 6:4). Again he
says, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also
ye are risen with him. . .” (Col. 2 :12). What ever
amount that it takes to be buried is the amount
necessary. The English word “baptize” comes
from the Greek (‘baptize," which was not trans-
lated, but merely anglozized. The meaning of the
Greek word was “to immerge, submerge” (Thay-
er’s Gr. Lex., P. 94). If the Lord had wanted His
apostles to use any other “modes,” He had words
at His disposal that would have expressed His
desires in no indeterminate way. If He had wanted
pouring. He could have used the word ”ekcheo.”
And if He had wanted sprinkling, IIe could have
used the word (‘rantizo.’’ But He used neither,
but rather chose the word which could mean only
“submersion, immersion, dipping, or plunging.”
The first sprinkling or pouring that took place
as a mode of baptism was over two hundred years
after Christ gave the great commission, and was
foreign to the Bible.
We know this much now about the ‘:one bap-
tism.” (1) It is commanded to be applied to make
disciples, (2) it is commanded as an ordinance to
be submitted to by those who desire forgiveness
of their sins, (3) water is an essential element,
(4) enough water is required for a burial.
Friends, we need to consider carefully what is
taught on this subject by the word of God, for in
the day of judgment we are going to meet it face
to face.
- (To be continued)
APRIL 1,’ 1946
BUILDING A CHRISTIAN HOME No. 3
Children in the home-Many wonderful homes
are entirely without children, and there are some
children who have come to a useful maturity with-
out a home. But homes need children, and chil-
drer. need a home. The influence of the child is
one of the most eqnobling and developing influ-
ences that can be exerted upon an adult life. Baby
opens up a world of meaning and sympathy to the
hearts it knows.
A childless home has always seemed empty to
me. “Marry, bear children,” is the instructions
of the Lord. The elder, who is to be an example
to the flock, is to have “believing children” (Titus
1:6). He must have his children in subjection
with all gravity (1 Tim. 3 :4). In as much as the
elder is to be an example to the flock, it follows
then that the other families of the flock should
also have children-faithful children, and I be-
lieve that when it is reasonable and possible a
home must have children to be a Christian home.
One of the good works mentioned for the woman
in 1 Tim. 5, is “if she have brought up children.”
Children in the home are a wonderful blessing,
and if a young couple do not want to be “bother-
ed” with children, they should never marry. That
man or woman who has not had the experience
of raising children are not qualified for overseers
in God’s work, according to His word.
It is possible that where a couple cannot bring
children into the world they may adopt children
and have about the same experience as with their
own. But I doubt if God smiles upon a childless
home.
And I am just old fashioned enough to believe
that God meant “children” when He said, “chil-
dren.” I doubt the wisdom of trying to bring up
a child by itself. My observation is that the child
that is brought up alone is usually petted, spoiled;
and is selfish, overbearing, and hard to get along
with. This shows up in the home when other chil-
dren come to his home or when he goes into the
other children’s homes. They are usually a prob-
lem in the school room and on the play grounds,
in the church, and a lot of times are troublesome
neighbors and citizens. It is not giving a child a
fair chance in life to bring it up alone.
God’s instructions to the first pair was to “be
fruitful, and multiply and rerplenish the earth”
(Gen. 1:28). But, the qualifications of these par-
ents were “very good” (Gen. 1:31), and God ex-
pects us as parents today to be very good. This
is why I mentioned in my first articel that cer-
tain qualifications should be seen in both the boy
and the girl before they agree to marry. The
!ittle babe that is born into the home is just what
its parents make it. There certainly is a grave
responsibility placed upon the parents, so, it is
well that they study closely just what kind of
folks they should be and determine to work under
the guidance of God and direct and shape the
destinies of these immortal souls intrusted to their
care.
Parents need strength in body, mind and soul,
and every effort should be made to develop all
the powers we have for good-both for the good
THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE PAGE THREE
of the parents and for the good of the children.
Usually, the parent who cares the most feels the
least capable, but God can and will accomplish
wonders with us if we will cooperate fully with
Him. Too many parents today try to raise their
children by the clock rather than by the help of
God.
“Woe to him who smiles not at the cradle and
weeps not at the tomb. He who has never tried
the companionship of a little child, has carelessly
passed by one of the greatest pleasures of life,
as one that passes a rare flower without plucking
it,or knowing its value. The gleeful laugh of
happy children is the best of home music. We
are all kings and queens in the cradle, and eacfi
babe is a new marvel, a new miracle. The per-
fection of the providence for childhood is willing-
ly acknowledged by all. The care which covers
the seed of the tree under tough husks, and stony
cases provides for the human plant, the mother’s
breast and the father’s house.”-The Royal Path
of Life.
Children will not trouble you for long-they
grow up so fast, nothing on earth grows faster
than children do. Jesus touched the little children
while he was here, but some folks today seem al-
most afraid’to touch one. Jesus also said “suffer
the little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the kingdom of God”
(Lk. 18:16), and again: “Except ye be converted
and become as little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). The
converted person will learn many a good lesson in
honesty. frankness and purity from the little
child. “Whoso receiveth one such little child in
my name receiveth me” (Matt. 18 :5).
“Children are a heritage of the Lord” (Psa.
127 :3-5).
-Homer A. Gay.
(More to follow)
THE TONGUE
The tongue is such a little member
To be so hard to control;
It seems that we could master it;
Merely all the evil hold.
But when a brother goes astray;
In some way, maybe, we’re guilty, too;
We repeat the matter to a friend of ours,
The thing our Lord said not to do.
We do not know how hard a man may try;
We’re all weak, brother, pause and think,
He may be precious in the sight of God,
While we talk or laugh or wink.
It’s a solemn charge from the Master’s word,
To keep conversations sweet and pure ;
Bridle the tongue as much as we can,
A struggle that is mine and yours.
It would not matter so very much,
If the Judgement we could evade,
But account to the Lord we must give,
For every idle word that we say !
-Rene Phillips.