Old Testament Sacrifices and Salvation; Baptism and Salvation.
Old Testament Sacrifices and Salvation.
Matthew 5:17-18 = Jesus didn't come to destroy the Law
or the prophets but to fulfill it.
Galatians 3:19 = The Law was added because of sins,
till the Seed (Jesus) should come. Genesis 22:18
Galatians 3:21-26 = The law was our tutor to bring us to
Faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:19-20 = The law lets us know we are sinners
(thus we need Saved).
Romans 3:10 = Everyone has broken the law and is guilty!
James 2:9-13 = One transgression makes one guilty.
Mark 2:27 = Some laws, like keeping the Sabbath, were
ceremonial laws. God gave them to us for our benefit.
Observing the Sabbath, helps us. However, it is not something
God made us for.
Matthew 22:37-39 = Other laws, like loving God and our
neighbor, are moral laws. Loving God and loving
our neighbor is something God created us to do.God loves.
Thus, God wants us to love. God is faithful, honest, truthful,
etc. Thus, God made us to be faithful, honest, truthful, etc.
Like God, moral laws and attributes are eternal. They are to be
practiced forever!
By the way, Copyrighted by Wayne Mckellips 2002-2015.
Last updated 10/16/2015. Please copy and share but don't
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Galatians 5:3-4 = To be justified by keeping the Law you must
keep the whole Law.
Galatians 3:10-14 = No one is justified by the Law for the just
shall live by faith.
Romans 5:1 = We have been justified by faith.
2nd Corinthians 3:6-11 = The 10 commandments engraved in
letters in stone, was to cease (vs 7) and was done away (vs 11).
Colossians 2:14-17 = Christ took the Law out of the way and
nailed it to the cross.Jeremiah 31:31-34 with Hebrews 8:7,8-13
= New covenant or agreement promised and given.
Note: Some of the commandments in the Old Covenant are
also in the New Covenant. We follow them because they are
in the New Covenant. Which commandments are in both the
Old and New Covenants? The moral commandments. Things
God created us to do like being faithful, telling the truth, loving
God and our neighbor, etc.
Hebrews 10:1-4,9-10,11-14 = It is not possible for blood of
animals to take away sins. Jesus' sacrifice however, can take
away our sins.
Romans 4:3,9-11 = Abraham was counted by God
as righteous when he believed, even though he was at that
time still uncircumcised. Genesis 15:5-6. See James
2:14-26 & Ephesians 2:8-10 on the important of having the
kind of "faith" that leads one to obey God as he is able to.
Hebrews 11:1-2 = By faith the elders (saints in the OT)
obtained a good report!
Leviticus 4:13-14,20,27-28,31. 5:10. 6:1-5,6-7 = In the Old
Testament, believers in God who sinned were told to offer
a certain kind of sacrifice. They were told their sins would
be forgiven after the priest had offered the sacrifice. If a
believer died before he was able to bring his sacrifice would
he have been separated from God forever? No! We learn from
Abraham that a believer is forgiven and counted righteous
when he believes or trusts in God. Romans 4:3, 9-11. Like
the Sabbath, the sacrifice was for the believer's benefit.
Mark 2:27. Of course, the sacrifices pointed to the coming of
Jesus. But the burnt sacrifices also gave to the believer
formal, ceremonial, or symbolic forgiveness, and a clear
conscience as his faith led him to obey God.
Why was God able to forgive people before Jesus
had died for them on the cross?Hebrews 10:11. Romans 5:8.
Hebrews 10:10-12,14. Hebrews 9:28. Why was God able to
wash people's sins away before Jesus had shed His blood for
them on the cross? Hebrews 10:4. 1st John 1:7b. Examples
= Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Enoch, individuals Jesus forgave.
Because when God promises unconditionally to do something
it is as good as done! (Note: There are conditional and
unconditional promises.) In God's eyes, it is already done! This
is because God cannot lie; He always keeps his promises.
Unlike us, when he says He will do something, He always does
it. That is why when God gave specific prophecies about the
coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament (OT) He
sometimes gave the prophecy in the past tense, as well as
the present or future tense.
The following OT prophecies about the coming of the Messiah
were written in the Future tense. Genesis 3:15. Genesis 22:18.
Genesis 29:10. Psalm 16:10. Isaiah 7:14. Isaiah 11:10. Daniel
9:25-26. Micah 5:2. Zechariah 9:9. Malachi 3:1 & 4:5.
The following OT prophecies about the coming of the
Messiah were written in the Present tense. Psalm 22:1, 6-18.
Isaiah 9:6-7.
The following OT prophecies about the coming of the
Messiah were written in the Past tense. Psalm 118:22. Isaiah
53:1-12. Zechariah 11:12-13.
Baptism and Salvation
I believe baptism is very important, and every believer in Jesus
should be baptized (immersed) as soon as possible after
repenting, and trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I
also believe baptism is for the formal or ceremonial washing away
of the believer's sins. However, I believe one is really forgiven,
given the Holy Spirit, and promised eternal life when he repents
and believes or trusts in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. In Acts
16:31 Paul told the jailor that if he would believe on (that is, trust
in and cling to) the Lord Jesus he would be saved. Cornelius and
his household were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit before
they were baptized. Acts 10:43-48. Acts 11:15-18. Acts 15:7-9.
I believe one must continue to believe or trust in Jesus. The
Greek word translated believe in John 3:16, John 3:36, 1st John
5:12-13, John 1:12, Acts 16:31, etc, is in the present tense and
indicates continous action. "Shall pluck" in John 10:28 is 3rd
person singular and means he, she, or it cannot pluck you out
of Jesus's hand. After Peter sinned against Jesus, he repented
and in trust went to Jesus for forgiveness. Like Peter, endure to
the end (as you love and cling to Jesus in trust) and you will be saved
according to Matthew 24:12,13. 1st John 5:12-13. Compare
with Ezekiel 18:21-25. Those trusting in Jesus, or calling on
Jesus as their Lord and Savior are saved according to Romans
10:13. Acts 16:31. 1st John 5:12-13. John 3:16. Saving belief
or trust includes repentance. Acts 3:19. James 2:19-20.
Acts 11:17-18.
Although Apollos had been taught the way of the Lord, he
only knew about John's baptism. So Priscilla and Aquilla
taught him the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:24-26.
Do you think they taught him about being baptized in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do. But notice
they didn't teach him the way of God. They just taught him
"more accurately."
Evangelical Outreach has a very good article showing, from
a study of the Greek text, why they believe one is
forgiven, saved, and given the Holy Spirit before baptism.
It seems there is genuine disagreement among Greek scholars
and students as to the most correct translation and meaning
of verses like Acts 2:38. You can search the archives of
B-Greek for "Acts 2:38, or baptism," etc., and read
some of the diverse comments by Greek students and
scholars. I recently clicked on the concordance help for
Acts 2:38 at www.blueletterbible.org. They explained that
saying Jessie James is wanted "for" robbery could mean
1) Jessie James is wanted so he can commit some robberies
or 2) he is wanted because he has already committed some
robberies. They applied this to (eis) being translated "for" in
Acts 2:38.
In Matthew 3:11 John said that he baptized with water (eis)
unto repentance. Did John baptize them so they would repent,
or did John baptize them after they had already repented? We
read in Matthew 3:6-8 and Luke 3:3-14 that John told the
Pharisees and Sadducees to bear fruits worthy of repentance.
Matthew 3:6 says the people confessed their sins when they
were baptized by John. I believe John baptized people who
had already repented. A Greek or Hebrew word can have
several meanings. Whatever other meanings the Greek word
eis has, it should be clear that eis sometimes means "because"
or "because of." Matthew 12:41 tells us the people of Nineveh
repented (eis) at the, or because of, the preaching of Jonah.
They didn't repent so that Jonah would preach. It is possible
one should be baptized for the symbolic or ceremonial
forgiveness or washing away of one's sins. Acts 22:16
and possibly Acts 2:38.
In the New Testament, potential converts were taught about
baptism, often even before it was known if they had repented,
or put their trust in Jesus. Acts 2:37-41. Acts 8:34-38. So
baptism was often included when one explained the Gospel
of Jesus to potential converts. I believe there will be those
on both sides of this issue in heaven.
According to the Bible you should be immersed in water in
the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20. Believers in the New Testament, in Acts,
who could, were baptized right away. They didn't put
(baptizo) immersion off. Acts 8:26-39 = the Ethiopian.
Acts 16:13-15 = Lydia and her household. Acts 16:25-34 =
the jailer and his household. Acts 9:1-18 and 22:6-16 = Paul.
Acts 2:22-42 = 3000 people. Notice in Acts 2:38,41 those
who accepted what Peter said about Jesus were baptized.
Presumably, those who didn't accept Jesus at that time
weren't baptized.
Immersion in water pictures the death, burial, and resurrection
of Jesus. Immersion also pictures your dying to or rejecting
your old sinful way of life, your burying that old sinful man
or old way of living, and your rising a new man or a new
creature in Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:17. Romans 6:3-6.
Immersion in water in the name or authority of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, seems to picture your submission
to His authority and Lordship over you as well as your
dependence upon Jesus to save you from your sins. Water
baptism also symbolizes or pictures the washing
away of a believer's sins by the blood of Jesus. Acts 22:16.
Revelations 1:5.
In John 3:5 Jesus said one must be born of water and Spirit to
enter the kingdom of God. What did Jesus mean when he used
the word, "water?"A) Some people think Jesus was referring
to immersion in water. B) Others think Jesus was referring to
a person's physical birth. That would be their first birth. You
may have heard a woman say that her water broke on a
certain date and time when she was pregnant. C) Other
people think Jesus was using water to amplify, or symbolize
the cleansing the Holy Spirit does. Ezekiel 36:25-27. Using
two nouns to emphasize one thought is called hendiadys.
Notice, it is by the Holy Spirit that we are baptized, immersed,
into the body of Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized
into one body." 1st Corinthians 12:13a. It is also the Holy
Spirit who gives one birth again or from above. John 3:3-8.
John 7:38,39. 1 John 3:9 says, "Whosoever is born of God doth
not commit sin; for his (God's) seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God." [As we all know Christians
sin but sin should be the exception in their lives not their habit
or practice. See 1st John 1:6-10.] The word for seed in 1st John
3:9 is sperma from which we get sperm. It is God's seed (sperma)
or Holy Spirit that gives us birth again or from above. See also
1st John 4:7, 5:1,4 and 1st Peter 1:23. D) There are also Christians
who think Jesus was referring to the "Word of God," when He used
the word, "water." Ephesians 5:26. 1st Peter 1:23.
Notice, the rest of John chapter three says that whoever believes
or trusts in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life.
John 3:16,36. Remember, the repentant thief on the cross, who was
promised eternal life, died after Jesus, so he died when the
New Covenant was in effect. He also died after Jesus uttered
the words in John 3:5. Hebrews 9:15-17. John 19:30-33.
Mark 15:37-38. Luke 23:39-43.
Believers who can, should submit to immersion in water in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit because they
love Jesus and want to obey him in this. John 14:23. 1st John
2:4. Matthews 22:37-38. Mark 16:16. Acts 2:38-41. Acts 22:16.
Matthew 28:19-20. Acts 10:43-48.
In Romans 4:3,9-10 the Apostle Paul wrote that God counted
Abraham righteous when he believed in the Lord as recorded
in Genesis 15:5-6. In James 2:21-24 James said the scripture
was fulfilled which said that God counted Abraham righteous,
when Abraham offered his son,Isaac, on the altar. In James
2:14-26 James seeks to make a point about the importance
of having the kind of faith that leads one to obey God. We
are saved by faith in Jesus not by any of our works. Ephesians
2:8-9. But what kind of faith must we have? The kind of
faith that doesn't lead to obedience is useless. James
2:14,17,26. Having the kind of faith the demons have is
useless and dead. James 2:19-20. We must have the kind
of faith that leads us to obey God as we are able to. James
2:21-25. Ephesians 2:8-10. Hebrews 5:9.
In the Old Testament, believers in God who sinned were
told to offer a certain kind of sacrifice. They were told their
sins would be forgiven after the priest had offered the
sacrifice. If a believer died before he was able to bring his
sacrifice would he have been separated from God forever?
No! We learn from Abraham that a believer is forgiven
and counted righteous when he believes in God. Like the
Sabbath, the sacrifice was for the believer's benefit. The
sacrifices gave to the believer formal, ceremonial, or symbolic
forgiveness, and a clear conscience as his faith led him to
obey God.
In the same way, in the New Testament, Saul was told to get
up and submit to immersion, washing his sins away, as he
called on Jesus. Acts 22:16. I believe baptism gives
believers formal forgiveness and a clear conscience, like the
Old Testament sacrifices did, as their faith leads them to obey
Jesus. Matthew 3:11. Mark 1:4. The Old
Testament sacrifices pointed toward the future redeeming
death of Jesus. Similarly, New Testament baptism points
back to the atoning death of Jesus. Hebrews
10:1-14. Romans 6:3-6. Notice Peter links baptism with
a good conscience as the obedient and submissive believer
trusts in the resurrected Jesus. 1st Peter 3:21. Many
believers today are in prisons or countries where they are
unable to be baptized. Like Abraham, who was counted
righteous when he believed in God, they too, like us, are
counted righteous when they put their trust in Jesus. Luke
23:42-43. Acts 10:43-48. Acts 11:15-18. Acts 15:7-9. In
addition, just as God counted some, who were
uncircumcised, as though they had been circumcised, they
also might be counted by God as having been baptized.
Romans 2:26-29.
Believers in the New Testament period are saved when they
trust in Jesus, the promised Messiah as their Lord and
Savior. Acts 16:31. That is also when they are born again
or from above by the Holy Spirit. John 3:3-8, 1:12-13, 4:14,
6:63, 7:37-39. 1st Corinthians 12:13.
But, believers who can, are told to submit to water baptism.
1st Peter 3:21. Mark 16:16. Acts 2:38. Acts 22:16. Matthew
28:19-20. Just as the Sabbath was made for man's benefit
so also is baptism for man's benefit. Mark 2:27. I hope your
faith will motivate you to obey God in believer's baptism
(immersion). What would have happened to Naaman the
leper if he had decided to disobey God's command to dip
himself in the Jordan river seven times? 2nd Kings 5:1-14. If
you are trusting in Jesus, I hope you will obey God's
command to be immersed in water, in His name, as soon as
you can. Acts 2:38. Acts 22:16. Mattew 28:19-20. Acts
19:1-7. Acts 18:24-26.
Note: Our salvation doesn't depend on our correctly
understanding the exact purpose and meaning of baptism.
Our salvation rests upon our repenting of our sins and our
really, from the heart, trusting and accepting Jesus as our
Savior and Master. John 3:16. John 11:25. Acts 3:19. John
1:12-13. Romans 10:9-10,13. Luke 23:39-43.