Second point: I know each and every Church of Christ proof text on baptism. So do the other readers. Please don’t insult me or the other readers by filling the comments with quotations of the very familiar baptism texts. (I’ve also read nearly every Church of Christ book and tract on the subject.)
Here they are (all in the NIV) —
(Matt. 28:19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … .
(Acts 2:38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 22:16) ‘And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
(Rom. 6:3-4) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
(1 Cor. 12:13) For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
(Gal. 3:26) You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
(Col. 2:11-12) In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
(Titus 3:4-7) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Not to mention John 3:5 (although its applicability to Christian baptism is hotly debated) and Mark 16:16 (although its authenticity is in serious doubt). (PS — There’s not a single reference to Christian water baptism in Luke.)
Moreover, there are also verses — far more verses — which say that every person with faith in Jesus will be saved (also in the NIV) —
(Mark 9:23) “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
(John 1:12-13) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
(John 3:14-18) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
(John 3:36) “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
(John 5:24) “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:35) Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
(John 6:40) “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
(John 6:47) “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.”
(John 7:38-39) “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
(John 11:25-26) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 12:46) “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
(John 20:31) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
(Acts 10:43) “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
(Acts 13:38-39) “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
(Acts 16:31) They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
(Rom. 1:16-17) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
(Rom. 3:22-24) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
(Rom. 3:25-28) God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
(Rom. 4:4-5) Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
(Rom. 5:1-2) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
(Rom. 10:4) Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
(Rom. 10:9-13) That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(1 Cor. 1:21) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
(1 Cor. 12:3) Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
(Gal. 2:15-16) “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
(Gal. 3:2) I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
(Gal. 3:22) But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
(Gal. 5:6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
(Eph. 1:13-14) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
(Eph. 2:8-10) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(2 Thess. 2:13) But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
(1 Tim. 1:16) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
(Heb. 10:39) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
(1 John 3:23-24) And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 4:2-3) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
(1 John 5:1) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
(1 John 5:3-5) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
(1 John 5:13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
I could lengthen this list, but what would be the point? There are just so many verses that say this!
Jay,
Thanks for wonderfully expounding on what it means to “call upon the name of the Lord.” Beginning in the OT through the NT. It all ties together so nicely. As I keep digging into the scriptures regarding the sacrifices and its association with calling upon the Lord, I keep seeing the word “conscience” appear in various passages. Not all are tied to sacrifice, but many verses with the word conscience are tied to salvation.
I find these connections also very interesting. We’ve all heard the old saying – “let your conscience be your guide.” Can you please address what the Bible means when it refers to one’s conscience and how that also ties in with salvation? Here are just a few:
Hebrews 9:9
This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper
Hebrews 9:14
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
1 Peter 3:21
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Chris,
You ask another interesting question. If you recall the posts from several months ago on honor culture, /?s=%22western+eyes%22, then I can answer your question briefly (very uncharacteristic of me, I know).
1. The OT has no word for “conscience.” It was an honor/shame culture, and so conscience was not nearly as important to the Jews as honor, shame, and how Israel appeared to other nations, and such.
2. The Gospels also do not speak in terms of conscience, but I believe Jesus was arguing for a culture of honor/shame to be replaced with a culture built on conscience and guilt in the Sermon on the Mount, for example. Turning the other check and similar injunctions directly attack the roots of an honor culture.
3. Greek culture was also an honor culture but some schools of philosophy had introduced the idea of conscience — and Paul and Hebrews and 1 Peter borrow the language of conscience from the Stoics and perhaps Philo of Alexandria.
They also speak in honor/shame terms, but seek to redefine in whose eyes honor and shame matter — from society to God, primarily. That is, Christians should seek honor from God regardless of what society thinks. And we should be sufficiently self-aware to feel the dishonor/shame of breaking God’s law — leading to the idea of conscience.
Hence, contrary to the West’s assumption, the idea that people have a “conscience” that tells them right from wrong is not innate. The conscience itself may be, but not all cultures understand it or much care. Honor cultures are far more concerned with how our behavior affects our image to family and tribe and nation. The NT seeks to redirect that thinking. We should be concerned to receive honor from God and no shame in God’s eyes — and we should be self-aware enough feel the pain of being shamed in God’s eyes — and this introduces into Western thought the importance of the individual conscience — a notion almost entirely ignored by prior literature.
So I was very surprised to learn all that, and it helps us understand countless passages — although it speaks to a culture that is very, very foreign to our own.
On the other hand, there are many honor/shame cultures in today’s world, and the US usually fouls up its foreign policy by not realizing this. Hence, no amount of money, aid, modernization, trade, etc. will change the fact that most Islamic nations are honor cultures and far more worried with honor, revenge, image, family, and tribe than freedom, democracy, elections, nation, or even wealth. In fact, until the last century, Arabic didn’t even have words for freedom or democracy.
Chris,
An excellent brief article on honor/shame vs. conscience: http://www.tektonics.org/tsr/tillstill7-5.html
and this is great from a Christian perspective: http://honorshame.com/faqs/
And here’s one written from an African/Christian perspective: http://www.ve.org.za/index.php/VE/article/download/625/719
Now I just read through about 8 prominent Christian theological dictionaries (nice to have Logos) regarding the use of “conscience” in the Bible, and not a one mentions the honor/shame distinction. That is, theologians tend to see individual guilty conscience arising in NT times. Many sociologists argue that the NT is mistranslated due to ignorance of Greek and Jewish culture, and that “conscience” in the NT is really more like “shame due to group condemnation.”
I’m no expert, but obviously Christianity tends to change national cultures toward individual guilt — “tends” being the operative word here. The West changed very much because of Christianity. Most guilt cultures today are predominately Christian. And sociologists tend to ignore this, the best I can tell.
So I think the truth is somewhere in between. In the NT we are seeing the beginning of a massive cultural shift of Rome/the West away from honor/shame — so much so that we Westerners can no longer imagine anyone thinking any other way.
Chris,
Here’s a lengthy study on the evolution of the concept of “conscience” in Western thought with reflections on how this should impact missions. http://www.worldevangelicals.org/resources/rfiles/res3_234_link_1292694440.pdf Really good, although it’s chock full of citations that make it difficult to read (and he agrees with my read on the NT use of “conscience,” making him right, of course 🙂 ).
Anyway, I’ve not read the whole thing yet but it seems to be, by far, the most comprehensive and thoughtful discussion of a difficult subject — taking us from Moses to Bonhoeffer and delving into theology, psychology, philosophy, and cultural anthropology. Perhaps more than you care to read or know, but truly astonishing how a topic that bridges so many disciplines is almost entirely ignored in commentaries and theological dictionaries. But the times they are a-changin’. The theologians are finally starting to notice, especially as the church seeks to be less Western and give greater respect to African, Latino, and Chinese perspectives.
In other words, lots of great opportunities here for future research if someone needs an idea for a doctoral dissertation. Or if you just want to understand why the Palestinians acts as they do in negotiations.
You do have a gift for asking the most interesting questions …
Thank you so much Jay! I look forward to reading these articles.
Dwight,
The definition of ritual is —
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritual
Baptism meets that definition. The only reason it’s not a series of acts (which is one of a series of alternative definitions, not the only or first definition) is we don’t have enough baptisms in our churches. Churches that grow do baptisms over and over and over. It’s a ritual — just like a wedding is a ritual that we should do but once but which is regularly repeated in our churches according to a highly standardized pattern. Baptism is especially ritualized in Churches of Christ, where we are very concerned that certain words be said over the person being baptized.
And, of course, the words do matter.
Being a ritual is not bad or wrong or demeaning. It’s just what it is. A wedding is ritual, but that doesn’t make weddings pointless or bad. Right? I rather like weddings and am very glad that my wife wed me. But it was a ritual.
Is there a better word?
Jay,
Yes, of course Peter was condemning Israel for rejecting her Messiah , for that is why they were “pricked in their hearts” in ch. 2 and his message is relatively identical with some variation but the point is the same again in ch.3 vs(14) “You disowned the Holy One and asked that a murderer be released to you.” The people had to listen to(obey) Jesus he insist in v(23). “Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
The point (I believe) in both sermons is that the folks shared responsibility for killing Jesus. That Jesus was their long awaited Messiah. That he died at their hands (but hold on)and that he was raised up by God and that he has “ascended to the throne of God” McGarvey states(excellent point). In ch. 2 the point is they were speaking by the inspiration of the outpouring of God. The people were amazed(OK if you accept that we’re speaking -by inspiration) then you must believe our message about Jesus being Messiah and that you killed him and God raised him. In chapter 3 Peter heals the lame man (from birth) and the people were “filled with amazement and wonder’ just as on Pentecost, and Peter uses this miracle to say in essence “OK our message is true because you know that only God could do such a thing.” “You killed the Messiah.” Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out. Sins plural. Sins plural in Acts 2:38. Sins plural in Acts 3:26 turning you from your wicked ways(iniquities).How so? By placing their faith in the name of Jesus. vs(16) it is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him. ” In the name of Jesus Christ walk!” vs. (7) “Repent and be baptized” in Jesus name.
How did the Jews repent and turn to God? By believing in the name of Jesus as expressed by immersion into that name. I doubt seriously that many understood all the ramifications you expressed and in the commentaries you listed. Those are all things scholarly folks like to dig out and that’s great. BUt the common folks of that day-most I’m sure didn’t think as hard as we have about it, just wanted to know what to do about their condition. What shall we do? Isn’t it the same today? Men and women just want to know what to do. How deep is enough and how deep is too deep initially? Peter’s sermon in ch. 3 is of course interrupted but in ch. 4 (vs 4) it says, “many who heard the message believed.” Is that somehow different than in ch 2? “Those who accepted his message(believed) were baptized.” It’s not stated the same is it? But we know that is identical in thought. The answer for Their sin(s) was to repent of their wicked way(s) their(failure to believe in Jesus and complicity in his death, and their sins plural-whatever they may be) and put their faith in the name of Jesus by baptism into his name(turning to God) at which point they would receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the H.S.-be refreshed. If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. The old things are gone , the new has come. The Jews were lost before they crucified Jesus. Jesus said he came to seek and save the lost. John the Baptist commanded they repent, not of rejection or failure to believe in Messiah, but of their failures to live as they should. Nothing today has changed. Acts 2 and 3, while applying to the Jews, specifically, it applies to all indirectly. No Gentile has to repent of rejecting the Messiah, but we are all complicit by all being sinners with sins. The answer for us is the same as it was for them, Repent of our sinful condition(remorse-weep and wail) but not just remorse, but turn to God by faith as expressed in baptism into the name of Jesus.(believing in the name)