Category Archives: Baptism

1. God is a God of exceptions — at least when it comes to insisting on the covenant-means of obtaining forgiveness. In the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations, we see God making repeated exceptions from the stated pattern of how … Continue reading →

How do we deal with the fact that Paul wrote— (1 Cor. 1:17) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied … Continue reading →

God’s Right to Make Exceptions Job teaches us that we have no business judging God, especially for his extraordinary generosity. I wish space allowed a thorough study of Job. Chapters 33-42 particularly make the point. Beginning in chapter 33, Elihu … Continue reading →

In the last two posts, we considered the history God’s dealings with his people, and we learned that God has never refused his salvation to someone who approached him with faith and penitence — even when that person failed to … Continue reading →

The Christian dispensation Whether God makes exceptions is particularly significant when we consider the Christian dispensation, of course. It is undoubtedly true that the Epistles and the Gospels suggest that baptism is not only normative, but also essential. But Acts … Continue reading →

Recall that we’ve always taught that Bible history should be divided between the Patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the Christian dispensations, each dispensation having a distinctive covenant with God, that being a distinctive means of salvation. In each dispensation, God has … Continue reading →

In the first lesson, I said — and I meant it — that the traditional exegesis of the baptism verses by the Churches of Christ is largely correct. In particular, I emphasized John 3:5, which clearly makes water baptism a … Continue reading →