By Jim Mettenbrink

The great irony of mankind is that each person wants to live on and on, even eternally in heaven, yet, he wants to be his own god and set his own conditions by which he lives in the here and now, and self-deceptively for eternity. The record of when that malady began is found in Genesis chapter three when Adam and Eve decided to do it their way. Result? Death and separation from God – no fellowship with Him at all because of eating one little prohibited fruit. God gave disobedience a huge three-letter word – SIN!

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By Jim Mettenbrink

The tendency of mankind is to make God into a good ole boy, who overlooks our wretchedness. And thereby fostering an easy road to heaven. How often do we hear that salvation is via the sinner’s prayer by popular figures who believe Jesus is God? “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life.”? And by that, you are saved? During a Bible study with a man about 10 years ago, showed me that prayer he had written in his Bible at the behest of a man who believed that was all there was to be saved.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we saw that Saul (later to be the apostle Paul) was commanded to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So did the water wash away his sins? Many have that misunderstanding among others.

Some folks believe that the mere ritual of baptism saves them. So what would be the difference in that and diving into a pool? One might argue that it is the words stated by the one baptizing them that makes the difference between being saved and lost. Some, like the Corinthians Christians, might think the difference is who baptizes them (1 Cor 1:12-17). All of those notions are wrong.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

In the last article, we reviewed statements by protestant reformation leaders Calvin and Luther who acknowledged that baptism in the early church was immersion. However, the churches that follow the teachings and innovations of these men sprinkle or pour water on people rather than immerse them. Has the meaning of the first-century Greek word (original language of the New Testament) bapto (transliterated into English as “baptize”) changed?

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By Jim Mettenbrink

In the past several articles we have shown from the Greek language and from the New Testament that baptism is only immersion in water. The question is, why did man opt to sprinkle and pour rather than obey God? Why transliterate the word baptizo rather than translate it? What does church history tell us about the mode of baptism?

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By Jim Mettenbrink

We continue from last week, that we can know from the New Testament that baptism is immersion, even though the word to baptize is transliterated from baptizo rather than translating it as immersion. Can a person know that baptism is immersion without being familiar with the ancient Greek language?

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By Jim Mettenbrink

In the past two articles, we have been considering why the English dictionary defines Christian baptism via three different modes – sprinkling, pouring, and dipping. However, of eternal significance is how these words are used in the New Testament (NT)? And what are the corresponding Greek words from which they are translated?

To pour (cheo): In the New Testament usage of “to pour out” or “to pour upon” has the sense of taking a container of something and letting the liquid flow out, like milk flowing out of a carton. For example “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” (Revelation 16:1).

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we considered the meaning of the Greek word (baptizo) transliterated into baptism. But when it’s translated, baptizo’s only meaning is to immerse, thus in biblical baptism, the symbolism of the burial of a person dead to sins immersed in a grave of water. And rising alive as a new creation in Christ and entrance into Jesus’ kingdom (Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 1:13-14). That is radical!

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Before we consider the Christian life, let’s clarify what constitutes baptism according to the original biblical text. Merriam-Webster’s 11th ed. Collegiate Dictionary, defines baptism as a Christian sacrament, initiation, or ritual using water; to cleanse spiritually. Regarding the origin of the English word baptize, the dictionary states it is “Greek – baptizein – to dip, baptize, baptein – to dip or dye.” And modern-day English dictionaries’ definitions of baptism are sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. Do all of these methods come from “bapto” or from different Greek words? Regarding becoming a Christian, it is vital to know the real meaning.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we considered that trusting (true faith) in Jesus as the Divine Savior is the first repentance (change) necessary to receive His promise of pardon and eternal life with Him in heaven (Eph 1:12-13). That trust is based upon the gospel (good news) – defined as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus proved there is life after death, that He is God and the guarantor of eternal life (1 John 2:25; 5:20) via His own resurrection.

Further, the apostle Paul wrote there is just one faith, i.e., only one way of salvation (Eph 4:5). To the Roman church he wrote, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). The context is that the word of God is the gospel of peace and that it is to be obeyed (Rm 10:15-16). So Jesus wants us to obey the gospel. How does one die, be buried, and be resurrected in this realm? Jesus did, but how do we?

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