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Sovereign
Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor Bro.
Ronnie Henderson, Song Director "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Are Still
Taught" |
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You Were Asked To Pray For: All
of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle
East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter
Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry,
Virgil & Alice Hoskins, Grandchildren, and his daughters Liz Janis and
Debbie Gray, Alecia Clements, Bryndon
Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston,
Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry
Mollette II & Family, Linda Mollette, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington,
Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson,
Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr,
Donnie Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Ricky Henderson, Rosalie Graves, Terry
Hanson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don
Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro.
& Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, Kathy Rosinbaum,
Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna
Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis Pugh, Timothy
and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother David &
Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel Seymour &
Family, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Leacho Tittle, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee,
Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Pastor
G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Betty, Janie
Capps, Kathy Johnson, Doyle Thomas, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov
and the Churches in Russia. |
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A Thought From Pastor Johnson: Bathing In God’s Word! This passage of scripture has been debated for more years than we need
to talk about. The key topic or debate of this verse is “by the washing of
regeneration” The Church of Christ as well as a few others will debate this
refers to baptismal regeneration however this definition or thought makes
absolutely no sense because the scripture could not be more clear as to the
facts of salvation which is by grace through faith. To say this passage of
scripture is proof that the baptismal waters has saving power is to water
down the blood of Jesus Christ and make it worthless i.e. that tap water has
the same saving power as the blood of Jesus has which would be no less than
blasphemy in the least. This subject has a history going back all the way to
the year 100a.d. when the churches of error started teaching it after the
apostle’s death even to the point they were baptizing their infants in order
to save them, a teaching that Catholicism adopted and still practice today
along with a few more outside of the Catholic church. Let it be noted that
the fruits of the mother church of error still fall close to the tree of
error, which is protestant churches still adhere to the old teachings of
their mother. Let us take a moment to look at their thinking and the contradiction
their thinking brings to the scripture. First, if it did mean “by the washing
of baptism” then it contradicts its context. The Lord had started verse 5
with “Not by works of righteousness which we have done…” which excludes any
type of work on our part for salvation. How could salvation be by works of
any type if works renders grace useless i.e. Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt.” And how many times does the scripture conclude that salvation is by
grace. Secondly, verse 5 also says “…but according to his mercy he saved us…”
mercy means pity that is God had pity on us to save our unworthy souls. If
this meant baptism then where does grace and pity fit into it? What is
merciful about baptism or anything that is considered as works on our part?
Thirdly, why is it that Paul spent the first four chapters of the book of
Romans explaining in very detailed facts that works is not needed for
salvation i.e. Romans 4:2, 3 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
whereof to glory; but not before God. (3.) For what saith
the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness.” And Fourthly, the scriptures never conclude that if one is
not baptized that they will be condemned. These believers of baptismal
regeneration love to use the scripture in Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” But
again where does it conclude that if one is not baptized then they are
condemned, not one single time in the entire New Testament is it concluded.
Salvation and baptism do go hand and hand because once one is saved then they
should be baptized and a member of a local church. In conclusion let it be known that the phrase “by the washing of
regeneration” is a reference to the scriptures and not to baptism at all. Let
us notice in Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,” The word of God is the saving message, while
it is not salvation in itself it does bring salvation to us by the way of the
gospel message. It is neither by our preaching nor by the craftiness of our
preaching but rather the message which is the word of God. The word “washing”
in verse 5 means - to take a bath – that is to come clean through the word of
God, to clean your soul, but to take a bath in the blood of Jesus Christ to
cleanse your sins. |
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MOURNING ENDED, By John MacDuff, 1864 Isaiah 60:20 “Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon
withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine
everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” |