How To Establish Religous Authority #15

A. Last week we talked about temporary and permanent commands given in the scriptures. 1 Cor. 14:1,
“....desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” But, he also said those special spiritual gifts
were temporary in the church. 1 Cor. 13:8?11. “Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part
and we prophesy in part, but when that which is complete is come, the incomplete will be done away.”
We also learned why theose gifts were to be temporary. Acts 8:14?19, tells us that these special spiritual gifts were dispensed to New Testament Christians by the laying on of the apostles hands. And when all the apostles died, those gifts and the ability to pass them on to others died, ceased. When those who had those gifts given to them died the era of special, spiritual gifts died and came to an end. The New Testament, as we have it today, was written down by the apostles and first century prophets and reveals every thing we need to know about how to establish the church, operate in the church, live as the church, perpetuate the church and inherit eternal life. This New Testament replaced the temporary gifts that were given for that purpose. We have the end result of all that in permanent written form and you do not need anything else. Therefore, I know that the command in 1 Cor. 14:1, “....to desire spiritual gifts.” is a temporary command not intended to be obeyed by the church perpetually to the end of the Christian age.
a. In the same way there are commands that are intended to be obeyed by the church perpetually to
the end of the Christian age. One of those is the command in Matt. 28:18-29; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16, and every one of those, without exception command all Christians every where
to be baptized, (immersed in water) to obtain forgiveness of their sins.
(A) There is a popular doctrine today called “Ultra-dispensationalism.” One of their doctrines is
That baptism as commanded in the New Testament was a temporary, first century, command.
It is only binding on people who lived in that period of time between Acts chapter 2 through Acts
chapter 28. A when the book of Acts closed that was the end of the obligation for man to be
baptized in water.
(1) Therefore, being baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins, is not a required part of
salvation for anyone today. Their only belief about baptism is a dry, waterless baptism.
They believe only in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now these people, like a great many
others, in the denominational world, are very sincere in their belief. But, no matter how
sincere they may be, the fact is that they are profoundly and all together wrong. Why?
(a) They’re like people in 2 Pet. 3:6, whom the apostle Peter calls “...ignorant and
unstable who twist and distort the scriptures, to their own destruction.” These people
do not understand the difference between a command that is temporary and a
command that is permanent.
How do we know that baptism (immersion) in water is a permanent command? That is the question we have to answer. How do we know? There are two reasons.
First Acts 2:38, Peter told those people who had paricipated in the crucifixion of Jesus, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
What did he say? “Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.” Baptism and the forgiveness of sin is connected. They are inseparably tied together. What does that mean?
It means that as long as people have sins, there will be the need to be baptized. God connects the two, God ties them together and you cannot untie them.
Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matt. 28:18-20. Now look at the command and also look at the promise associated with it. “Go make disciples, baptize them, and if you do this, as long as you do this I will be with you.”
(1) How long Lord? “To the very end of the world.” That means that baptism for the remission of sins is to continue until the end of the world. It is not a temporary, first century only command.

How do I know that? Because, Jesus said, “As long as you continue to do this I will be with you.” How long Lord? “To the end of the world?” That scripture says that baptism is to be commanded and obeyed until the end of the world because Jesus said, “As long as you keep doing this I’ll be with you.” How long will you do that Lord? “To the end of the world.”
This is not Holy Spirit baptism. Jesus told the apostles, “You go teach and make disciples and you baptize those disciples into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” It was a baptism that was administered by the disciples. It was from disciple to disciple. Holy Spirit baptism was administered directly by Christ. Matt. 3:11, “He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” The baptism commanded in Matt. 28:18-20, is a baptism administered by men. Learn to understand what the scriptures say.
The baptism administered by the apostles and commanded to be perpetuated by man is water baptism. And it is a permanent law and command that is to be obeyed until Jesus comes again.
The same is true of the Lord’s Supper. Some say that was for the First Century church in the book of Acts. We don’t need to do that today. If we do observe it how do we know that we are to do it? That’s an important question.
Matt. 26:26?28, “Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” This established the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
Paul makes reference to this 1 Cor. 11:23-26. Jesus said, “This do in rememberance of Me.” That is a command. How long? Paul tells us how long, in 1 Cor. 11:26, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” How long? Until He comes again. Until the end of time.
(4) How long are the words of this book binding? How long is baptism a necessary requirement for salvation? How long are we to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week?
(1) How long are we to remain faithful? How long do you owe your allegience, faithfulness to God? Until He comes again.
(2) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 05/18/03 am