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 The
Foundation of Spirituality - Honesty Larry Rouse
Why does the preaching of the gospel seem not to be effective in our
society today? We know that God’s word has not changed, nor has its
power (Rom 1:16). We are assured by God that His word will never
return to Him void, but it will always accomplish the purpose for
which He sent it (Isa 55:11). Today, with this present generation,
as it has in past generations, the word of God is able to expose
hearts and allow men to choose light or darkness (Jn 3:19-21). This
choice depends upon the kind of heart a man possesses.
When Jesus described the kind of heart in which the word of God
would be received and would prosper, He described it as “good and
honest” (Lk 8:15 KJV). Will a man choose light or darkness, honesty
or dishonesty? If a man decides that he “hates the light” then God
will let him “believe a lie” and will not do anything further other
than the presentation of His word (2 Thess. 2:10-11).
We must fight the temptation to be dishonest
The battle for honesty lasts a lifetime. God emphatically warns the
Christian to guard his heart and to keep it pure. “Do not lie to one
another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col
3:9). God has plainly told us: “He who works deceit shall not dwell
within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my
presence” (Psa 101:7).
The nature of man has not changed. Without continual exposure to the
word of God, men’s hearts will be pulled back to self-justification
and blindness (Prov 16:2; Jer 17:10-11). Why do men prefer
dishonesty? Psychologists suggest that men tend to make up the
reasons for their behaviors after they do them, and that their
“reasons” and behavior usually have nothing to do with each other.
King Saul was a prime example of a good man who gave in to
dishonesty to his own destruction. Do you remember the various
explanations that he made to Samuel when he was confronted about his
direct disobedience to God’s command (1 Sam 15:3, 15, 20-21)? “I was
going to sacrifice them! No, wait, it was the people that did it!”
Finally, after a spiritual wrestling match, Saul admits his sin, but
without true repentance! Saul thought that his outward confession
without a changed heart would put him right with God. In this he had
deceived himself! This pattern would remain throughout Saul’s life.
We must recognize dishonesty
God’s love will lead us to look to the good in others. Indeed, we
want to believe the best about others and not be quick to judge
another’s actions without sufficient evidence. Nonetheless, the
Bible is filled with warnings concerning those who would
deliberately mislead us and the kind of tactics they will use to
accomplish this task. “That we should no longer be children, tossed
to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”
(Eph 4:14). “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to
their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering
people to gain advantage” (Jude 16).
It is a difficult thing for good and honest Christians to see the
deceit and manipulation from those who have a hidden agenda to pull
others into their circle. Flattery is first used to gain a closer
association and trust. Then lies are told in secret to inflame
emotions and close minds (Prov. 18:19). Finally, these men succeed
in having their new disciples cut off association with their former
brethren without so much as talking about these newly discovered
“differences” over an open Bible (Gal 4:16-17).
A commitment to honesty will keep us from these “closed door
decisions” that result in one “cutting and running.” Instead we will
openly discuss and test those who have beliefs that they say are of
God (1 Jn 4:1). Also, we will not accept testimony about the
personal actions of another without first giving that person a
chance to defend himself (Prov. 18:17; Mt 18:15-17)!
Pride always leads to dishonesty
Those who do not know God cannot stand to look at themselves
honestly. The driving force behind pride is the desire to be
recognized and have praise because we wish to appear to be something
that we are not. “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal 6:3). Those that follow
this path must wear a mask. They must fight to “keep up appearances”
and work to tear others down so that they can receive this vain and
temporary recognition of men. There is a better way to live your
life!
God’s forgiveness allows us to be honest
God sees me as I am, and, in spite of that, He loves me and seeks my
best. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). God sees the
darkness of my sin and has provided a sacrifice that will wash away
my sins and restore my relationship with Him (Rom 3:23; 6:23). What
do I need to do? I need to be honest! I must see my own sin and make
no excuses. The love of God must move me to change my heart in
repentance that will result in a changed life. I then will take the
final step in water baptism, yielding my body to a burial and
resurrection like the Lord’s (Rom 6:3-5). I now am the Lord’s, not
because I am perfect, but because I am forgiven and have yielded my
heart to Him (Acts 2:38-39).
The Christian life is characterized by the forgiveness of God.
Rather than run from my shortcomings, I can now run to God for a
greater sight and to seek His help in growing to be something more
in His service. I come to love the truth, to love bold and honest
preaching because it allows me to see what God already sees and what
I need to know. Most of all, I am thankful that God’s word is able
to penetrate my heart when it drifts into dishonesty and point me
back to Him. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of
soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden
from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him
to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12-13).
Be honest. Are you genuinely serving the Lord with all of your heart
(2 Cor 13:5)?
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and
forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov 28:13). ~
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Infant Baptism: Of God, or of
Men?
by Jonathan L. Perz
Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about infant baptism? The
truth is: the Bible is silent on this subject. This might seem
strange, considering the practice is so prevalent today.
Nevertheless, the practice cannot be proven as apostolic, nor can it
be proven as originating in the first century. As a matter of fact,
all scriptural and historical evidence leads us to believe the
practice of infant baptism was merely an innovation of men, which
began toward the end of the second century. As Jesus would say, “But
from the beginning, it was not so.”
In the first century, Jesus sent His disciples out with the
commission to baptize penitent believers (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark
16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). It was through this commission, known as
the Great Commission, that the disciples spread the gospel of Jesus
Christ (as recorded in the book of Acts).
Regarding infant baptism, we note from the Great Commission, that
for one to be baptized, they must first 1) hear the gospel, 2)
believe, and 3) repent. What infant is capable of accomplishing
these things? Thus, by whose authority do we baptize infants?
Certainly not by the Lord’s authority! The practice of any baptism
without regard to the Lord’s clearly established precepts must be
inherently false and vain.
Even so you might wonder, what about original sin—does not a baby
need to be cleansed from the sin of Adam (cf. Romans 5:12)? Is not a
baby born depraved and in sin, thus requiring God’s forgiveness (cf.
Ephesians 2:3)? I propose, and scripture and history support, that
this false doctrine is merely the progenitor of the other false
doctrines (e.g., infant baptism, and other doctrines that cover the
infant who dies before baptism).
Indeed, the only thing original about sin is that it originates in
the heart of a man (James 1:14-16) and that its consequences
originate from God (Romans 6:23). Among other things, those who say
an infant is born a sinner must explain why the gospel of our Lord
teaches us that we are redeemed (Revelation 5:9), reconciled (2
Corinthians 5:18), and have returned to the Lord (1 Peter 2:25). The
prefix “re-” means “again” and infers that each of us, at one time,
enjoyed such a relationship with God. If each of us is born
depraved, at what point did we enjoy this relationship with God?
Furthermore, if children are depraved from birth, why did Jesus
suggest that we become like little children (Matthew 18:3)? Did our
Lord suggest we become like little “sinners?” I should think not! As
we have already indicated, sin is born in man; man is not born in
sin! Similarly, the doctrine of original sin was begotten of man!
You might also wonder, what about household baptism—were not whole
households baptized in the first century (Acts 10:1-11:18; Acts
16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16)? This argument assumes, with
no evidence, that infants were members of each household baptized.
To say the apostles baptized infants in each of these cases renders
their obedience to the Great Commission null and void, as we have
already proven. A candidate for baptism must first hear the word,
believe, and repent (Acts 2:38; Acts 16:14; Acts 17:30; etc.). Since
infants are incapable of such, they were not baptized.
We might also ask, if infants were baptized in the first century,
why did Luke record not one such instance? Indeed, Luke tells of
thousands being baptized, even specifying men and women at one point
(Acts 8:12); yet, not one hint of infants. Why is this? Perhaps it
is because infant baptism is not an authorized practice.
Another problem is that many commonly practice infant baptism by
pouring or sprinkling water on the infant’s head. Our English word
baptism is borrowed from the Greek word baptizo meaning immersion.
First Century Christians practiced baptism by complete immersion in
water, not by pouring or sprinkling (which, by the way, have their
own Greek words).
To briefly illustrate this, Luke tells us that Phillip and the
eunuch “went down into” and “came up out of” the water, suggesting
immersion (Acts 8:38-39). John tells us that John the Baptist
baptized where there was “much water” (John 3:23). Paul likens
baptism unto a “burial” (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). Clearly,
baptism by sprinkling and pouring is another innovation of men,
further proving infant baptism devoid of any spiritual value.
Overall, the greatest danger of infant baptism is that many have
been deceived into believing, based on their baptism as an infant,
that they have obeyed the command of Jesus Christ to be baptized
(Mark 16:16). Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians,
Methodists, and many more denominations teach this pernicious
doctrine.
The truth is: if you were baptized as an infant you obeyed nothing.
Your parents obeyed for you. Furthermore, you were not even a proper
candidate for baptism. Did you hear the message of the gospel before
you were baptized? Did you believe (Mark 16:16)? Did you obey from
the heart that form of doctrine (Romans 6:17)? Even if you could
answer “yes” to these, were you immersed? What consciousness did you
have of sin (1 Peter 3:21)? What sins did you commit as an infant
that required repentance (Acts 2:38; cf. Ezekiel 18)? These, and
many other questions could be asked—for none of which will you find
a satisfactory answer.
Clearly, the practice of infant baptism is a prime example of
“teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
Such worship, as the Lord tells us, is vain. ~
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