Truth Magazine

By Carol R. Lumpkin

Baptism is not for any and every one. It is for believers only. It is only for those who have matured enough to surrender themselves to Jesus. It is only for those who know their guilt of sin and desire it to be removed. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). Only believers may be baptized. This rules out babies and the uninformed.

Babies are sinless! Infants and small children do not need baptism for they are not guilty of sin. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 Jn. 3:4). Since little children cannot know the law, they cannot sin. Jesus affirmed the innocence of little children, when He said; “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14).

A child is born without sin. He does not bear the guilt of Adam’s sin. A child does not bear the sin of his parents. A child may reap the results of his father’s sin, but he is not accountable, or guilty, for them. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. . . ” (Ezek. 18:20).

It is a perverted, non-biblical view of man that allows the doctrine of “total depravity.” Man was created without sin. A child is born without sin. Every person born into this world remains good until he or she individually sins. Babies are not little devils in sin. They are innocent, safe and pure before God (Matt. 18:1-3).

Infant baptism is based upon the false doctrine that babies are born sinners and need baptism to remove those sins. The doctrine of children being born in sin was introduced by Augustine in the fifth century. The need for infant baptism grew out of this false concept. Many people who now practice infant baptism no longer believe the “total depravity” doctrine. To reject that doctrine should also lead them to reject infant baptism.

Who can be baptized? This question, parents often ask. How old must my child be before he can be baptized? To answer this, other questions, must be asked. How much about Jesus does your child know? What does he know about sin? Does he know why he must be baptized? For what purpose is baptism? Before a person may be scripturally baptized, he must believe that Jesus not only lived, but that he died, was buried and resurrected from the grave (1 Cor. 15:1-4). These facts must be believed. The person desiring baptism must believe in Jesus (Jn. 8:24); repent of his sins (Lk. 13:3); confess Christ as God’s Son (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (Acts 2:38).

Jesus commanded His apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:16). Those who were taught and became believers could request baptism. When Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch, he believed and requested baptism (Acts 8:3538).

Infants are not born sinners. Infants cannot be taught the word of God. Infants cannot believe the word of God and request baptism. Baptism is for believers only.

Truth Magazine XXII: 37, p. 594
September 21, 1978

By Dennis C. Abernathy

I am sure that a great many are aware mat we live in a time that is not characterized with respect. We see this “lack of respect” on every hand and in every facet of life. The word “respect” simply means, “to consider worthy of esteem” and carries with it the idea of deferential regard and honor. I certainly do not pretend to know all the reasons for this general lack of respect (although I do have some ideas on the subject), but I certainly can suggest some areas wherein there is a crying and pressing need for respect. Consider the following:

1. There is a Pressing Need for Respect for God. There are many today who do not even believe in God, much less, respect Him. “God that made the world and all things therein . . . . . seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things . . . . . For in him we live, and move, and have our being . . . . . For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:24-28). Do most people recognize these things? No! With most, it is as it was with Israel of old. They have forsaken God. “For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Listen to the language of many today. God’s name, used in vain, is no uncommon thing. Look at many of the TV commercials and see the profane use made of God and those things that pertain to Him. Visit many worship (?) services of the Lord’s church today and notice how respectful (?) many are. Have we lost sight of the honor and respect that is due our Creator? For shame! “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psa. 89:6-7).

2. There is a Pressing Need for Respect for God’s Word. There was a time when people, for the most part, were willing to go to God’s Word and see what He said on any matter. They may have disagreed over the meaning of a passage, but not that it was from God Almighty. If an individual has respect for the word of God, he will receive it as such. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). What the word of God says should end all argument, that is, if we respect that word! A proper respect for the word of God will lead one to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter. 2:11), without any addition or subtraction. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may kept the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:2, 12:32). Further we read in Rev. 22:1819, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

But is there this respect for the word of God by the majority of folk? Nay, there is not! Man has added and he has subtracted to suit his own fancy. The Book says we are saved by faith (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16) but man comes along and says that we are saved by faith “only.” The Book says “not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24); man says that it is by “faith only” and that it “is a very wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort.” The Book says we are to sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Man, in his wisdom, comes along and says, “Lo we want to sing and play upon instruments. The Book says, “Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). Man comes along and says it is “impossible for one to fall.” The Book attributes for itself completeness and perfection (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jas. 1:25;, but man comes along and says we must have the Spirit operate upon our heart first so that we can then understand the Word. The Book says the gospel is God’s power to save, but man (even our own brethren) comes along and uses every gimmick, scheme, and trick in the old denominational book to get people into the number. You notice, that I say “number” and not the “body of Christ.” It is impossible to get people into the body of Christ through these means. Are we drawing people to Christ through the puppet shows, magic tricks, youth retreats, prizes on the buses, etc.? Jesus said, “Ye seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled” (Jn. 12:26). As long as the loaves and fishes held out they would follow Jesus. As long as the gimmicks hold out many today will follow. But Paul said the gospel is the power to save (Rom. 1:16). He told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). Of course some brethren make their distinction between “gospel” and “doctrine” and try and say Paul was all wrong about it anyway.

What has happened? I will tell you what has happened! In the mad rush to keep up with the denominational world and society in general, many have lost respect for the Word of God. The doctrines, commandments, and schemes of men are held in high esteem while the Bible is thrown on the junk heap as out-moded.

3. There is a Pressing Need for Respect for Decency and Morality. Today we are bombarded with indecency of speech, dress, and manners. Indecent language, pictures, etc. come into the home via television, radio, newspapers, magazines and other avenues (Phil. 4:8; Eph. 4:29). Some wear few clothes, and others wear clothes from material of such nature that they may as well not wear any at all (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Many evidently do not know how to act decently and civilized around women and older folks (1 Tim. 5:1-3). Morality (according to the Bible) is outdated and now we have the “new morality.” Everyone is now his own standard and “love” is the guiding force. Of course, to them love is just the avenue to gratify their every lust and desire. The cry goes up, “You cannot legislate morals.” I do not want to legislate morals, but God has! He has spoken! (Read Gal. 5:19-21 and 2 Cor. 12:20-21.) Will we heed His Word?

Yes, on and on we could go. Certainly we live in a disrespectful age. But we do not have to live that way. We live in the world, but we do not have to be of the world. Let us strive to live a life of respect for God, His Word, and for our fellow man. God will be pleased and we will be blessed.

Truth Magazine XXII: 36, pp. 582-583
September 14, 1978

By Larry Ray Hafley

In this article, we are drawing a bead on a statement that very well could have been written by those affected and infected by the “grace, unity and fellowship” concepts of Carl Ketcherside. First, the statement:

One of the apostle Paul’s great affirmations of faith began, `I know whom I have believed.’ His security in his salvation was based not on some set of beliefs nor a system of theology; it was based on a personal relationship. He knew Jesus. It is entirely possible that a person can know all about Christ and not know Him personally. The Christian faith is not so much a religion as a relationship. It is having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ who is the Son of God. This encounter leads one to a personal commitment of his own life to Jesus, accepting Him as Savior and acknowledging Him as Lord.

The quote is from the “First Baptist Messenger.” It was written by Jerry Curry, a Baptist preacher. The Baptists have been making nonsense on the grace-fellowship issue for, “Lo, these many years,” but some of our brethren are about to get even.

Look at the statement again. What does it say? In 2 Timothy 1:12 (“. . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”), Paul did not argue that security is “based not on some set of beliefs nor a system of theology.” That was not his point, for in the very next verse, Paul said, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of men, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” Wonder if the word “form” would be at least roughly equivalent to “set of beliefs” or “system of theology”? What would you think if one were to take 2 Timothy 1:13 and say that Paul’s security in his salvation was not based on a personal relationship but on a set or form of beliefs? You would respond, “Yes, we must hold fast the form of sound words, but this cannot be separated from our trust or faith in Christ.” In other words, both verses go together. Exactly!

All this talk about “commitment to a Person,” “a personal encounter,” and “knowing Christ personally” is a bunch of pious nothing. What does it mean? What does it say? When it attempts to exclude obedience to the truth or a keeping of a “set of beliefs,” it means absolutely nothing. Paul did think, in one of his “great affirmations of faith,” that security in salvation was dependent on knowing and continuing in a “set of beliefs.” Hear him, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). Try to explain that text with “a personal encounter” that eliminates adherence to a “set of beliefs” to cannot be done. Further, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:4).

But Baptists and the “new unity movement” brethren in the so called free churches should not feel hard at this article or toward me. After all, my security, according to them, is not “based” on a “legalistic” set of beliefs, but on “a personal relationship.” So, I can scorn their beliefs and be just as secure as they are as long as I maintain that ever-nebulous, undefined “personal commitment to Jesus.” Somehow, though, it does not work out that smoothly. These brethren who accept the old Baptist views on grace and fellowship in Christ can accept a premillennialist, a Christian Church preacher and his piano, and institutional brethren with their human societies, because they say theirs is a “relationship to Jesus” which is not based on a “set of beliefs.” But they have a hard time following that same reasoning and accepting me. That is not being consistent.

Truth Magazine XXII: 36, p. 578
September 14, 1978

By Jimmy Tuten, Jr.

The Apostle Paul informs us that we are not to be “overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Within collectives of God’s people, there is always a need for peace and concord, kindness and good will. These are indispensable. When strife enters into a congregation, the possibility and hope of doing good are gone. We are to live in harmony with one another. It was Nelson who, after one of his great victories, sent back a dispatch in which he gave as the reason of it: “I had the happiness to command a band of brothers.” The implications of his success are apparent.

Evil will rear its ugly head from time to time, but we must overcome it with good. We are not to be vanquished or subdued by injury received from others. Our temper must not be allowed to get excited; our principles must not be abandoned; our amiable temper must not be ruffled by opposition. God would have us maintain our Christian principles and show the power of the gospel.

Let it be remembered that we are overcome of evil when we suffer our temper to be excited and become enraged and revengeful by engaging in contention with those who injure us. We must show those with evil dispositions the loveliness of a better spirit. As a Christian, proper deportment is essential.

The following illustration from the Primitive Monitor of 1912 demonstrates what we are saying:

Among the incidents of the Revolutionary War, it is recorded that there lived at Ephratah, Pennsylvania, an old Baptist minister, Peter Miller, who had a very staunch enemy in his community who was also a notorious fighter against Old Baptist. This enemy, during the war, was charged and found guilty of treason, and for this was sentenced to hang. As soon as sentence was passed, Peter Miller set out on foot to visit General Washington at Philadelphia to intercede for the man’s life. George Washington told the minister that he was sorry but his pleading for his friend could not be granted. “My friend!” exclaimed Peter Miller, “I have no worse enemy living than that man.”

“What?” said George Washington, “you have walked sixty miles to plead for the life of your enemy? That in my judgement puts the matter in a different light. I will grant you his pardon.” The pardon was made out and Peter Miller hastened at once towards the place of execution, which was fifteen miles from Philadelphia, and which was to take place in the afternoon of that day. He arrived lust as the man was being carried to the scaffold, and the doomed man, seeing the minister walk up, exclaimed, “there Is old Peter Miller. He has walked all the way from Ephratah to gratify his revenge by seeing me hang!”

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Peter Miller handed him his pardon and thus his life was spared.

Yes brethren. Overcome evil with good!

Truth Magazine XXII: 36, p. 587
September 14, 1978