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Baptism & Local Church Membership

Most Christians on the Earth are accustomed to the idea that, in order to be a member of a local church, baptism is an absolute requirement. Is this true when the Bible is correctly understood, or an ecclesiastical tradition? It is our belief @ Philadelphia Apostolic Presbyterian in WSNC that this is an ecclesiastical tradition that has been passed down through the ages & that the requirement that males be circumcised in the Old Testament qualifies as case law not a rigid command that rules over Abraham & his offspring in a manner that is inelastic.  And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)l To illustrate, let’s look at 7th Day Sabbatarianism again.  7th Day Sabbath worship has never been abolished. It has been expanded, just as circumcision had never been repealed.  Rather, it has been expanded via baptism.   In fact, baptism came before circumcision according to 1 Pet. 3:21.     T...
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All Are Made Alive! (Part 2)

Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?  30  Why are we in danger every hour?  31  I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32  What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”  33  Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”  34  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (I Corinthians 15) What does this text mean?  What is Paul referencing?   According to Dan Doriani :  The simplest reading of the text is that some Corinthian Christians were baptized vicariously on behalf of some who’d already died, seeking a spiritual benefit. The problem with this view, though,...
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All Are Made Alive! (Part 1)

RL Solberg says the Bible doesn’t teach a species of Universalism.   John 3:18 : Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  This text is simply a statement of fact.    How does it prove Particularism? At issue isn’t whether or not someone who has failed to exercise saving faith & repentance is condemned.    The issue is whether or not this judicial status is perpetual after such a person crosses over.  John 3:36 :  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. This text is simply a statement of fact.    How does it prove Particularism? At issue isn’t whether or not someone who has failed to exercise saving faith & repentance is condemned.    The issue is whether or not this judicial status is perpetual after such a person...
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Redeeming The Time: Halloween

Halloween, when properly understood, is only a pagan festival if the thoughts & intents of its celebrants are directed via their own intentions (James 1:14 - 15) at/toward one or more pagan pseudodeities &/or the demons & the Demonic Realm.   It is, in fact, an extension/outworking of Purim, not merely on the basis that traditions like wearing costumes & the distribution & consumption of candy are outwardly similar, but because there is corresponding quasi-historical/literary rationale for both.  Contrary to the claims of the legalism class, a redemptive-historical administration & observance of All Hallow’s Eve is a great big act of inductive & intuitive prophecy that answers any number of pagan festivals like Samhain & the Day Of the Dead.  Esther provides the rationale for Purim.      The story of Esther takes place during the time of the Jews Exile in the days when Media-Persia ruled an empire that stretched from India to...
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Philippians 3:12 - 14

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This Is The Way!  O LORD, Hear Our Prayer(s)!
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