God’s Tests
Although God doesn’t tempt anyone (James 1: 13), He does test the faithfulness of His children. (Proverbs 17: 3)
In the first book of the Old Testament there’s the story of Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham. (Gen. 12; 17:5-15)). Abraham now about sixty-five years old and Sarah, his wife [Sarai before God changed her name] about ten years younger had settled in Ur of the Chaldees, which was near the Persian Gulf. Then, one day God told Abraham that He wanted him to move away from Ur. (Genesis 12:1-3). God didn’t identify the location of their new home; He would do that later.
Now, imagine Abraham returning home that day and telling Sarah to pack everything she wanted to take with her because they would be moving? …show more content…
“Except ye repent, ye shall in all like manner perish” (Luke 13:5) No one argues about the necessity of repentance. Again, it makes sense to us. Following the Lord requires one to turn (repent) from former path.
Third, a person must confess his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven” “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10). Nothing could be more reasonable. Upon choosing to follow the Lord, it’s only natural that faith in Him be confessed.
Fourth, baptism is a required act in the Lord’s Plan of Salvation. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16); “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins…” (Acts 2:38); “The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us…” (I Peter 3:21). However, it is right here that most people stumble and fall. They can’t understand the reason for baptism. It doesn’t make sense to humanity. What possible connection could there be between getting ducked in water and my salvation? The only connection is that God said to do it. One may not understand why …show more content…
So, I don’t know why God put water baptism in His Plan of Salvation, but He did and I my faith must be strong enough to obey Him whether I understand it or not. Baptism is God’s way of testing our faith. It’s a simple request to do something that we don’t understand.
There is no test of a man’s faith to believe. That makes senses.
Repentance from sins and the confession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is sensible; therefore, there is no hesitation on the part of those who genuinely seek salvation.
Nonetheless, when it comes to baptism for the remission of sins, the only reason a person will submit to it is because God said do it. Understand baptism is not required; however, God said do it, so we do it.
And when one obeys God, He will say, “Now I
Although God doesn’t tempt anyone (James 1: 13), He does test the faithfulness of His children. (Proverbs 17: 3)
In the first book of the Old Testament there’s the story of Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham. (Gen. 12; 17:5-15)). Abraham now about sixty-five years old and Sarah, his wife [Sarai before God changed her name] about ten years younger had settled in Ur of the Chaldees, which was near the Persian Gulf. Then, one day God told Abraham that He wanted him to move away from Ur. (Genesis 12:1-3). God didn’t identify the location of their new home; He would do that later.
Now, imagine Abraham returning home that day and telling Sarah to pack everything she wanted to take with her because they would be moving? …show more content…
“Except ye repent, ye shall in all like manner perish” (Luke 13:5) No one argues about the necessity of repentance. Again, it makes sense to us. Following the Lord requires one to turn (repent) from former path.
Third, a person must confess his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven” “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10). Nothing could be more reasonable. Upon choosing to follow the Lord, it’s only natural that faith in Him be confessed.
Fourth, baptism is a required act in the Lord’s Plan of Salvation. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16); “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins…” (Acts 2:38); “The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us…” (I Peter 3:21). However, it is right here that most people stumble and fall. They can’t understand the reason for baptism. It doesn’t make sense to humanity. What possible connection could there be between getting ducked in water and my salvation? The only connection is that God said to do it. One may not understand why …show more content…
So, I don’t know why God put water baptism in His Plan of Salvation, but He did and I my faith must be strong enough to obey Him whether I understand it or not. Baptism is God’s way of testing our faith. It’s a simple request to do something that we don’t understand.
There is no test of a man’s faith to believe. That makes senses.
Repentance from sins and the confession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is sensible; therefore, there is no hesitation on the part of those who genuinely seek salvation.
Nonetheless, when it comes to baptism for the remission of sins, the only reason a person will submit to it is because God said do it. Understand baptism is not required; however, God said do it, so we do it.
And when one obeys God, He will say, “Now I