Waynesboro Church Of Christ
Welcomes You!
A pasted message from Matthew!
Past Message From Matthew
Posted Date: August 19, 2008
The churches of Christ have always considered baptism to be part of the plan of salvation. It has always been stated clearly that one must be baptized to be saved. But sometimes with the increased attention, there has been decreased importance. With the emphasis on the obedience of baptism there has been a lack of focus on the celebration after baptism. Throughout the word of God, it seems that God is focused on the obedience as well as the rejoicing over a baptism. It seems that the Bible places an emphasis on baptism for salvation as well as a period of celebration after baptism. To neglect one of these emphases is to neglect the focus of the Bible.
In Luke 15:4-6 there is the focus on celebrating the lost sheep. "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'” In Matthew 12:11-12 “And He said to them, ‘What man shall there be among you, who shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’” Jesus states in Matthew that if a sheep is to be healed, and in Luke a sheep is to be celebrated, certainly a man should be healed and celebrated.
Also, in the book of Acts, there are numerous examples of the conversion accounts in which after baptism there is a celebration. In Acts 16:33-34 “And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.”
In scripture there is a pattern to rejoice with those who have been baptized. On August 24th, we will be having a baptismal celebration.