Prayer List:
Don Baker is having back problems. He is also scheduled to have his second cataract surgery this week and also is to have a heart test.
Andy Ledane is recovering from rotator cuff surgery
Billy Joe Wheeler has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He has been moved to The Woodlands.
Chris Johnson’s mother, Angel Johnson has begun her cancer treatment
Dean and Della Price need our prayers.
Don Hickerson had a heart catheterization Friday. He has some blockage but did not have a stint. The doctor wants to put in a defibrillator next Friday.
Robert Courtney is recovering from back surgery. He has been moved to Beacon Hill in Denison (Room 503).
Jerry & Betty’s son-in-law, Gary Belt, had a seizure last Tuesday.
Frank Roden is having problems with his legs swelling.
Remember in Daily Prayer:
James & Florene Griffin, Jerry & Betty Harris, Billie Phillips, Billie Bradford,
Betty Clark, Jennifer Cox, Mary & Les Hamel, Don Hickerson, Eddie Hickerson,
Gary Hickerson, Dorothy Hodges, Bobbye King, Audrey McKin, Beryl Miller,
Eddie Rolens, Brian Scott, Amy McKillop, Dale Rideout
Serving Our Country:
Cody Blumstead, Josh Van Deren, Chris Johnson, Tyler Davies
Pantry Item: Paper towels
Men Serving Next Week September 23, 2018
Prayers: Morning: Don Harrington-Greg Counts
Evening: Kerry King- Charlie Counts
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.”
(James 5:16)
Is Baptism Essential to Salvation?
by Ben Bailey
Many in our religious world would answer this with a “NO”. It is good to do. It definitely should be done. Can I go to Heaven without doing it? Yes. For just a few moments I want to ask you to put aside any preconceived thoughts or ideas you may have about baptism. I ask you to simply take the Bible for what it says and examine with me this very important subject.
Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved, he that does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). In this verse Jesus gives us two requirements that must be met to receive salvation. What are they? Belief and baptism are the two requirements that are essential to salvation.
Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter’s statement is in response to the Jews questions, “Men and brothers what shall we do”? (Acts 2:37). The Jews had just realized they crucified their own Messiah. When they realized their sin, they asked what we must do to receive the forgiveness of this sin. Peter gave a clear response to their question. He said they had to repent and be baptized to be forgiven of their sin! Thus, repentance and baptism are essential to be forgiven of sin.
Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that baptism was essential to get to Heaven. Nicodemus came to Jesus to flatter Him, but Jesus got right to the point. He said to Nicodemus, “…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus plainly taught that a person could not go to Heaven without being baptized.
From the Apostle Paul’s conversion we also learn that baptism is essential to salvation. At Paul’s conversion Ananias told him, “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the Lord’s name” (Acts 22:16). How did Paul get his sins washed away? How did he call on the Lord’s name? By getting up and being baptized. Thus, baptism is essential to have your sins forgiven.
Friend, can you honestly come to passages like these and many others and say that baptism is not essential to salvation. Did you know that most modern religions say that exact thing? Why not just take Jesus at His word and obey Him? If you would like to study more about God’s plan of salvation we would love to help you. May God help each of us to conform our will to the Gospel of Christ!