Also, notice that it is baptism that puts us into
Christ so that we can be saved. Galatians
3:27, "For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." This is the
only way a person can get into Christ. The preposition into indicates
a change of relationship. You can search from the front to the back
of your Bible, and you will find no other way to get into Christ except
by being baptized into Christ. Also Romans
6:3 says the same thing, "Or
do you not know, that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?" So the only way we can get
into Christ is to be baptized into Christ. Either a person has been
baptized into Christ, or he is still outside of Christ. We are either
in or we are out. Have you been baptized into Christ in order to be
saved and have your sins forgiven? If you haven't been,
let us notice some of the things that you are missing.
1) Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ."
This verse tells us that every spiritual blessing is located in Christ.
Only those who are in Christ can enjoy these spiritual blessings. Since
this verse says that every spiritual blessing is in Christ, then there
can be no spiritual blessings for those who are outside of Christ.
If you have not been baptized into Christ, you are still outside of
Christ, and you are not entitled to any spiritual blessings. The
Lord arranged it that way and no man has the right to change it.
2) Romans 8:1 says, "There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
On the day of judgment those who are in Christ will not be condemned;
but those who are outside of Christ will be condemned. We go from being
condemned to being forgiven when we are baptized into Christ. If you
have not been baptized into Christ, then you will suffer eternal condemnation.
3 & 4) Only those who are in Christ have been redeemed and
forgiven of their sins. Ephesians 1:7
says, "In Him we have redemption,
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace." since redemption and forgiveness of sins
are located in Christ, those who have not been baptized into Christ
have not been redeemed and still have every sin they have ever committed.
The scriptures are so clear that a person needs help to misunderstand
it. Are you still outside of Christ? You do not have to stay outside
of Christ.
5) Next we read II Corinthians 5:17,
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new." If one is in Christ, he has become
a new creation. He has a new beginning in life, and his "slate
has been wiped clean" since he has been forgiven of all his sins
and has become a new saved person. Although, if you are outside
of Christ, you are still an old sinful creature. You still have all
of your sins and are without hope. When is it that one becomes a new
creation? Romans 6:3-4 says, "Or
do you not know, that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through
baptism into death: that just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life." When is one raised to walk in newness of life? This
scripture says that it is when we are raised out of the waters of baptism.
At that point we begin our walk in newness of life. Newness of life
does not begin until after baptism.
In John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus,
"Unless one is born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God." Then two verses later in John
3:5, Jesus tells how being born again takes place: "Unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God." Our Lord is very emphatic in what he says. No man
has the power or authority to repeal what our Lord has said. Nor does
anyone have the authority to rationalize it away and teach otherwise.
Jesus said that we must be born of water and the Spirit. Jesus said
that being born again must not only include the Spirit, but it must
include water. Here we see that when one is baptized in water, he is
raised to walk in newness of life, becoming a new creature, and thus
he has been born again. Are you still an old sinful creature or have
you become a new creature by being baptized into Christ?
6) The Apostle Paul says in II Timothy
2:10, "Therefore I endure all
things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." Here we see
that salvation is located in Christ, and for one to be eligible for
salvation, he must be in Christ. If you are not in Christ, by being
baptized into Christ, you have no hope or promise of salvation. It will
be a horrible thing for a person, who thinks he is saved, when he stands
before the Lord on the day of judgment, if he is still outside of Christ.
He will have no salvation. He will be lost eternally in Hell.
7) In I John 5:11 we read, "And
this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this
life is in His Son." So according to the inspired word of
God, eternal life is located in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those in
Christ have been promised eternal life. Those who are outside of Christ
have no promise of eternal life. So what does that leave them? It leaves
them only eternal punishment, which is a sad condition. My heart bleeds
for them, because I don't want to see anyone lost. But how can
you get people to wake up to the truth of God's word?
The following chart sums up what we have been discussing concerning
the advantages of being in Christ. As we have seen, it is baptism that
puts us into Christ (Rom 6:3, Gal 3:27)
so that we can enjoy all of these spiritual blessings which are in Christ.
Where on the chart are you actually located? Outside
of Christ or inside of Christ? Not where you would like to be located,
but where are you actually located at this time, depending on whether
you have been baptized into Christ or not. If you were baptized for
the remission of sins in order to be saved then you were baptized into
Christ. But if your baptism was not for the remission of sins and not
to be saved, then you are still outside of Christ. If you are outside
of Christ, you have no spiritual blessings, no redemption, no forgiveness
of sins; you will be condemned on the day of judgment; you are still
an old sinful creature; you have no hope of salvation and no hope of
eternal life.
As Ephesians 2:12 says, "That
at the time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope
and without God in the world." Could a situation get any
more desperate than having no hope and being without God? This is the
situation of those who are outside of Christ.
If you thought you were saved when you accepted Christ as you personal
savior, and then later you were baptized, then your baptism was not
to save you. You thought you were already saved before baptism, but
you are still lost because the baptism that puts us into Christ also
saves us. If you thought that your sins were taken away before baptism,
when you accepted Christ as your personal savior, then your baptism
was not for the purpose of forgiveness of sins. You still have every
sin you have ever committed and are still separated from God.
1) (Galatians 3:27 & Romans 6:3) The only
way to get into Christ is To only believe in Him. Saying the sinner's prayer. Baptism.
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2) There are many people in Christ who were not baptized into Christ.
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3) (Ephesians 1:3) Every spiritual blessing is located In Christ. Outside of Christ. In every person's heart.
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4) Not all spiritual blessings are located in Christ.
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5) (Romans 8:1) What advantage is stated here for those who are
in Christ Jesus? There is no advantage. No condemnation. Condemnation.
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6) If we are not baptized into Christ we will be eternally condemned.
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7) (Ephesians 1:7) Where is redemption and forgiveness of sins
located? Outside of Christ. At confession before a priest. In Christ.
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8) Those who have not been baptized into Christ have been redeemed and
forgiven of their sins.
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9) (2 Corinthians 5:17) If anyone is in Christ he is A new creation. An old sinful creation. Lost.
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10) If one has not been baptized into Christ he is still an old sinful
creature.
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11) (Romans 6:3) When do we start to walk in newness of life? When we die physically. When we are raised up out of the waters of baptism. Each new day.
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12) Newness of life begins before we are baptized.
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13) (John 3:5) Before we can enter the kingdom of God we must
Be born as an infant baby. First find the kingdom of God. Be born of water and Spirit.
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14) We are born of water when we are baptized.
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15) (2 Timothy 2:10) What have those who are in Christ obtained? Salvation. No salvation. Eternal punishment.
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16) One who is outside of Christ has no hope of salvation.
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17) (1 John 5:11) Only those who are in Christ have the promise
of Being rich in worldly goods. Eternal life. Not having any problems.
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18) Those outside of Christ have the promise of eternal life.
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19) (Ephesians 2:12) Those who are outside of Christ have No hope of going to Heaven. Hope of going to Heaven. Another chance in purgatory.
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20) (Romans 6:3) Baptism is the only way into Christ.