If you met someone who professed that they were a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, how excited would you be?
Thrilled, huh. Since most people are not even professing Christians, finding a faithful disciple of Christ would surely light your fellowship fire. If you had further conversation with them, only to discover that they did not pray, what conclusion would you reach? Remember: it could be possible for a new convert to be ignorant of what the Bible says about prayer. What if after asking them about that matter, they admitted that they were knowledgeable of the Bible’s 90+ verses on prayer, but that they just weren’t into prayer and didn’t see it’s importance? What conclusions would you reach?
What if you met another person who professed the same thing (faithful disciple of Jesus), how excited would you be? This time you might be affected by your previous conversation and therefore a little hesitant. What if more conversation about their faith revealed that they didn’t observe communion? Not that they didn’t observe it every Sunday, but that they didn’t observe it at all? Remember, they could be ignorant. What if further conversation revealed that they were quite knowledgeable about the Scripture’s teachings on communion, but they just weren’t into it and didn’t see the importance? What conclusions would you reach?
Now, more than a little hesitant, you bump into another professing faithful disciple of Christ only to discover that they have never been baptized. Making sure that they knew about the 40+ references to baptism in the Bible, you then ask them why they haven’t been baptized. Their reply is, “Well, it isn’t really necessary and since it isn’t, I just don’t see the big deal.” What conclusions would you reach? Would you reach any?
Here is my point: if someone professes faith as a Christian, but thinks they can choose to make prayer optional or even unnecessary, then there is a problem all right, but it has little to do with prayer. The problem is all about REBELLION.
And if someone professes faith as a Christian, but assumes that they can choose to make communion optional or even unnecessary, then there is a problem all right, but it has little to do with communion. The problem is all about REBELLION.
And if someone professes faith as a Christian, but assumes that they can choose to make baptism optional or even unnecessary, then there is a problem all right, but it has little to do with water. The problem is all about REBELLION.
I believe POWERFULLY in salvation by God’s grace through faith. I do not believe that prayer saves us. I do not believe that communion saves us. I do not believe that water baptism save us. I also do not believe that “works” save us.
All that being true, I also believe that a person will not be saved without works of righteousness. Can’t be saved by them, but won’t be saved without them either.
Also, can’t be saved by prayer, but won’t be saved without praying either.
Also, can’t be saved by the Lord’s Supper, but will not be saved without it either.
Also, can’t be saved by water baptism, but won’t be saved without it either.
When God clearly makes His will known to us through his Word, we are without excuse. God makes it very clear that prayer, communion & baptism are parts of His will. Therefore:
Do you pray glory to God?
Do you take communion to the glory of God?
Have you been baptized for God’s glory?
Mike “Pawdad” Sublett, Pastor @ Hi-Land Christian Church, Pampa, Texas 79065, 630-730-8015
