A Part of the Bible, some people do not like

Have you ever read part of the Bible and thought "Do i really have to do that?", "Is that Really what God means?" "Why would God put that in there?" and of course "The Bible is talking to somebody els, I KNOW it's not talking to me!"

Unfortunalty for a lot of us when the Bible speaks we forget to listen. We forget to change, we forget to repeant, we forget that God reveals Himself to us through His Word. We like to pick and choose the parts that we read, that memeorize and that we follow. We like to be in charge and to control things.

However the joke is on us. We would be running around naked if God did not event animal skins,plants, cotton and sythentic fibers to be woven together so we could have clothes. We forget that we are dependant on Him. If don't forget we ignore that He gives every good perfect gift from above.

A passage I want to look at today found in Mark 16:15 "go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever beleives and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemmed -NIV

Those are strong, authoritative words from Jesus about what the apostles need to be practising and teaching. I have had indebt conversations with a variety of people concerning the purpose of baptism in the recent months. When I point this scripture plus numerous others that show baptism is important and part of the salvation process: hear, believe, repent and baptism (Acts 2:38, Mark 1:4),plus submitting to and following Jesus, his teachings, and the bible. People have become violent towards me and the word of God.

It has lead me to write a paper (13 pages so far. Just started Pauls writings) about the historical (Jewish and EArly Church) and Scriptual Practice of Immersion. From the time of Exodus to 1st century Palastine and still today. What Peter preached in Acts 2:37-41, and what Paul Practised in Acts 22:16 is the proper view of baptism. It is to wash away our sins, and purify us before our God, plus the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Some would say that baptism is work according to John 6:29 "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

If Faith is work, then everything else we do is our response in love and submission to Jesus.

If he is Lord and Savior, then we need to serve and submit to Him as our Lord and savior.

-M