Examining the Scriptures

The apostle Paul was commissioned by God to bear witness of Christ and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. When he traveled to the various cities in Asia and Europe, his practice was to go first to a synagogue of the Jews and then to the Gentiles (see Rom 1:16; Acts 13:46).

When he entered the Jewish houses of worship, the apostle opened their scriptures, the Old Testament, and argued from them that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah the Jewish nation was expecting. More often than not, the Jews disagreed, rejected his teaching, and drove him from the synagogue and, often, from their city. This happened in the ancient city of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10). But after leaving this Macedonian town, he came to Berea some 50 miles away where he received an unusually different welcome.

The Bereans, Luke tells us, were “more noble” than their fellow Jews in Thessalonica “in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily” to see whether the things Paul preached were so (Acts 17:11). “Noble” here doesn’t mean they were a higher class of people politically, economically, or socially, but that they were of a higher rank spiritually.

Open Minds. They were nobler spiritually because their minds were open to what Paul taught. Luke tells us that they “received the word,” an expression that means they welcomed what the apostles said and listened to the passages he quoted and considered the arguments he made. By opening their minds to Paul’s preaching, they were able to grasp the points he was making; at least they understood what he declared to them.

Eager Minds. Beyond hearing what the apostle was saying, they listened with eagerness. “Readiness of mind” suggests the enthusiasm one might find among students who have come to class to learn. They are there because they want to be; they are, as it were, sitting on the edge of their seats; they are hanging on every word the teacher utters. The Bereans were hearing things that were attractive – a message that made sense and was pleasant to the ears.

Cautious Minds. The good news about Jesus, though delightful to the ears, wasn’t something they would receive unless it is true. They listened cautiously and made it a point to examine or search the Old Testament writings to see if what Paul said “were so,” an expression that literally means: whether the scripture “have it this way.” Their question: Does the life of Jesus really fulfill what the Old Testament teaches about the coming Messiah?

The New Testament commends the Bereans because this is the very kind of mind that can hear what the Bible says, understand what it teaches, and respond in the obedience of faith to its demands. Only people with the heart of the Bereans will believe that Jesus is God’s Son, repent in rejection and repudiation of sin, confess that Jesus is Lord, and be buried with Christ in baptism for the forgiveness of sins (John 20:30-31; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Mark 16:16). God demands this of all men.

Why Must Men Be Baptized?

Most religious groups who associate themselves with Christianity practice some form of baptism. But there are many reasons why they accept this ancient, first-century practice of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles. To some it is an act of christening infants and other babies to dedicate them to the Lord. To others it is merely an initiation rite for Christians who want to join a particular denomination. And others would say they do it simply because God commanded it in the Bible. All of this misses the essential point of baptism as taught by Jesus and the apostles.

First of all, baptism is not for infants or babies; it is required only of those who have been taught the gospel, who believe that Jesus is God’s Son, who repent in repudiation and rejection of the practice of sin, and who confess that Jesus is Lord (see Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; John 20:30-31; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10). Secondly, baptism was never designed for someone who is already a Christians that he might join a local body of disciples. Finally, as important as it is to obey God, baptism had a far more specific purpose than merely doing what God commanded.

Baptism is necessary to be saved from sin. From the very beginning of baptism, practiced by John the Baptist, men and women were told to be baptized “unto the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature: “He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16). When the apostles, particularly Peter, began preaching the gospel at Jerusalem they told their hearers: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ “unto the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Bear in mind that this is the same reason Jesus poured out his blood on the cross (Matt 26:28). If Jesus’ death was necessary to take away sins, so is baptism.

Baptism is necessary to reach the blood of Christ. The scriptures tell us two other things about the purpose of baptism: One, it is necessary to get into and put on Christ and, two, it is the means by which one reaches the death of Christ, where his blood was shed. Paul said: “For ye are all the sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). The same apostle also said: “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3). If a sinner can be saved without baptism, he is saved outside of Christ and without the benefit of the blood of Christ – the blood poured out on the cross.

Baptism is not a work that seeks to earn salvation. Paul contrasts the “washing of regeneration” with “works of righteousness” designed to merit salvation (Titus 3:5). Works of righteousness that earn salvation refers to perfect obedience (see Rom 4:1-4; Gal 3:10-11), but baptism is the “obedience of faith” that appeals to God through the death and resurrection of Christ for a good conscience (see Romans 1:5; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Hebrews 9:14). Baptism is the washing away of sins by calling on the name of the Lord for salvation (Acts 22:16), not a work of law that seeks salvation by perfection. Sinners, as Saul of Tarsus, called on the name of the Lord by repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:21, 37-38; Acts 22:16). This all sinners must do, even today.