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Billy Graham, a world-renowned Baptist preacher, has never taught the truth about the necessity of baptism in the plan of salvation. Whenever he is asked about baptism, he says,
"I believe baptism is important, and I have been baptized. But I think we violate the Scriptures when we make baptism the prime requirement for salvation...Paul's central theme was Christ and His saving power. Although he spoke of baptism, he said: 'I thank God that I baptized none of you ... lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name' (1 Corinthians 1:14-15). Baptism is a conclusive act of obedience and witness to the world that we are Christ's. I believe in it wholeheartedly. In our crusades we don't baptize because we feel that this should be done by the local pastors -- and that if I baptized, some people would say they had been baptized by me, and that would be putting the emphasis on the wrong person. To one who has received Christ, baptism is a necessary and meaningful experience. But, I must say with Paul: 'Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel' (1 Corinthians 1:17). You may know that we urge immediate and extensive Bible study for each convert. As the Scripture is reviewed, the place of baptism will surely be discovered. If baptism were a requirement for salvation, we would certainly say that. But you couldn't support that knowing, for example, that the thief on the cross had no opportunity for baptism or church membership. Yet on his confession, paradise was secured. Jesus said to him, 'Today shalt thou be with me in paradise' (Luke 23:43)," (Source: http://www.billygraham.org/qna/qna.asp?i=483).
The key to understanding what Billy Graham teaches about the necessity of baptism is when he says,
"If baptism were a requirement for salvation, we would certainly say that."
This statement is identical to that which Leroy Garrett, a change agent in the Lord's church, made after I asked him in an interview if he believed that baptism was necessary for salvation:
"No. If this were so, God would be restricted to saving only the immersed. But should you ask if it were essential for me to be immersed, the answer is yes, for I understood this to be my duty. I accept what the Scriptures say about baptism; it does not say it is essential to salvation. That is a deduction, unwarranted, I believe," (Source: Eight Questions For Liberal Brethren)
Contrary to the false doctrine that Billy Graham, Leroy Garrett, and others promote, the Bible teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. In fact, Jesus Christ commanded that all men must be baptized in order to be saved from their sins. He said,
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," (Matthew 28:19).
Also,
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned," (Mark 16:16).
Consider also,
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21).
And,
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin, (Romans 6:3-7).
To teach otherwise is to be guilty of being a false teacher and to be cast into everlasting punishment. It is because false teaching is the same as lying, and, therefore, the word of God warns us that He condemns all liars to Hell, (Revelation 21:8). Are you willing to take that risk?
Ira Mikell
ira@thechristianexaminer.com
The Christian, in his walk with God, is called upon to embrace certain character traits and practices and reject others. A compact yet significant list of many of these traits and practices are included in Galatians 5:16-24:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
This passage, specifically in verses 19-23, contrast the "works of the flesh" from the "fruit of the Spirit," and the Christian is called to avoid the former while embracing the latter. Let us now begin to analyze each of these characteristics, beginning with the first "works of the flesh," "fornication."
The word that translates in the ASV as "fornication" (many other translations use the more general and apt term "sexual immorality") is porneia. Thayer defines porneia as:
1) illicit sexual intercourse
1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives;
1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman;
2) metaphorically the worship of idols
2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
This definition is very specific and does not mince word about what porneia is: it includes all sexual practice that deviate from the norms established by God in the Scriptures.
The above fact is demonstrated amply by the way this term is used in the Scriptures. We see in Matthew 19:9 (along with Matthew 5:32, not quoted here), Jesus uses the term as the only reason that would justify a divorce:
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery."
The term is also used twice by the Apostles and the elders in Jerusalem and once by James as a practice which the Gentiles should avoid (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25). It is also used to refer to the deed committed by the one who "had his father's wife" in 1 Corinthians 5:1.
We see that the term used for "fornication" in Greek is used often generally and even specifically to refer to sexual actions, and it is not spoken of positively. Galatians 5:19 is not the only place in the Scriptures, however, where those who would practice the sexual actions included in the term porneia are condemned. We see this same message exemplified in 1 Corinthians 6:18, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, and 1 Thessalonians 4:3:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints.
Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication.
The words of God cannot be mistaken in these passages: it is contrary to the will of God to commit fornication (sexual immoralities), for it is unclean, a sin against the body, a stumbling block of sanctification, and actions that ought not even be named among the saints.
We have spoken earlier (specifically, in Adversities: Sexuality) about the many reasons why such sins occur: we live in a society (at least in the United States) that is addicted to sex and sexuality, and it is difficult to go anywhere without being exposed to some form of it. Immodesty is prolific, and it is difficult to abstain from sexual sin. Truly sexual sin is a part of the "lust of the flesh [and] the lust of the eyes," (1 John 2:16), and the Christian must act diligently to avoid it.
The message we preach and teach must be clear and no exceptions are to be made: God does not accept sexual practices that are performed outside of the marriage between a man and a woman (Hebrews 13:4). These practices ought not to be named amongst saints, for they are sins against the body that are against the will of God, do not allow for the sanctification of the Christian, and will prevent one from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Sexual immorality (fornication) is certainly a "work of the flesh," and it ought to be avoided at all costs so that we may be able to stand pure before God.
Ethan R. Longhenry
ethan@thechristianexaminer.com
www.deusvitae.com
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