Can I help you?

Have you ever gone into a store just to look around and immediately heard a voice, “Can I help you?” The intention of the clerk is good but you feel the lose of your freedom to just quietly and patiently look for something or to walk out without buying anything. Someone is watching you. Perhaps the opposite has happened to you. You need something but the store is so large, you cannot find what you need and there isn't a single clerk anywhere in sight to help you. Here we have two opposite scenarios, one where you have undesired help, the other where help is desired but unavailable. Many companies attract customers by way of printed advertisements in the form of flyers, thus showing the public what is available in the store and the price of the various articles without putting undue pressure on these potential customers. The people are free to decide for themselves whether or not they want to buy anything and where they choose to purchase them. We have the same purpose in mind for this tract. We do not want to force anything upon you but do want to make you aware of your choices. We do not know whether you believe in the Bible or not. There are people who believe in the theory of evolution and they are free to do so, but we do not believe it.

Other people believe in the “Big Bang” which supposedly caused the beginning of life. We wonder how anyone could seriously think that the amazing diversity in animals, plants and people resulted from some 'Big Bang'! The Bible has much to say about life, its beginnings as well as how it should be lived. It is not an easy book to read, but you cannot escape it as it contains your destiny. Even though the world contains many denominations, and churches, there is only one way proclaimed in the Bible. In the book of John, chapter 3, verses 3-5 it says “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” To enter the world a person must leave the mother's womb, either naturally or by a Caesarean section, if necessary. Death can come at any age, but before that we must make a choice; when our earthly body dies our spirit does not die with it. In order for our spirit to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father, we need to be born again - born out of water and spirit. In reality normal birth is also one out of water and spirit because a baby comes out of water too, and without a spirit it is dead. It is understandable that rebirth (in Christ) is different than our natural birth, because when we are born we come from our mother's body as well as out of the water. Of course, this can't ever happen again and isn't necessary. When we are born again only the water is important and the words spoken along with it. There must be enough water to become completely immersed just as a baby is totally surrounded by water. We see therefore that sprinkling is not the same thing as immersion and so can never be called baptism.

Where does the sprinkling of babies come from?

The sprinkling of babies originated with the Roman Catholic church. The words used “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” is also of Catholic origin. The original text of Matthew 28:19 said, “Go ye therefore and

teach all people in MY NAME, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

The apostles baptized by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus. Most churches do not include this Biblical custom in their creed. Instead they sprinkle or “baptize” in the way the Roman Catholic church decided to do it. See for yourself what the Bible says about this important part of our faith in Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5-6, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27.

What does baptism signify?

Many people have the idea that baptism is just a step of obedience and that is certainly part of it but far more is involved than simply obedience. Someone who jumps into a swimming pool and then gets out again has had a type of baptism too but not as the Bible teaches. Acts chapter 2 teaches us more about baptism.

In this chapter we read about God's Spirit referred to as the Holy Ghost, and about Peter’s speech at the end of which he reproached his listeners for having crucified the Messiah. Convicted of wrong doing, they asked Peter and the other apostles what they should do. Notice the answer, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as the Lord our God shall call.” Many people leave out the first part because babies are not able to repent. Parents who have their babies sprinkled have been deceived. In Acts 8:12 we read that both MEN and WOMEN were baptized (no infants at all) and in verse 16 we read that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus while in 1 Cor. 7:14 it is written that children are sanctified by the believing parent or parents. As you can see, there is no need to purchase a special baptismal gown for new born infants.

Why in the name of Jesus Christ?

Jewish names in the Bible had special meanings. For example, the name “Bethel” means “House of God” and “Bethlehem” means “Breadhouse”. The Hebrew name “Jeshua” (pronounce ‘Yeshua') or “Jesus” means “Salvation” while “Christ” or “Messiah” means “Anointed”. The apostles baptized in the name of Jesus Christ or “Anointed Salvation”. Along with that was added “for the remission of sins”. Have you any idea what that really means? It almost seems too good to be true but we actually become clean in the sight of God, He sees us as clothed in a white garment. The prophet Isaiah referred to it as “clothed with the garments of Salvation” (the garment of Jeshua - see Galatians 3:27). According to Matthew 22:1-13 this garment is essential to enter the kingdom of heaven.

After repentance comes baptism, our birth out of water. Then we are able to receive the fullness of God's Spirit. As a new born infant makes its arrival known by crying, so someone born of God can speak in “other tongues� or new languages (Mark 16:17).