Manassas Church of Christ family,
During late spring and earlier summer of 2014, during our son Will's transition from a hotel management position in Iowa to his current assignment just outside of New York City at the Hilton Westchester, many of you that did not know Will and his wife Ryana had the opportunity to meet both of them. During my lesson the last Sunday of 2014 I briefly mentioned an email clearly outlining the essentiality of becoming one with Christ via baptism that Ryana sent to her Indonesian family and close friends on Christmas Eve. It was a great example of sharing the greatest gift mankind has ever received. The contents of that email are immediately below.
- Bill Booth
Dear Loved Ones,
As some of you might have already known… About a year or two ago, after almost 9 years of thinking, debating, denying, ignoring and pleasuring my stubbornness and my ego, I finally made a decision to repent and be baptized. Yes, my parents sent me to be ‘baptized’ when I was a child as a part of church tradition, culture or maybe it is a social event. At that time, I did not know any difference…
At this time, as the world is celebrating the birth of Jesus, let’s remember it in our daily lives the purpose of it.
THE GIFT OF CHRIST
JOHN 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
A common practice during this season is the exchanging of gifts, as a way of showing others how much we love and care for them. The giving of gifts started with God, who gave the ultimate gift, His Son, to reconcile us to Himself.
2 CORINTHIAN 5:18-21 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The reconciliation we have in Christ come while we were still enemies of God, separated by sin.
ROMANS 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Unlike the gifts we can give each other, the gift of Christ cannot be purchased. It is freely given to all that will accept it.
ROMANS 3:22-24 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
ROMANS 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Accepting the gift of Christ requires action on our part, not payment. The action that is required today to be found In Christ is the same now, as it was when the first gospel sermon was preached.
ACTS 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism is an illustration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and illustrates our death to sin and new life In Christ. It is fitting that baptism illustrates burial, given the root of the word in the original Greek is ‘baptizó’ (to dip, sink) meaning “immerse” or “immersion”. Modern culture may teach that there are many ways to be found In Christ; however the New Testament teachings in the Bible as outlined in the first gospel sermon that to be In Christ one must be baptized. Based upon the root origin of the word, and what the act of baptism illustrates, there is one acceptable form of baptism, immersion in water.
ROMANS 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
As part of the plan of salvation Jesus Himself was baptized, showing us again through the example of His life how we should live, and what it means to be found In Christ. The account of Jesus’ baptism can be found in Matthew 3:13-17; an important detail of this account is found in verse 16, “…. He went up out of the water”. The further illustrates that baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit requires immersion in water.
MATTHEW 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
If you say you are a Christian, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and was resurrected for the forgiveness of your sins, yet you do not obey his command, you are an enemy of God;
HEBREWS 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
However, if you obey God’s command, and follow the plan of salvation there is no condemnation In Christ.
ROMANS 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
God created us with free will to make our own decisions, and He wants us to follow Him. He gave us the example of Christ’s life as a man, and a book called the Bible where everything is recorded for us to see. God is also patient with us, giving us time to come to Him.
2 PETER 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
We should not mistake God’s patience as reason for us to delay.
MARK 13:32-33 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”
The apostle John in the closing of the book of Revelation makes it clear that God does not want us to interpret or modify His plan.
REVELATION 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I am blessed that God gave me a great husband, a partner In Christ, who guides me every moments to study His words, get closer to Him and follow His teaching. To follow Jesus, meaning to obey His commands and do what He does. I am grateful that it wasn’t too late for me to respond and accept the gift of Christ because we do not know when the time comes. We pray that you will accept this greatest gift of all, as well.
JOHN 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love, Will & Ryana
