The Baptism Controversy

Baptism: A Journey, A Controversy Resolved

Within the vast tapestry of Christian faith, few practices evoke as much discussion and varied interpretation as baptism. From the earliest days of the so-called church to our modern era, believers have grappled with its meaning, its mode, and its proper recipients. At its heart, however, all forms of Christian baptism should point to a foundational truth: the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This post aims to explore the origins and practices of both infant and adult baptism, comparing them through the lens of biblical covenants and, most importantly, the finished work of Christ, while investigating the diverse theological understandings that underpinned religious doctrine and tradition.

Before we go into all of this, I thought it well to provide some wider perspective from an anthropological point of view.

You must be kidding

I love how Jesus just cuts to the point.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them (Matthew 18:1-2).

Just that?

Food out of the Eater, Sweetness out of the Devourer

The Riddle: "Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." (Judges 14:14)

This riddle, given by Samson, isn't just a clever puzzle; like many ancient parables and prophetic utterances (e.g., in Proverbs 1:6 or Psalm 78:2), it carries a deeper, veiled truth. From a New Covenant, grace perspective, it becomes a powerful metaphor for the triumph of Christ and the lavish blessings that flow from His completed victory.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the forest for the trees … or the trees for the forest being bogged down in minutiae and losing sight of what's truly important or how everything fits together. On the other hand our over-generalization may cause us to lose touch with the practical realities because we get too absorbed in our doctrines, our theology and church traditions (Mark 7:13).

Say and send away

The Royal Mandate: Exercising Inherited Dominion Through Christ's Finished Work

Kingdom dominion!

What?!

Do we even have dominion?

Yesterday, I was reading Matthew 28 (the very last verses of the last chapter of Matthew) where Jesus commissions us to go out and do the unthinkable. I re-read a note there that I scribbled way back: "Jesus has all the power (authority) and He gave us delegated authority and jurisdiction to overcome our obstacles in this world."

But that is not true!

What is the will of God?

The Echo of His Voice: Discovering the Will of God Through Christ's Finished Work

Recently, I tuned into an online podcast teaching about "How to know the will of God." A great question indeed! But to my surprise, the podcast teacher, despite being part of a grace-focused ministry (which I highly recommend, and whose founder I consider a mentor), seemed to miss the truly Greater Answer. It was a whisper to my spirit, a revelation that brought exceeding peace and comfort, even as the teacher continued his lengthy explanation.

Should I explain? Let's dive in.

Beyond and above - ask

The Echo of His Voice: A New Covenant Prayer – From Begging to Demanding in Our Inheritance in Christ

In one of my last posts I touched upon a profound shift in New Testament prayer—a radically different approach compared to the old covenant prayers some of us, perhaps unknowingly, still offer. There’s a crucial distinction, and honestly, if this seems revolutionary, don’t blame me!

Blame Paul! Or rather, credit the transformative revelation given to Paul concerning the finished work of Christ.

The truth is, there’s a monumental difference between the Old Covenant (which, unless you were an Israelite, you were never truly part of) and the New Testament. And this difference reveals a total and fundamentally new way to pray.

You are an heir in the Kingdom of God. Now, pray like you are!

What do we then understand as Prayer?

Dead Bones and Life

Listening to the song “Rattle” by Brandon lake, I was reminded of our powerful 2020 hindsight following the cross and the finished work of Jesus that makes the dead come alive … just by touching …

The Story of the dead bones

The account in 2 Kings 13:20-21 is a curious one, often overlooked in the grand narrative of the Bible. It tells of a dead man, hastily thrown into Elisha's tomb, who, upon contact with the prophet's bones, is miraculously revived. “So Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they saw a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.” (2 Kings 13:20-21, KJV).

At first glance, this story might seem like a strange, almost macabre miracle, a testament to the lingering power of a prophet even in death.

Ho shi Yah na - Baruch ha ba ha Schem Adonai!

Ho shi Yah na - Baruch ha ba ha Schem Adonai!

Blessed Fulfillment: Yah'shua, He is Yahveh!

We recently explored the profound meaning of "Baruch ha ba ha Schem Adonai – blessed be He who comes in the Name of the Lord." The original Hebrew reveals an even deeper truth: "Blessed be He who comes in the name of Yahveh." And who is "He"? None other than Yah'shua! He is Yahveh!

Called by name

The Echo of His Voice: God Calling by Name, From Old Covenant Whisper to New Testament Proclamation

Sometimes a call is in a name. Sometimes a call is in another Name.

I have written much about the importance of names, words and meanings as well as what it means to be called on this blog (see here, here and here). Recently I felt a new hunger to understand what it means for the beloved to be called by name.

To work out your own salvation …

I titled this post “To work out your own salvation …” because mostly when the Gospel is communicated, people work it out in accordance with their doctrine …

So, I had to balance it out with the truth.

“It Is Finished": The Grace-Powered Outworking of Our Salvation

Philippians 2:12, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," often stands as a stark challenge. Yet, when we view it through the liberating lens of Jesus's triumphant declaration on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30), a profound shift in understanding occurs. Suddenly, the daunting task becomes a grace-filled journey.

When it is finished, it is finished!

Logic is all we need

The Word Made Flesh: Experiencing Logos as Grace in Our Lives

In the IT world we define “logic” as a system of reasoning used to design, develop, understand and maintain a system of intelligence and operations. It's the foundation for processing information and making decisions based on underlying principles.

I asked AI for some English language expressions where the word "logic" is used to get some sort of understanding of how we humans see "logic". Here is the result:

A sound mind in a sound body.

Logic is the gatekeeper of reason.

Logic is the foundation of truth.

Logic is the bridge between the known and the unknown.

Logic is the tool that allows us to understand the world around us.

Logic is the key to solving problems and making sound decisions.

Logic is the antidote to irrationality and prejudice.

Logic is the light that guides us through the darkness of uncertainty.

Logic is the compass that points us in the right direction.

Logic is the foundation of all human progression.

… and it struck me that logic is the basis for soundness, truth, knowledge, understanding, survival, certainty, and even life. There is a distinct correlation between our understanding of “logic” and Logic Himself!