101 Ways to Teach a Memory Verse

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Shad Sluiter

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Anthony Elliott

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Foundation Truths of the Gospel

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Jesus Tomb

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There are many verses in the Bible that teach about various kinds of baptism.  For a full explanation of the topic see the following 13 chapters of the online book Baptism by Harry Ironside .

Let’s examine the possible reasons why you may ask “should I be baptized again?”

1)    If your reason to be baptized again as an adult is to complete a spiritual requirement to be saved, then the answer is NO. You should not be baptized yet.  You need to be saved first before being baptized.  Baptism is for people who already are Christians.  You should not use baptism as a way to be saved or any other Christian activity such as participating in communion, joining a church, confirming your faith, getting married in the church or making a vow.  Your real need is to trust Christ to be your savior.  Baptism as a baby didn’t save you and neither will being baptized as an unbeliever make you saved.

2)    If your reason to be baptized again is because you have recently accepted Christ as Savior and are now a true Christian, then the answer is YES. You should be baptized even if you were baptized before - as a baby or an adult.

Baptism for believers

Baptism is for a person who has been saved, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.  If someone who was baptized before he/she became a Christian and then was saved, then being baptized again is the right thing to do.  

Babies are not believers in Christ.  The Bible does not teach that babies should be baptized.  The tradition of baptizing a baby is purely from a tradition of the church.  Baptism for babies gives a false security that “something” was done to help the child become a Christian.

Baptism by immersion

The symbolism of baptism is explained in Romans 6:1-5." TARGET="_blank">Romans 6:1-5.  The believer is saying that he has died with Christ.  He has died to sin.  Therefore he should be symbolically buried.  The word “baptize” means immersed or buried in water.  Immersion is the only way to illustrate the truth of being dead and buried.
 

Romans 6:1-5" TARGET="_blank">Romans 6:1-5  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  (2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  (3)  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  (4)  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

There are many verses in the Bible that teach about various kinds of baptism.  For a full explanation of the topic see the following 13 chapters of the online book Baptism by Harry Ironside .

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Help would be valued on 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

1 Corinthians 6:9," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 describes some of the ungodly at Corinth. “Such were some of you,” says Paul, naming various phases of sin which habitually characterised them, some one sin, some another. A believer might fall into a grave sin, a Noah into drunkenness, a David into adultery, a Peter into cursing and swearing; but these were terrible accidents in their lives, not habitual customs. A lamb might fall into the mire, but it could not rest there; a swine if dragged out of the mire would return to it again. The characteristically unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. They must be born again. Such were some of the Corinthians (but not all grossly so), but they were “washed” (i.e., from the defilement), “sanctified” (i.e., from the habit), and “justified (i.e., from the guilt) in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

W.H.

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POLITICS
Is it right for a Christian to give a vote to a candidate in a Parliamentary Election?

We certainly have duties to perform to those who occupy positions of rule in our midst, one is to obey the laws they make. If I do not, I shall get a bad conscience and I shall pay the penalty. “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually on this very thing.” So I must pay taxes, and rates, and custom dues when I enter the country (see Romans 13:5-7)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:5-7). Then I am enjoined to pray “for Kings and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:2). I am, moreover, to “honour the King” and indeed all to whom honour is due, but as far as entering into the political contests of the country, I see no directions in God’s Word, and I believe the whole thing is alien to our position as “strangers and pilgrims” in the world. If it be retorted, “What would become of the country, if all believers were of this Opinion?” my reply is, it would become neither better nor worse by such a Contingency, but the believers would become much better. What Wordly associations would they be spared! What unequal yokes with the ungodly! “Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the gospel,” or pray that God may overrule. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” which cannot be said of the political work of a righteous man; the only effect of which is to shear him of his locks, and bereave him of his joy and testimony.

“Our citizenship is in heaven.” “As the Father hath sent me into the world, even so I send you.” All agree that the Lord did not enter into political movements. He was not sent for that,—are we? All the various political combinations will never succeed in really making the world better, for there is a factor, they do not recognise, and certainly cannot neutralise sin. It is a solemn thought that when at last all political differences are sunk, and the whole world cemented in one great alliance, it will be in deadly, open opposition to God and His Christ.

W.H.

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PETER’S CONVERSION AND CALL

When was Peter saved? Was it when Andrew brought him to the Lord Jesus, or was it when the Lord called him on the shores of the sea of Galilee to become a fisher of men?

The mission of John the Baptist was, amongst other things, to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:15)," TARGET="_blank">Luke 1:15), and, no doubt, Peter, Andrew and the rest of the apostles were all disciples of John, having been baptized by him with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, waiting for the One that was to come. Accordingly, when these prepared ones came in contact with the Lord, they were ready to receive Him as Messiah. In John i, when Andrew brought Peter to the Lord, He did not call him to repentance or faith, for he did already in a manner believe on Him, but gave Him his new name, anticipating the moment when He would build him as a living stone into His Church. This was only the prelude to the scene on the sea of Galilee.

Thus Peter was called by John to repentance and faith in the one coming after him; then by the Lord to a place in His Church, and later to His service. We apply the word “saved” to everyone who has received Christ as personal Saviour, though the word carries with it more than forgiveness, namely, deliverance to and from. Peter could not receive Christ in above sense till the Lord was revealed to Israel, but no doubt all the true disciples of John, though they did not form part of the Church till Pentecost, were saved persons; they were of the people of God, His own, in a very real sense. In this sense Peter was a saved person before he was introduced to the Lord by Andrew, for he had been already introduced to Him by John the Baptist and had doubtless believed on Him as the One “who should come after him” (Acts 19:4)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 19:4), as indeed did the Old Testament saints in a minor degree. The Lord knew him by name and was now calling him out of the Jewish fold, to belong to His flock.

W.H.

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What jobs do angels do?

The Bible says that angels serve Christians.

Hebrews 1:13-14" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 1:13-14  And to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?  (14)  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

But specifically, what are some of the jobs that angels perform?

They protect God's people from physical harm

Psalms 91:9-13" TARGET="_blank">Psalms 91:9-13  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge--  (10)  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.  (11)  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  (12)  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.  (13)  You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

This beautiful psalm tells us that God has assigned the angels the job of physically following and carefully watching over the Lord's people.  Perhaps the psalmist was writing about an upcoming battle as one of "the evils" that could befall him.  But the terrors of evil are not specifically mentioned, leaving the interpretation open to a great variety of situations where God's protection is needed.  Nothing can harm a believer without God permitting it to occur in his sovereign control over all things.  When things occur that we put into "Category Bad", God uses these mishaps for our good (Romans 8:28-29)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 8:28-29).

Recall the angels that were working to protect Elisha and his servant…

2 Kings 6:15-17" TARGET="_blank">2 Kings 6:15-17  When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"  (16)  He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  (17)  Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The Lord has assigned angels to watch over his children as well.  He doesn't say that there is a one-to-one relationship with each believer having exactly one guardian angel, but rather that, in general, the angels are always attentive to the needs and cries of God's children.

Matthew 18:10" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:10  "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Peter was rescued by an angel from prison (Acts 5:19)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 5:19).  Daniel was preserved from physical harm in the Lion's Den by an angel (Daniel 6:22)." TARGET="_blank">Daniel 6:22).  Hagar was given food when near death (Genesis 21:17-20)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 21:17-20).

Angels also carry messages from God

Paul was comforted by an angel on the night before his shipwreck (Acts 27:23-24)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 27:23-24).  An angel directed Joseph to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-20)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 2:13-20).  Daniel and John each received their revelations from angels that come to us today in the Book of Daniel and The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Angels carry believers to heaven

Luke 16:22" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16:22 says that Lazarus, the beggar, was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The angels will gather God's elect from the four corners of the earth when Christ returns to set up his kingdom (Matthew 24:31)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:31).

Shad David Sluiter

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