The man in the Allstate commercial asks in a deep voice, “Are you in good hands?” It's a good question about our earthly concerns and possessions. No one wants to be caught in an accident without some protection.
Here's another good question, and this one has eternal implications:
“Are you covered by the blood of Jesus Christ?"
Here's another good question, and this one has eternal implications:
“Are you covered by the blood of Jesus Christ?"
We understand how insurance works and how having proper coverage involves more than just a handshake, doesn't it? It's a legally binding, contractual relationship. In like manner, receiving the soul cleansing blood of Jesus involves more than just bowing our head and saying a few words. I'm referring to water baptism that the Bible talks about. Why this isn't widely preached today is a mystery to me because it's repeatedly commanded in the scriptures.
To understand the purpose and importance of baptism, let's go back to the Old Testament and to the first unforgettable Passover night. With a mighty hand, God delivered his people from bondage in Egypt...
For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. (Exodus 12:23)
Passover is the celebration of that specific night. The blood of a lamb would spare a family from the destroyer causing him to “pass over” their house. Any house which did not have lamb's blood on the door post and lintel would be visited by death. The crying that could be heard all over Egypt must have been grievous, while there was joy in the houses of Israel. The difference was the blood of the lamb.
Many years later, God manifested himself in flesh and became our passover lamb. The Almighty, invisible, immortal Spirit became a visible, mortal man to die for our sins and to spare us from eternal death. We are made clean by the blood of Christ!
We don't put blood on the door posts of our houses today to have remission of sins. Rather, we follow the pattern of Christ who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again.
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. (Romans 6:3-4)
Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins to the world. The book of Mark ends this way...
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16)
How exactly did the apostles preach the gospel? To find out, we need to go to the book of Acts where they preached the same message over and over...
(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...
(Acts 8:12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women...
(Acts 10:48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
(Acts 16:30-33) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Why must we be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? Because he was that Lamb of God who died for us. His blood washes away our sins.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
In Acts 19, Paul found certain disciples of John the Baptist who only knew part of the gospel. They had already been baptized, but not in the name of Jesus Christ. When Paul told them that Christ had come, and that they should be baptized in his name, they didn't argue. They were re-baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ.
Insurance offers protection from potential accidents. The blood of Jesus Christ offers protection from the inevitable judgment to come like the ark saved Noah and his family...
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)
Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? If not, today is a great day to make sure!
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)
Was this interesting or helpful? Please leave a comment and pass it along!
To understand the purpose and importance of baptism, let's go back to the Old Testament and to the first unforgettable Passover night. With a mighty hand, God delivered his people from bondage in Egypt...
For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. (Exodus 12:23)
Passover is the celebration of that specific night. The blood of a lamb would spare a family from the destroyer causing him to “pass over” their house. Any house which did not have lamb's blood on the door post and lintel would be visited by death. The crying that could be heard all over Egypt must have been grievous, while there was joy in the houses of Israel. The difference was the blood of the lamb.
Many years later, God manifested himself in flesh and became our passover lamb. The Almighty, invisible, immortal Spirit became a visible, mortal man to die for our sins and to spare us from eternal death. We are made clean by the blood of Christ!
We don't put blood on the door posts of our houses today to have remission of sins. Rather, we follow the pattern of Christ who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again.
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. (Romans 6:3-4)
Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins to the world. The book of Mark ends this way...
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16)
How exactly did the apostles preach the gospel? To find out, we need to go to the book of Acts where they preached the same message over and over...
(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...
(Acts 8:12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women...
(Acts 10:48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
(Acts 16:30-33) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Why must we be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? Because he was that Lamb of God who died for us. His blood washes away our sins.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
In Acts 19, Paul found certain disciples of John the Baptist who only knew part of the gospel. They had already been baptized, but not in the name of Jesus Christ. When Paul told them that Christ had come, and that they should be baptized in his name, they didn't argue. They were re-baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ.
Insurance offers protection from potential accidents. The blood of Jesus Christ offers protection from the inevitable judgment to come like the ark saved Noah and his family...
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)
Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? If not, today is a great day to make sure!
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)
Was this interesting or helpful? Please leave a comment and pass it along!
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