In The Right Order
That modern society has problems is not something open for debate. All one needs to do is pick up a newspaper, turn on the T.V., or simply sit down somewhere and observe folks. If we have lived any time at all and have memories of the “good ole’ days”, we are acutely aware of the changes between the then, and now. When things seem to be “out of whack”, some people are prone to say the individuals involved “got the cart before the horse”.
Consider the age-old institution of marriage. I call it that because it was God who ordained marriage. After God created man, He caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam, and God took one of Adam’s ribs and made him a “help meet” for him. In Genesis 2:23, Adam made this declaration about the woman God ‘gave’ him. This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.He immediately followed up in verse 24, saying: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Notice that it is after sin was committed in the Garden and after man’s expulsion from it that we see from chapter four: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. I’m sure you noticed, in God’s account here, the order is marriage before sex.
Before anyone says: “But we live in different times”, let me point out God’s Law on this in Hebrews 13:4, which clearly states God’s position for all times. The Spirit had the penman write: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Those who “cohabitate” (live together as man and wife outside of marriage) are in danger of Hell fire. To live in such a way is against Gods’ Law, therefore it is sin, and separates one from God. Also, marrying after “living together” doesn’t “erase the sin. One MUST repent of sin. Get things in the right order.
Think about it, we cannot “grow up” before we are born. We don’t walk before we crawl. We don’t graduate High School before attending and presumably ‘passing’ grade school. We don’t become mature adults before enduring adolescence. Also, we cannot expect to retire before we start working. I’m sure if we give it a little thought, we all can come up with additional examples from many aspects of our lives on this earth.
But this doesn’t only apply to marriage, or things in the physical realm. The denominations are leading countless millions to the condemnation of their souls. The many who teach Salvation before baptism into Christ are doing that very thing. How do these folks deal with Acts 22:16? Ananias was sent by God to tell Saul (Paul): And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. One MUST be baptized to have sins washed away. Saul had been in Damascus, blind and praying for three days per (Acts 9:9-11), and was not yet “saved”. Sins aren’t remitted until one is baptized into Christ.
Baptism is a burial. One must die to the love and practice of sin, be buried in the watery grave of baptism, and be raised to walk in newness of life. Colossians 2:12-13 states it this way: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; The operation of God, is when, in baptism, God “cuts away” all “past sins”, and makes the one who was previously “dead in sin”, now alive in Christ.
Sadly, even some who have been baptized into Christ, have somehow been deluded into thinking that upon being baptized into Christ, “ALL OF THEIR SINS” have been taken away. No, only their PAST SINS are washed away in baptism into Christ. God has a Command and an order to follow when the child of God sins. After spiritual birth, man still sins. This is supported by Romans 3:3 and 1John 1:8. Do they have to be baptized again? No! One is only born once. John 3:3-5, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus shows this applies physically, as well as spiritually. So, what is the “order” when a Christian sins and becomes an ERRING Christian? Is it to simply pray? No! Per Acts 8:22, one MUST REPENT before praying for forgiveness. In the previous verse, the Holy Spirit had Peter tell Simon (the former sorcerer), that his “heart is not right in the sight of God ” because of his sin of trying to purchase the “power” that had been given only to the apostles. Simon, as an erring child of God was told: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. He had to apply God’s plan in the right order for him, the erring Christian to once again be in a proper covenant relationship with God.
Why will you not apply God’s plan for Salvation in the right order and seek the Salvation He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ? That plan and order is: 1) Hear (the gospel) – Romans 10:17. 2) Believe Christ is God’s Son – John 8:24. 3) Repent of past sins – Luke 13: 3. 4) Confess before men that Christ is God’s Son – Romans 10:9-10. 5) Be baptized into Christ – Romans 6:3-4. 6) Remain faithful until death – Revelation 2:10b. God’s plan followed in His order is the only way one can be saved.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
