SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO SEE    by Carl McMurray

It’s hard to get someone to see the importance of baptism when they have seized on a scripture and feel good about what they’ve found. For example when one reads of Paul telling the Philippian jailer to “believe...”  in Acts 16, in answer to his question of, “What must I do?” Sometimes it gets difficult to get one to look at the other five or six examples where saving belief included baptism. Why should we look farther after all, when we’ve found a scripture that says what we already believe? Why confuse the issue with study and context? 

The necessity of baptism is not the only issue that gets treated like this, however. Another important issue where we are often tempted to simply seize on a few scriptures that we like instead of studying the full issue is how the Holy Spirit works. No  serious Bible student denies that the Spirit actively, personally, powerfully, and supernaturally acted at times in the past for various purposes. It’s also easy to fall into the trap of desiring the spectacular and out-of-the-ordinary experiences that we read about in scriptures without tempering that with the revealed facts that those things were actually the immature and preparatory work of the Spirit as he worked toward a complete revelation in scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Ephesians 4:8-14. 

Note the chart to the right and see the wonderful ability of the Spirit to continue His work by His instructions given, without partiality, to all men in all ages. No supernatural special effects like tongues of fire, no visions in the night, no angelic appearances. Studying all the word reveals that all that is needed to access the source of eternal salvation is a humble, accepting, and obedient heart, Hebrews 5:8-9. 

Holy Spirit                   the action       The Word  

   1. Jn. 15:26               witnesses           Jn. 5:39
   2. Neh. 9:20               instructs             2 Tim. 3:16-17
   3. John 16:8               convicts             Titus 1:9
   4. Acts 7:51                resisted              2 Tim. 3:8
   5. John 3:5-6              born                  1 Peter 1:23
   6. Titus 3:5                 saves                 James 1:21
   7. 1 Cor.6:11              sanctifies            John 17:17
   8. 1 Cor.6:11              justifies              Romans 3:28
   9. Rom. 8:14              Leads                 Ps.119:105;43:3
   10. Eph. 5:18-19         indwells             Col. 3:16
   11. Acts 9:31              comforts             1 Thess. 4:18
   12. 1 Cor. 2:13           teaches               2 Tim. 3:16-17
   13. Jn. 16:8 KJV          reproves             2 Tim. 4:2
   14. Eph.3:16               strengthens         Ps. 119:28

   15. Rom. 15:13           has power          Rom. 1:16

   16. Rom. 8:11             raised to life      Jn. 5:28-29