How the Spirit helped me find the gospel Paul preached?! (8)
A. I have confirmed the gospel Paul preached is: Hear, believe, repent, water baptism, sins forgiven (saved), receive gift of Holy Spirit, live as a child of God. The key to the gospel Paul preached is salvation come after water baptism! Acts 22:12-16B. Western theologians quote 1 Cor.1:17 to argue! 1. The scripture: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with words of human wisdom,…. 2. They are sure the gospel Paul preached was that human souls are saved before and without water baptism! 3. They say 1 Cor.1:17 says: Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… This means water baptism is not needed in the gospel! 4. But we know the gospel Philip preached includes water baptism!Ac.8:35-38 5. Paul said his sins were washed away at time of baptism! Acts 22:12-16 6. Peter said water baptism is for remission of sins! Acts 2:38 7. How can anyone use what Paul said in 1 Cor.1:17 and preach a salvation plan different from what Jesus, Peter, Philip and Paul himself preached!C. Now let us read 1 Cor.1:10-17 and 1 Cor.3:21-23! … My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name… For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with words of human wisdom,… 1 Cor.3:21-23--> No more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-- all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. These scriptures were written to condemn denomination in the church! His points of arguments are as following:1. Is Christ divided? 2. Was Paul crucified for you? 3. Were you baptized into the name of Paul?And we know the answers to all these questions!1. There is one God, one Christ, one baptism and one church. Eph.4:4-62. Christ is the one crucified for you!3. All of you were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ! Acts 2:38Paul was thinking about not baptized into the name of Paul…! 1 Cor.1:15D. In light of his points of arguments what does 1 Cor.1:17 mean? “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—-“1. In Paul’s thinking, water baptism is the gospel! 1 Cor.15:1-4, Ro.5:3-42. Preaching the gospel is preaching Jesus. Acts 8:35-383. Preaching Jesus include water baptism for remission of sins. Acts 2:384. Preach the gospel is to baptized believers into the name of Christ!E. Conclusion: In light of all the above, “Christ sent me not to baptize” means not to baptized into someone’s name and belong to someone! Because Christ is the one who crucified for you! Peter, Paul, Apollos all baptized you into the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. My solemn declaration: One who teaches European theologian’s idea have to preach against what Jesus said in Mark 16:16, against what Peter said in Acts 2:38, and against what Paul himself said in Acts 22:16. May the Lord bless you and keep you always! May 27, 2010.