DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PROOF OF SALVATION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PROOF OF SALVATION

"And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles." (Acts 9:26-27)

It is human nature to be wary of people who claim to have become Christians. We wonder if they have really been born again. These believers at Jerusalem were reluctant to embrace this new believer, Saul, because they knew who he was and what he had done to other Christians. There are false converts, who only claim faith in Jesus for their own benefit and advancement. Even in the early church under the ministry of Stephen, Simon the Sorcerer had believed and was baptized, but he only wanted the influence and financial perks of being a Christian (Acts 8:13-24).

Skepticism is not a bad thing, because it can keep us from being scammed. But it can also be a negative thing when it come to accepting a new convert into the fellowship. Some fellowships require that a new believer wait to be baptized until they have proven themselves to have been truly converted.

It is interesting that the normal practice of the New Testament Church was to baptize immediately upon a profession of faith. The baptism of the Ethiopian by Philip set the model. Philip said, " ' If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized].' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.' " And he was baptized (Acts 8:37-38). That's the way it was when Cornelius and his house were baptized (Acts 10:47-48). It was the same when the Philippian jailer was saved (Acts 16:33). Saul himself had been baptized immediately after his conversion, and then he was demonstrating the validity of his conversion by his bold preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Christian baptism is not a means of salvation, nor is it a proof of salvation. It is a declaration of faith in the Lord Jesus. So there need not be a waiting time between profession and baptism. The proof will work itself out in the life of the true convert, and it is best to leave that to Jesus.

The lesson for us is to be cautious about questioning the validity of a person's faith based on their past reputation. We can accept new believers into the fellowship, while at the same time watch their lives to see the reality of their conversion. Thank God for Barnabases.

Love, Dad