ground. Here it is the risen, authori tative glorious Lord Jesus Christ who is giving marching orders. He gives us the methodology telling them that they are to be baptized into the name (or under the authori ty) of the Father. Son and Holy Spirit. (The New Scofield Bible, page 1174, note 2, has an interesting and helpful statement.) When we con sider some of the events from the Book of Acts we may get a different viewpoint. But keep in mind that Acts is transitional. Here were Jew ish believers, who had lived in two ages, both under law as well as fol lowing the death of Christ and the descent of the Spirit, under grace. They had been in Judaism and now were in Christianity. Our Lord Jesus did not appear to anybody but the disciples after His resurrection. The unsaved never saw Him again. The point at issue was whether this Je sus of Nazareth was verily the Mes siah, proved beyond measure to be the Son of God by the power of the resurrection from the dead. The Jews had believed in God the Father, as well as the Holy Spirit. Now, it was the coming of the Messiah, and the complete authority vested in the Trinity. The formula of Matthew 28 is the one by which we are to baptize today. Q. Los Angeles, Calif. — “I read the Bible every day but I still seem to have little faith. I want to have more faith. How is that possible for me?” A . Reading this letter over, we see the emphasis on the personal pro noun here. We don’t want to be un just, but it does seem that there is more concern about oneself rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. God has promised that He will keep those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him. This is the way that we can go on our way with joy in our hearts. The secret of having more faith is
be possessed from a spirit which the Lord permitted. We must understand that the Lord’s directive will is not the same as His permissive will. This universe never gets away from God. He is sovereign. Never forget that God is not behind any of the evil in the world. He is opposed to it while He may allow or permit it. Often times, this is a direct judgment upon those who will not take His good. God tempts no man and cannot be tempted by any man. Q. Salem, Ore. — “I ’d like comments on Romans 9:15, 'For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ Then, in the last part of the 18th verse there is the state ment, and 'whom he will he harden- eth.’ I don’t know how to explain this.” A . These ten verses from the 14th to the 24th God is placed in His proper perspective while man is shown where he belongs. God is everything. Man is as a worm grov elling in the dust. It is true that God has given us a free will, yet He is sovereign, absolute, over-all. Who are we to reply against or to criti cize God? We have absolutely no right to condemn or even to ques tion God for anything He chooses to do. God is the infinite eternal One. We believe God has given to man a free will. We can choose to be saved or to reject God’s gift of supreme love. With mere finite minds it is hard to understand how God can be absolutely sovereign and yet also give to man a free will. This is not con trary to reason but rather it tran scends all human reason. Q. Could you explain the formula for Baptism as it relates to Matthew 28:16-20? A . The Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:16-20 is on resurrection
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