Winston Salem church of Christ

INTRO:

A. Life Experience: A Simple Question?

My wife tends to goodheartedly warn the unsuspecting to run for the hills anytime I preface a question with, “Let me ask you a simple question.” Apparently she thinks I am the type of person who enjoys trapping these innocent bystanders.

1. Anyone want to surmise where I learned such a dastardly trick? Actually, it’s neither dastardly nor a trick. It is an attempt to force people to see the sometimes ludicrous position they hold. Unfortunately, sometimes the consequences of such absurd beliefs are neither laughable nor inconsequential.

B. One method of teaching Jesus used was to ask simple questions, sometimes rhetorical questions.

1. A rhetorical question is one where the answer is so obvious it does not need to be answered and explained. The question is asked for effect.

2. An example:

a. Mt.22:45 (vv.41-46) – “If David then called Him `Lord,’ how is He is son?”

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Uhhhhh…..

b. Matthew 22:46 NASB No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.

c. I hope for a different reaction from purer hearts.

C. Illustration: Mothers

Mothers are real good at asking rhetorical questions? Remember these, “Do you want a spanking?;” “Who do you think I am, your maid, your slave?;” “How many times have I told you….?” If you try to give a specific question such as, 349 to this last question, then she fires up rhetorical question number one again, “Do you want a spanking?”

D. The title itself is a rhetorical question. Of course you believe what you believe! Well, at least we are supposed to. Oftentimes, people are inconsistent with what they believe. They contradict what they believe but do not realize it.

BODY:

I. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

A. Can you put on a coat, if you already have it on?

B. Can you go into a building, if you are already in it?

C. Can you wash something away after it is gone?

D. Do you need to receive what you already have?

E. Can something be cut off after it is cut off?

F. If one and one equals two, does zero and one equal two?

G. Can you open a door after unlocking only one of two locks?

H. Does a man ask for that which he already has?

I. Are you rescued before you are rescued?

J. Do you clean something after it has been clean?

K. Can a man be resurrected from the grave before he is buried in it?

L. Do you bury people while they are alive?

M. Can you go into the house to get something withhout going into the house?

N. Do you bury someone by putting a handful of dirt on the body?

O. Can a man be resurrected before he is dead?

P. Is forward, backward and backward, forward?

II. DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE?

(Whether you realize it or not, you have just stated what you believe about baptism. However, does your practice coincide with what you believe? Do you believe what you believe?)

A. Can you put on a coat, if you already have it on?

1. Gal.3:27

2. *Can you put on Jesus in baptism if you already have him on? No.

*Therefore you cannot put on Jesus before baptism.

*Therefore you put on Jesus in baptism.

B. Can you go into a building, if you are already in it?

1. Gal.3:27

2. Rom.6:3

3. *Can you be baptized into Jesus if you are already in Jesus? No.

*Therefore you cannot be in Jesus before baptism.

*Therefore you put on Jesus in baptism.

C. Can you wash something away after it is gone?

1. Acts 22:16

2. *Can you wash away you sins in baptism if they are already washed away? No.

*Therefore you cannot be washed clean before baptism.

*Therefore you wash away your sins in baptism.

D. Do you need to receive what you already have?

1. Acts 22:16 – People teach Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, and therefore had already received forgiveness (i.e. washing away) of sins.

2. *Do you need a washing away of your sins in baptism if they are already washed away? No.

*Therefore you cannot receive the washing before baptism.

*Therefore you receive your washing in baptism.

E. Can something be cut off after it is cut off?

1. Col.2:11-12

2. *Can you receive the circumcision by being buried with Christ if you have already been buried with Christ? No.

*Therefore you cannot be buried with Christ before baptism.

*Therefore you are buried with Christ in baptism.

F. If one and one equals two, does zero and one equal two?

1. Jn.3:5

2. Mk.16:16

3. Acts 2:38

4. *Can you enter the kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit if both are required? No.

*Therefore you cannot enter the kingdom before you are born of water and the Spirit.

*Therefore you enter the kingdom when you are born of water and the Spirit.

G. Can you open a door after unlocking only one of two locks?

1. Jn.3:5

2. *Can you enter the kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit if both are required? No.

*Therefore you cannot enter the kingdom before you are born of water and the Spirit.

*Therefore you enter the kingdom when you are born of water and the Spirit.

H. Does a man ask for that which he already has?

1. 1 Pet.3:21

2. *Would you appeal to God for a clean conscience in baptism if you already had a clean conscience? No.

*Therefore God has not given you a clean conscience before you are baptized.

*Therefore God gives you a clean conscience in baptism.

I. Can you be rescued before you are rescued?

1. 1 Pet.3:21

2. *Would baptism save you if you were already saved? No.

*Therefore you are not saved before baptism.

*Therefore you are saved in baptism.

J. Do you clean something after it has been cleaned?

1. Eph.5:26

2. *Would Christ need to clean us in baptism if we were already clean? No.

*Therefore you are not clean before baptism.

*Therefore you are cleaned in baptism.

K. Can a man be resurrected from the grave before he is buried in it?

1. Rom.6:4-5

2. *Can we be resurrected with Christ before we are buried with Christ? No.

*Therefore we are not resurrected to a new life before we are buried in baptism.

*Therefore we are resurrected to a new life after we are buried in baptism.

L. Do you bury people while they are alive?

1. Rom.6:4

2. *Do you bury in baptism a person who has already been resurrected to walk in newness of life? No.

*Therefore you do not bury in baptism a person after they have been resurrected to walk in newness of life.

*Therefore you bury in baptism before being resurrected and walking in newness of life.

M. Can you get something in the house without going into the house?

1. Rom.6:3-4 (blood in burial)

2. *Can you contact the blood of Jesus without being baptized into his death? No.

*Therefore you do not contact the blood of Jesus before you are baptized.

*Therefore you do contact the blood of Jesus in baptism.

N. Do you bury someone by putting a handful of dirt on the body?

1. Rom.6:4

2. *Can you bury a person in baptism by sprinkling or pouring a little water on them? No.

*Therefore you do not baptize by sprinkling or pouring.

*Therefore you do baptize by immersion only.

O. Can a man be resurrected before he is dead?

1. Rom.6:5

2. Col.2:12

3. *Can a baby be resurrected to walk in newness of life before it has died to sin? No.

*Therefore infant baptism is unscriptural because they neither have sins nor can repent of them.

*Therefore only those who have sin and can repent can be baptized.

P. Is forward, backward and backward, forward?

1. Rom.6:2-5

2. *Can a man be united in likeness of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, after his death, resurrection and burial? No.

*Therefore we are not baptized after we are saved/resurrected because that is backwards.

*Therefore to be like Christ we have to die to sin, be buried in baptism before we are saved/resurrected.

CONCLUSION:

A. Was Jesus resurrected before or after He was buried? Rom.6

B. If a man is wrong, but believes he is right, does his belief make him right? No. Only God can make us right.

C. If you believe you were saved before or without baptism, then you do not believe what you believe. Your belief contradicts both common sense and scripture.  (Perry D. Hall)