An Important Note To Students And Teachers
In restoration movement congregations, it is often common to give a lot of attention to converting people to Christ and little attention to maturing people in Christ. Among some Christians, the definition of a 'good sermon' is a sermon (a) that stresses the importance of baptism, (b) cites a lot of biblical references for that stress, and (c) condemns everyone who disagrees with that stress.
This concept is the opposite of the New Testament's stress. Of all of the New Testament books, only part of one [Acts] describes how people who were not Christians became Christians. [I am told by Christians whose scholarship I trust that there is a discernible difference in the Greek language used in converting people in Acts and the Greek language used in Paul's defense speeches.] The majority of the New Testament books [or letters] were written to congregations or persons who were already Christians. Their emphasis is on (a) the problems encountered after conversion and/or (b) the meaning of being converted to Christ while living in an evil environment. Most of the New Testament is devoted to the meaning of life and the daily behavior of the person who gives himself/herself to God by accepting Jesus Christ.
This series is certainly not anti-baptism. It uses Paul's admonitions and instructions to Christians in Rome on the meaning of being living sacrifices in the power-hungry, idol worshipping environment of first century Rome. The primary focus is on the life of a person after he/she was baptized into Christ because he/she believed in the identity of Jesus and turned from his/her sins.
Sacrifice was an important part of worship in Judaism and idolatry for hundreds of years. While the concept of worshipping God through the death of an animal might seem downright strange to many of us, the people of the first century could not imagine worshipping God on important occasions without sacrificing an animal.
Paul stressed the importance of Christians being living sacrifices for God. He talked in detail of what that kind of lifestyle and value system would mean in a Christian's daily behavior. By studying Paul's guidance to Christians in Rome regarding worshipful Christian behavior, we can gain essential insights into the values that should direct our behavior.
This is not a study about the flaws of other people. This is a study about men and women who belong to Jesus Christ. It is a study which declares that people can see the role of Jesus Christ in our lives by the manner in which we act on a daily basis as we encounter daily life. It is a study that focuses on the lives of Christians after they were baptized into Christ.
This is a text-centered study that focuses on how Christians behave. It should encourage you to clearly distinguish between who you were before you placed your obedient confidence in Christ and who you are because you place your obedient confidence in Christ.
Do you realize that if all people came to a biblical agreement on (a) the mode of baptism and (b) the purpose of baptism, such a unilateral agreement in religious groups would not address (a) how godly people behave in daily life as Christians or (b) the problems congregations typically face? Those are matters that must be learned and understood after baptism.
