DAILY DEVOTIONAL ✝️   

Baptism

One common objection to the necessity of baptism cites 1 Corinthians 1:17, where Paul states:

 

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

 

Some interpret this to mean that Paul did not baptize at all or did not consider it necessary. However, this interpretation overlooks the context of the letter. The church in Corinth was divided, with some claiming loyalty to various leaders: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ (1 Cor 1:12). Paul’s goal was to eliminate these divisions, prompting him to ask:

 

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

 

The obvious answer is that Christ is NOT divided; rather, He is united. Paul was NOT crucified for you; Christ was. You were NOT baptized in the name of Paul; instead, you were baptized in the name of Christ! Corinth was focused on the messenger rather than the Message Himself. This is why Paul says:

 

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name (1 Cor 1:14–15).

 

Paul’s focus was not to personally baptize every convert, as others could handle that responsibility. He is not suggesting that baptism was unnecessary or not part of his preaching. 

 

What Paul emphasizes is that his primary task was to preach the Gospel and that he is grateful he did not baptize more due to the celebrity worship in Corinth. He did baptize a few early converts, such as Crispus and Gaius, who, after “hearing Paul, believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). 

Baptism is necessary; it was part of what Paul taught and how people responded to the gospel he preached everywhere.~Spencer Clark

 

THOUGHT  OF THE DAY:🤔 Many will miss heaven by 18 inches.  That's the distance from your head to your heart.