ISBN-13: 9781544620664 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 276 str.
Jesus was a carpenter who built a kingdom. He was granted sovereignty over this special realm by His Heavenly Father. As He, Himself proclaimed, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matthew 28:18). With this authority comes the right of command, that is, the power to issue proclamations or orders that are binding on all within His jurisdiction. Under the banner of heaven, such commands are immutable, unable to be altered, changed, or rescinded by any other than the King Himself. Shortly before His ascension, Jesus issued these orders to those disciples who were present to witness His rise into heaven: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). This work is concerned with baptism and its place in God's plan of salvation, based on that command. It is an investigation of the proper meaning of the word baptism, how it is to be administered, and its eternal value. In a time when many within the community of believers ascribe little value or import to baptism it cannot be overemphasized that this attitude has not always been the prevailing one. Much has been written about baptism over the centuries. It has been debated and argued over. It has been the subject of religious synods. And, sadly, it has been the cause of division and bloodshed, even to the point of death. Given its prominence in New Testament writings, and its central position in church history the value of understanding baptism's place in God's plan of salvation cannot be overestimated. Not only is there a need to reexamine the Biblical view of baptism, there is a need for those who seek a place in God's kingdom to come together in agreement on this matter. We may live in an age where to agree to disagree is deemed unity. However, for the Christian this cannot be so. Our oneness of mind is valid only as far as we are being true to the commands of God as set forth by His Son, Jesus Christ and His chosen vessels- the men selected to record the final testament between God and man in written form. This book is an effort to rekindle the reader's interest in what God's word has to say about his or her salvation, and where baptism belongs in that discussion. Hopefully, those who embark on this study will do so with Bible in hand