SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE?-BY STEVE FINNELL

What should be your source for spiritual guidance? Should it be  the infallible word of God-The Bible or should it be the early church fathers and some of the contemporary preachers?

Some say the early church fathers are a reliable  source for truth because they were not far removed from the birth of the church of Christ. Being close to a fire does not make you a flame and proximity to the early church does not make you a truth teller.

Some of the early church fathers professed that sprinkling water on a person was in fact baptism. There are no Scriptures to substantiate that view.

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was immersed by John in the Jordan. (The Better Version of The New Testament by Chester Estes)

Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.(NASB)

John baptized (immersed) Jesus, he did not sprinkle or pour him.

Acts 8:38 Then he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip, and the eunuch, and he immersed him.(TBVOTNT)

Acts 8.38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptizedhim. (NASB)

Philip immersed (baptized) the eunuch in water. Philip did sprinkle of pour the eunuch with water. There are no Scriptures that state anyone was sprinkled or pour as a substitute for immersion (baptism).

Colossians 2:12 Having been buried with him by immersion, by which also you were raised up with him, through the belief of the strong working of God, who raised him from the dead. (TBVOTNT)

Colossian 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (NASB)

You can be buried by immersion. You cannot be buried under a sprinkle or a pouring of water.

Baptism and immersion are synonymous. Sprinkling and pouring are not synonyms for immersion (baptism).

The early church fathers were not infallible in their writings or opinions concerning faith and practice of the Lord's church. Why would you use the writings of the early church fathers for  spiritual instruction?

CONTEMPORARY PREACHERS?

Should the Bible be the source for the truth? Are preachers qualified as instructors of absolute truth? As a believer in Christ do you really want to trust contemporary preachers for spiritual guidance?

Here are a few preachers that deny that water baptism is essential for the forgiveness of sin. They do not believe you have to be baptized in order to be saved.
John Piper
John MacArthur
Max Lucado
Billy Graham
Rick Warren
Charles Stanley
Joel Osteen

What does the Bible say?
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.... (NASB)
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NASB)
1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you......


Do you honestly believe that contemporary preachers should be your source for spiritual enlightenment? Why would any Christian look to fallible preachers for the rules for faith and practice?

The Bible and the Bible alone should be the spiritual guide for all Christians.

GOD IS NEVER WRONG. WHY PUT YOUR TRUST IN MEN?