Words Matter
The world is held together by words.
“..upholding all things by the word of his power,..” Hebrews 1:3
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:5-7
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Words Matter.
Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to about three hours of the Supreme Court hearing on the case regarding tariffs under current laws.
One of the things that stood out to me was the frequency and length of time devoted to defining words in the original text of the Constitution and subsequent laws.
This case will be determined by how the court’s majority defines words.
Think of this:
Words explicitly define our country.
Our freedom, rights, privileges, obligations, and necessary allegiance can be grasped if one knows these founding documents.
These words hold our country together.
You have two forces on the court.
Those who value the original meaning and intent of these founding documents and those whose base impulse is to change those things to fit current morals and agendas.
The connection was obvious to me.
This is precisely what has happened in Christianity.
As Christianity becomes less and less defined by scripture and more and more by personalities, councils, and determinations over decades and centuries, much of it bears little similarity to the original text.
What was forbidden in scripture is encouraged.
What was encouraged is forbidden.
There is a growing tendency to dismiss scripture out of hand, even to the point of equating it with mere wisdom and observations of men, which can be displaced and replaced by these things from modern men and women.
It is this tendency that is the explanation to the divisions and strife among denominations.
We have one Bible and so many denominations.
In the KJV, there are 783,137 total words.
As an example, let’s look at one issue.
There is much debate about what a word means, whether it is required, and whether it is of lesser value.
80 Times one word and its variants are used in the New Testament, and by and large have been downgraded to an insignificant and non-binding status.
I have seen people get in heated debates over the varying degrees of importance, from necessary to not necessary at all.
I fall into the essential category. I appreciate, respect, and love those who disagree with me. However, that does not negate my basic view on the subject.
Why?
I will quote Jesus.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; ” Mark 16:16
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…”. Matthew 28:19
He said of His own baptism. “ Then cometh Jesus… to John, to be baptized of him… Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness..” Matthew 3:19
What is the reasoning to cancel out this admonition, direction, and command directly from Jesus, who of himself required to be baptized?
The most common reasoning is the thief on the cross, who could not be baptized, seeing he was nailed to a cross.
Let me ask you a question? Does this singular event or story cancel out everything Jesus said about baptism? Jesus, just a few days from that event, would command his Apostles to baptize.
Was Jesus confused, or did he forget what happened on the cross?
Or is there a reasonable explanation that does not invalidate all of the New Testament teaching, examples, and commands about baptism?
Two things can be true at the same time. In fact, one thousand things can be true at the same time.
If the Bible has many New Testament direct requirements, and we fulfill one of them, does that make us compliant and not required to be motivated to obey all of them? Is God’s grace and Spirit capable of empowering us to follow the Word of God?
Does one need to believe in Jesus to be saved?
Does one need to repent of their sins to be saved?
Does one need to be baptized to be saved?
Does one need to forgive those who do you wrong to be saved?
I can quote specific commands in your Bible —specifically in the New Testament —that command us to do these things.
Is it in any way logical to use one story and justify why all of these other specific examples are cancelled?
Cornelius and the Gentile Household
Some point to Cornelius (Acts 10), who received the Holy Spirit before baptism. Peter still commanded, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people?” and they were baptized immediately.
Does the Spirit falling before water baptism mean baptism itself is optional?
Jesus tied belief and baptism to salvation (Mark 16:16), and Peter—moved by that same Spirit—insisted on baptism even after the supernatural sign.
Was the Spirit contradicting Jesus, or does the timing in this unique Gentile inclusion prove that God initiates salvation—yet still expects obedience to the command that follows?
“Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize”
Others quote Paul: “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius… for Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor 1:14-17).
Does Paul’s personal ministerial focus negate the universal command of Christ? In the same letter Paul affirms he did baptize some, and elsewhere he connects his own baptism to dying with Christ (Rom 6:3-4).
Was Paul dismissing baptism, or clarifying that his apostolic priority was preaching, while still practicing and teaching baptism as part of the gospel response?Two things can be true at the same time. In fact, one thousand things can be true at the same time.If the Bible has many New Testament direct requirements, and we fulfill one of them, does that make us compliant and not required to be motivated to obey all of them? Is God’s grace and Spirit capable of empowering us to follow the Word of God?
The Jailer’s Midnight Conversion
Finally, the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-33): “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus,” and that same hour the jailer and his household were baptized.
Some stress only “believe” was spoken. Does the omission of the word “baptism” in the question cancel the action that followed? They said the word, then baptized—immediately.
Was baptism an afterthought, or the expected, urgent response to belief—exactly as Jesus linked the two in Mark 16:16?
What other doctrinal absolutes have been watered down and even removed by those who have sought to invalidate the authority to scripture in favor of modern trends and cultural norms?
If I am going to err, I will err in an absolute belief in the original text and intent given to us in the scripture in the face of every generation that seeks to change and redefine doctrine and absolutes.