The most profound but simple truths are like Christ’s Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, while the more complicated truths are like Paul’s explanation for Israel’s blindness. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25 KJV). God is not finished with Israel, but His primary focus is presently on the Church, until the Church has been raptured. Doctrinal blindness separates the Church, such as the “doctrine of baptisms” (Hebrews 6:2). Some Church of Christ identify the necessity of water baptism for salvation in a First Principles studies in preparation for discipleship. “1 Therefore leaving the principles [literally, first principles] of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God: 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (6:1-2).
My opinion, the doctrinal chasm between mainline evangelicals and the Church of Christ lies in the social significance of baptism as His appointed means: (1) for the Body of Christ to identify those who claim loyalty to Christ, i.e., “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Corinthians 12:3), (2) for the new disciple to publicly claim his loyalty to Christ, i.e., “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NET), and (3) for God’s supernatural-but-not-omniscient enemies to become informed, this disciple has switched loyalties to Christ, so ‘Keep your hands off,’ i.e., “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm” (1Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15 KJV). The Father already knows who believes, but He requires us to be baptized before we can claim the Holy Spirit as our right of sonship, i.e., “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
LORD, may the Body of Christ’s understanding allow us to get beyond the “doctrine of baptisms” (Hebrews 6:2) and “go on unto perfection” (6:2). Let us see our similarities in Jesus are more than our differences. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We Need A Miracle 