BiblicalInsights.net

The question before us is certainly a crucial one.  It spawns even more questions.  Are all believers the same?  Can you believe on Jesus and refuse to obey His commands?  Can you go to heaven as a foolish rather than wise man?  Can a dead faith save?  What is the source of the command to be baptized?  Is the command to be baptized from heaven or from men?  What is the relationship between faith and baptism?  Let’s consider some of the answers to these questions.
Are All believers the Same?
Faith without works is dead being alone!  (James 2:14-26).  There are inactive believers and active believers.  The devils believe and tremble but they are not saved!  All believers in God will not be saved.  No one can be saved with a dead faith.  There are active believers like Abraham whose faith motivated him to obey God’s commands (James 2:21).  He shows his faith in God by his obedience to God.  His faith was living and active.
Some believed on Christ but would not confess Him (John 12:42).  “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.”  Here are individuals that believed but are not saved.  Faith only will not save!  A faith claim is unverifiable without obedience.  “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
Can You Believe on Jesus and Refuse to Obey His Commands?
Many people attempt to do this very thing.  Jesus said, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).  A foolish man hears the sayings of Jesus and disobeys them (Matt. 7:24-28).  A wise man hears the sayings of Jesus and doeth them.  Can a foolish man go to heaven in disobedience to Jesus?  Remember, the words of Jesus will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).
The Command to Be Baptized–Is it From Heaven or From Men?
Jesus gave this command as a part of the great commission:  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).  The recognition of the lordship of Christ demands that we submit to the teachings of Jesus.  Christ does not know (in a spiritual, covenantal relationship) those who refuse to submit to His will (Matt. 7:21-23).  Only those who are baptized into Christ belong to Christ (Gal. 3:16-29).  The command to be baptized originates from heaven.  To reject it is to disbelieve it.  Baptism is an act of faith whereby we trust God to forgive us of our sins and so manifest His grace in us to the saving of our soul.  Thus, baptism is not a work of merit.  New Testament baptism is not a part of the Mosaical Law.  It is a command of the law of Christ.
Are Unbaptized Believers Lost?
Here is a summary of what we have taught in the New Testament:
1.  An unbaptized believer has an inactive faith–a dead faith–and a dead faith cannot save.
2.  An unbaptized believer has rejected the command of Jesus to be baptized and thereby rejects His Lordship.
3.  An unbaptized believer has proved himself foolish by only hearing the words of Jesus but not obeying them.
4.  An unbaptized believer is self-deceived (James 1:22).  He is a hearer only of the word and not a doer of the word.
5.  An unbaptized believer is outside of Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  Those outside of Christ are lost.  To be lost means that one is not forgiven.  Baptism is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (Acts 2:38).
Efforts are being made today to circumvent the teachings of Jesus.  Many pay lip service to the Lord without obeying Him.  Remember the words of Jesus, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?”

President Obama says his position on same-sex marriage has evolved.  He now believes that same-sex couples should be able to get married.  He is the first sitting president of the United States to back same-sex marriage.  Among other things, he states, “And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others, but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated” (Corbett Daly–CBS News blog, May 9, 2012 quoting Obama who referenced his wife’s influence on his thinking about this issue).  I would like to make the following observations concerning this historical position by the president.
First,  his position redefines marriage.  The biblical view of marriage involves one man and one woman entering a covenant relationship that is intended to be for life (Matt. 19:1-9 and Rom. 7:1-3).  The marriage relationship is ordained by God and governed by God.  Homosexual marriage violates God’s design for marriage (Gen. 2:18-25).
Second, his view distorts scripture.  The Golden Rule is stated by Jesus in Matt. 7:12.  The Lord says, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”  Jesus positively affirms the law of love as the basis of responsible treatment of human beings.  Love rejoices not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth (I Cor. 13:6).  Love takes no delight in the sin of homosexuality. Love rebukes sin and seeks to turn men away from it to God. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).
Third, his view reveals he does not believe homosexuality is a sin against God.  The apostle Paul wrote, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).  The phrase, “abusers of themselves with mankind” is a reference to sodomy or homosexuality.  Paul lists ten classes of individuals who are characterized as unrighteous and homosexuals are among them.  He goes on to say, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Cor. 6:11).  All sinners can be saved from their sin through the power of the love of God and the cross of Jesus Christ!  This is good news.  Sinners must repent and turn to the Lord in order to be saved (Acts 2:37-39; 3:19).  Love seeks the highest good of others.  The salvation of their souls is the most important thing.
Fourth, his view on a moral issue has evolved.  The president has changed his view on homosexual marriage.  Why the change?  Why now?  Truth does not change!  Whenever a person is guided by the truth, he/she stands on principled conviction.  The president’s faith is changing to conform to cultural and political pressures rather than spiritual conformity to God’s Word.  Change away from God is never good.  Should we seek to please men or God? (Gal. 1:10; John 12:43).
Fifth, his views will influence many people to be accepting of a moral evil.  Whenever evil is normalized by government, it is always destructive not productive.  “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20).  A woe is a warning of judgment by God.  “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).

Dan Gilgoff reported recently in CNN’s online Belief Blog that columnist Dan Savage stands by comments on ‘bull**t in the Bible.’  The column appeared on May 1, 2012.  Savage is a gay-rights activitist.  In a recent speech on bullying, Savage made the remark that “we can learn to ignore the bull**t in the Bible about gay people.”  The remarks were made at a conference for high school students during which some students walked out.  When the students walked out, Savage remarked, “It’s funny to someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how pansay**ed people react when you push back.”  Later, Savage apologized for that specific remark in Sunday’s blog post, writing that his word choice “was insulting, it was name-calling, and it was wrong.”
I would like to make some observations regarding this incident.  First, Savage was clearly disrepectful of his audience and insulted many of their values and beliefs.  These students will never forget this incident.  It is one of those memories created that defines the debate about a moral issue like homosexuality.  Second, Savage blasphemes the Bible.  The Bible is God’s Word.  It is the voice of God to man.  Consequently, Savage blasphemed God.  The word blaspheme means “to speak against that which is holy.”  Savage manifests blatant disrespect for God’s Word.  Perhaps that is why he advocates sin against God.  Third, Savage manifests blatant hypocrisy.  He says he is against bullying and then turns around and bullies others who disagree with him.  He held a positiion of authority and totally destroyed his integrity as a speaker.  He is no longer credible.
The homosexual issue is being pressed by many today.  The push is one to legitimize this sin in our culture and throughout the world.  Swearing at the Bible’s teaching does not alter what God has said.  Consider a few thoughts from scripture.  “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26-27).  This is one of the passages that Savage denigrated in his speech.  Vehement protestations will not change the truth of God’s Word.