Shepherded into Baptism

It was about a week ago that two brothers decided to get baptized as the ones who have been shepherded by the saints in the church. The two brothers are comparatively new in time as they recently came into contact with us. Nevertheless, their reception of the word and participation in the church life is commendable. The two of them were supplied by the ministry of the word when they first came. The saints have faithfully ministered the word to them until they reach a point where the word enlightened them of their need for baptism. I personally was glad that we did not "push" them nor in any way "coerced" them for baptism. This was their own personal decision before the Lord and the Body.

One of the brothers particularly has been graced by the Lord to seek the purity of the word. He was introduced to the church through a sister who was also introduced by another sister. When I first contacted him, he came with much hunger and thirst for the word. My first meeting with him was accounted in the first part of this blog: http://palmeichung.blogspot.com/2018/05/shepherding-new-ones.html

From day one, I mentioned to him that as a genuine believer he also needed to be genuinely baptized, both in the Spirit and in water according to the Bible in John 3:5. But I asked him to take his own time and make his own decision. Since then, the Lord has been supplying him with the ministry of the word, until finally he actually took baptism out of his own decision.

Though there are different opinions on baptism depending upon whose opinion it is; the Bible has a firm word that answers all. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned-(Mark 16:16). Blessed are they who simply believes into the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His word. The Bible did not mention any preconditions for baptism except believing into the Lord Jesus Christ. It is religious, superstituous, human concepts that insert conditions as though the written word of God is not sufficient. Blessed are those who obey the word as it is. And our two brothers finally obeyed. Praise the Lord!