The Church of Christ with The Elijah Message
Belief and Faith
Preface
We present this tract to the public to answer the prayer and longing of the searcher after truth and light.
Many are not satisfied with their present experience and wonder why they do not receive more spiritual
assurance. They long for the Holy Spirit enjoyed by the saints in the New Testament times, but feel that
something is lacking. Some are confused when they see others try to serve God, but soon give up and
lose faith. Thus many are led to believe there is nothing to any of it. It has never dawned on them that
something may be wrong with their belief, that they have not followed the true teachings of Christ.
To all such we present this little tract with the hope they will read it with a willing, honest heart, desirous of
knowing and doing God's will.
The Board of Publication.
BELIEF AND FAITH
These two words, BELIEF and FAITH, are inseparable. They are potent factors in the plan of salvation. They
represent a principle through which the power of God is manifested in saving, redeeming, and creating.
"Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear."--Heb. 11:3.
God always has, and always will manifest His power through faith. He and His plans are unchangeable, His
decrees unalterable.
"For I am the Lord, I change not;"... Mal. 3 : 6.
As God used faith to perform His work, so does He require us to use the same power. For this reason God
chose faith as one of the first principles of His doctrine. (Heb. 6:1.) Jesus taught: "Repent ye, and believe the
Gospel." (Mark 1:15.) "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.)
Yes; there is power enough in believing, if it induces to action, to save the vilest sinner, if he believe from the
heart: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation." (Rom. 10:10.)
Dear reader, are you willing to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ just as the word of God declares it? Are you
seeking for the true gospel of Christ that you may be established in His church?
"Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."--2 Chron.
20:20.
Do not merely believe that Jesus is the Christ, but believe the gospel He taught, His mission, suffering, death,
and resurrection that man might be redeemed, and by obedience come established in His gospel and church.
Many think they have obeyed the gospel but are still unsatisfied. When they find the full gospel and obey it
spiritual assurance will come to them and they will then really be established in Christ in peace and quietude.
They will then receive that which will enable them to stand the trials and tests of life. He who is truly "born of the
water and of the Spirit" knows wherein he walks.
Many have asked, What is the gospel? "... It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."
(Rom. 1:16.) But that power works through certain principles which we must obey in order to be saved. These
principles are: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal
Judgment. (Heb. 6:1, 2.)
From the days of John the Baptist until the close of the Christian era that was the teaching of Christ and his
ministry.
"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."--Mark 1
:4.
"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.
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the
Lord."--Acts 22:16.
By these scriptures we see that baptism was for the remission of sins.
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they
went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder
me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him?"--Acts 8:35-38.
Notice, they both went down into the water, a baptism by immersion.
"We are buried with him by baptism into death."---Rom. 6:3.
"Buried with him in baptism."--Col. 2:12.
There are no less than five different modes of baptism practiced by professing Christians today. Surely all
cannot be right. If you had five watches and each of them gave a different time you would not say that all of them
were right. You would know that at least four of them must be wrong. Baptism is administered by immersion,
sprinkling, pouring, kneeling in the water and dipping forward, and triune immersion: first, in the name of the
Father; second, in the name of the Son; third, in the name of the Holy Ghost.
Not more than one of these can be right. What does the word of God say? "The earth also is defiled under the
inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting
covenant." (Isa. 24:5.)
Notice this: man has transgressed God's law by changing the ordinance and thereby has broken the
everlasting covenant between God and man. They have changed the ordinance of baptism from immersion to
four other modes, and have done away with the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of God s Holy
Spirit. They have made baptism ineffective by changing its mode and purpose; and have sinned still more by
doing away with the ordinance placed in the church for bestowing of the Holy Ghost, thus obstructing the
channel of communication between God and man. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.)
When baptism means so much, even being born again and having our sins remitted, let us examine further
the method of its administration. I here quote from "Light at Evening Time," pp. 16, 17.
"And were all baptized of him in the river Jordan."--Mark 1:5.
"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salem, because there was much water there."---John 3:23.
"And they want down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."--Acts 2:38.
"And when they were come up out of the water."--Acts 8:39.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water."--Matt. 3:16.
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism."--Rom. 6:4.
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him."--Col 2:12.
Gleaned from the foregoing field of scriptures the following facts are submitted:
1. That Bible baptism requires water.
2. That it takes "much water."
3. That it necessitates a going "down into the water."
4. That the candidate must be "buried in baptism."
5. That succeeding the burial he is "risen again."
6. That there is a coming "up out of the water."
Now take this baptismal measuring rod and apply it to the modern methods of baptism and we may easily
discover any change in the holy writ.
Let us apply it to sprinkling. How will it measure up?
1. Does it require Water? Yes.
2. Does it require much water? ................
3. Does the candidate go down into the water? ................
4. Is the candidate buried by baptism? ................
5. Is the candidate risen again? ................
6. Does the candidate come up out of the water? ................
Thus by actual measurement the ceremony of sprinkling is found to be right in only one point. Instead of being
the regulation height of six feet it is but one.
How can one expect a birth or the forgiveness of sins from an ordinance that does not measure up to the Bible
standard for baptism?
Now let us measure immersion:
1. Does it require water? Yes.
2. Does it require much water? Yes.
3. Does the candidate go down into the water? Yes.
4. Is the candidate buried in baptism? Yes.
5. Is the candidate risen again? Yes.
6. Does the candidate come up out of the water? Yes.
Continued
Preface
We present this tract to the public to answer the prayer and longing of the searcher after truth and light.
Many are not satisfied with their present experience and wonder why they do not receive more spiritual
assurance. They long for the Holy Spirit enjoyed by the saints in the New Testament times, but feel that
something is lacking. Some are confused when they see others try to serve God, but soon give up and
lose faith. Thus many are led to believe there is nothing to any of it. It has never dawned on them that
something may be wrong with their belief, that they have not followed the true teachings of Christ.
To all such we present this little tract with the hope they will read it with a willing, honest heart, desirous of
knowing and doing God's will.
The Board of Publication.
BELIEF AND FAITH
These two words, BELIEF and FAITH, are inseparable. They are potent factors in the plan of salvation. They
represent a principle through which the power of God is manifested in saving, redeeming, and creating.
"Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear."--Heb. 11:3.
God always has, and always will manifest His power through faith. He and His plans are unchangeable, His
decrees unalterable.
"For I am the Lord, I change not;"... Mal. 3 : 6.
As God used faith to perform His work, so does He require us to use the same power. For this reason God
chose faith as one of the first principles of His doctrine. (Heb. 6:1.) Jesus taught: "Repent ye, and believe the
Gospel." (Mark 1:15.) "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.)
Yes; there is power enough in believing, if it induces to action, to save the vilest sinner, if he believe from the
heart: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation." (Rom. 10:10.)
Dear reader, are you willing to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ just as the word of God declares it? Are you
seeking for the true gospel of Christ that you may be established in His church?
"Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."--2 Chron.
20:20.
Do not merely believe that Jesus is the Christ, but believe the gospel He taught, His mission, suffering, death,
and resurrection that man might be redeemed, and by obedience come established in His gospel and church.
Many think they have obeyed the gospel but are still unsatisfied. When they find the full gospel and obey it
spiritual assurance will come to them and they will then really be established in Christ in peace and quietude.
They will then receive that which will enable them to stand the trials and tests of life. He who is truly "born of the
water and of the Spirit" knows wherein he walks.
Many have asked, What is the gospel? "... It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."
(Rom. 1:16.) But that power works through certain principles which we must obey in order to be saved. These
principles are: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal
Judgment. (Heb. 6:1, 2.)
From the days of John the Baptist until the close of the Christian era that was the teaching of Christ and his
ministry.
"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."--Mark 1
:4.
"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.
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the
Lord."--Acts 22:16.
By these scriptures we see that baptism was for the remission of sins.
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they
went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder
me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him?"--Acts 8:35-38.
Notice, they both went down into the water, a baptism by immersion.
"We are buried with him by baptism into death."---Rom. 6:3.
"Buried with him in baptism."--Col. 2:12.
There are no less than five different modes of baptism practiced by professing Christians today. Surely all
cannot be right. If you had five watches and each of them gave a different time you would not say that all of them
were right. You would know that at least four of them must be wrong. Baptism is administered by immersion,
sprinkling, pouring, kneeling in the water and dipping forward, and triune immersion: first, in the name of the
Father; second, in the name of the Son; third, in the name of the Holy Ghost.
Not more than one of these can be right. What does the word of God say? "The earth also is defiled under the
inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting
covenant." (Isa. 24:5.)
Notice this: man has transgressed God's law by changing the ordinance and thereby has broken the
everlasting covenant between God and man. They have changed the ordinance of baptism from immersion to
four other modes, and have done away with the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of God s Holy
Spirit. They have made baptism ineffective by changing its mode and purpose; and have sinned still more by
doing away with the ordinance placed in the church for bestowing of the Holy Ghost, thus obstructing the
channel of communication between God and man. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.)
When baptism means so much, even being born again and having our sins remitted, let us examine further
the method of its administration. I here quote from "Light at Evening Time," pp. 16, 17.
"And were all baptized of him in the river Jordan."--Mark 1:5.
"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salem, because there was much water there."---John 3:23.
"And they want down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."--Acts 2:38.
"And when they were come up out of the water."--Acts 8:39.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water."--Matt. 3:16.
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism."--Rom. 6:4.
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him."--Col 2:12.
Gleaned from the foregoing field of scriptures the following facts are submitted:
1. That Bible baptism requires water.
2. That it takes "much water."
3. That it necessitates a going "down into the water."
4. That the candidate must be "buried in baptism."
5. That succeeding the burial he is "risen again."
6. That there is a coming "up out of the water."
Now take this baptismal measuring rod and apply it to the modern methods of baptism and we may easily
discover any change in the holy writ.
Let us apply it to sprinkling. How will it measure up?
1. Does it require Water? Yes.
2. Does it require much water? ................
3. Does the candidate go down into the water? ................
4. Is the candidate buried by baptism? ................
5. Is the candidate risen again? ................
6. Does the candidate come up out of the water? ................
Thus by actual measurement the ceremony of sprinkling is found to be right in only one point. Instead of being
the regulation height of six feet it is but one.
How can one expect a birth or the forgiveness of sins from an ordinance that does not measure up to the Bible
standard for baptism?
Now let us measure immersion:
1. Does it require water? Yes.
2. Does it require much water? Yes.
3. Does the candidate go down into the water? Yes.
4. Is the candidate buried in baptism? Yes.
5. Is the candidate risen again? Yes.
6. Does the candidate come up out of the water? Yes.
Continued
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