I hold in my hands a booklet titled, “What every Episcopalian should know
about the sacrament of holy baptism” (2007 edition). This booklet teaches
that a person receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of being baptized in
water, and that said person receives eternal life after doing so.
Friends, neither of these things are taught in the scriptures. Water baptism
is documented in scripture, yes, but NOT as a means of receiving the Holy
Ghost OR eternal life.
Looking through the booklet, you might notice that NOWHERE in the booklet is
the gospel of Christ preached, nor is it stated that eternal life is a FREE
GIFT, bought and paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us analyze the
booklet step by step.
The first part of the booklet opens with the question, “What is the
sacrament of baptism?” Sacrament is defined at the bottom as, “an outward
and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace” (according to the Book of
Common Prayer). To start with, the word “sacrament” is not found anywhere in
the scriptures, not even in the modern perversions.
Secondly, grace is defined in the dictionary under Christianity as, “the
free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners
and the bestowal of blessings.” That right there proves that sacraments do
not bring grace: sacraments are WORKS, and the scriptures are clear that
works and grace are separate and cancel each other out if mixed together.
Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Now, I am not going to quote every single statement in the Episcopalian booklet, but I will show and refute the dangerous ones that will lead a person to hell.
“Through Baptism, a person… is adopted as a child of God and made an inheritor of heaven.”
Nowhere in the scriptures is it taught that a person becomes a child of God by water baptism. In fact, many scriptures say that we receive the inheritance by FAITH (in other words: TRUST), by which we are sanctified forever. Here is one such scripture, quoting Jesus.
Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
The next question asked is, “Why is it important to understand the Sacrament
of Baptism?” The answer given is, “The newly baptized person receives the
gift of the Holy Spirit - a gift that enables growth in Christian life and
faith. Baptism brings the person out of sin - into everlasting life.”
Firstly, water baptism does NOT bring the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is
proven by the words of Peter twice in the book of Acts.
Acts 10:45-47, 15:7-9, “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?… And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”
In Acts 10, Peter asks for the new believers to be baptized in water AFTER they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Would Peter have them be baptized in water twice if baptism brought the Holy Ghost? No, that would be stupid. In Acts 15, Peter said that people received the Holy Ghost by God after they believed the gospel being preached. He did not mention baptizing them in water at all. This means that the baptism referred to in Acts 2:38 is a SPIRITUAL baptism, NOT a physical one.
Acts 2:38, “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.”
Secondly, baptism does not bring anyone out of sin and into eternal life: only faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour does. Remember, the true gospel that saves is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for our sins.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
In the section on the history of baptism, it is claimed that “The history of the sacrament is remembered in a prayer thanking God for the water of baptism.” Friends, there is no such example in scripture of a person thanking God for water baptism, nor is there a command to do so. This is an example of rejecting the word of God in favor of keeping one’s tradition, which Jesus Christ Himself rebuked.
Mark 7:9, “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
According to the Episcopalian baptism booklet, “the meaning of baptism…
signifies… birth into God’s family, the Church, Baptism initiates us into
the community of the one, holy catholic, and apostolic Church.”
Firstly, the words “catholic” and “apostolic” are not found in the
scriptures, not even in the modern perversions. Secondly, we become children
of God by receiving Jesus Christ as our Saviour by faith in the gospel, NOT
water baptism.
John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
“The meaning of baptism… signifies… forgiveness of sins. Through Baptism, we are given God’s grace and cleansed of our sins.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong. This is, again, not taught anywhere in the scriptures. In fact, the scriptures tell a different story. According to the scriptures, we are forgiven by faith in the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from sin.
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Romans 3:24-26, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
There can be no denying it: the Episcopal Church teaches a false plan of salvation straight out of the pits of hell. Not once are we told in the scriptures that water baptism saves a person or brings them the Holy Spirit. None of the Old Testament saints or the thief on the cross were baptized. According to the Episcopal Church, they were not saved and were not children of God. This contradicts what Jesus said to the thief on the cross.
Luke 23:39-43, “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Either Jesus was telling the truth, or the Episcopal Church is. I am willing to bet my life that Jesus was telling the truth and the Episcopal Church is lying. According to the scriptures, ANYONE who preaches a false gospel is accursed. This means that the Episcopal Church is a false church, not of God. If you are an Episcopalian and you are reading this, I do not hate you, nor do I condemn you, but the facts are clear: the Episcopal Church did not base the teaching of holy baptism on the scriptures, but on religious manmade traditions. Do not trust in water baptism!
Galatians 1:9, “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
