about_indians-0187-1 – We Love God!

The Holy Spirit used four Greek words that are transliterated “baptism” or like derivatives in our English Bibles. In its context, each word gives the impression of immersion. Whether it is the baptism of trials or the baptism into the church or ceremonial washings or dipping bread into a bowl of oil, these words in the Bible and in other secular Greek writings of the time imply immersion. For instance, the verb Bapto in every usage means “to dip” or “to dye.” The word was used in common language when items were completely engulfed in a liquid to produce a change in color. Therefore, all Greek lexicons give the primary meanings of these 4 words as “dip,” “plunge” or “immerse.” As a matter of fact, the six Greek words that could be translated “pour” or “sprinkle” are never used in connection with water baptism.

Randy Smith

Security in God is seen with the two descriptions of God used in Psalm 16 that many people would find contradictory. In verse 2, David called God “good” and he also called Him “Lord.” We know what “good” means. “Lord” means ruler or boss or sovereign. To David, God’s goodness was not bound up in God being Santa Claus and giving him everything he wanted, but rather the trust that not he, but God was in ultimate control as Lord to determine what was actually good in David’s life. It was absolute submission to God as Lord that resulted in absolute delight in God’s sovereign goodness. So only as David submitted to God as his Lord did he discover the true goodness that his soul craved. The question is, can you say God is your ultimate good even when you don’t get the stuff you think you need? You can only say that if you truly believe that He is your Lord.

Randy Smith