WHEN WERE THE APOSTLES BAPTIZED?

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WHEN WERE THE APOSTLES BAPTIZED? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 9:47am QUESTION: Do we know when the apostles received the baptism in which the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit is given? I assume they received John’s baptism. Do we assume that at some point they were rebaptized? Does their ability to speak in tongues (languages) in Acts 2:1ff. show that they had the indwelling of the Spirit at that point? How does John 20:22 fit in? ANSWER: Since we are not specifically told when (or even if) the apostles were baptized with Christian baptism, … Continue reading →

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THOSE BAPTIZED UNBIBLICALLY?

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WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THOSE BAPTIZED UNBIBLICALLY? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 1:15pm QUESTION: What is the spiritual status of the millions of people who have mistakenly followed the false views of baptism, whether in regard to meaning, subjects, or mode? E.g., here is a person who was sprinkled as a baby as a mark of membership in a local church, based solely on the fact that he was born to parents who were already members of that church. That person is now an adult and is actively involved in church activities and … Continue reading →

IS THE “BAPTISM OF DESIRE” SUFFICIENT?

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IS THE “BAPTISM OF DESIRE” SUFFICIENT? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 9:36am QUESTION: I know of a severely-handicapped person who had a sincere desire to be baptized in the Biblical way, but because of the disability simply could not be immersed. It was decided to put this person under the shower and cover him with water in such a way that he was extremely wet from head-to-toe and had to hold his breath for a time while the water was showered over his face. Those conducting this “baptism” emphasized the importance of the person’s commitment … Continue reading →

THE MEANING OF FOOTWASHING IN JOHN 13:1-17

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THE MEANING OF FOOTWASHING IN JOHN 13:1-17 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 4:27pm QUESTION: When Jesus washes the apostles’ feet in John 13:1ff., is this just a lesson in humility, or does it have some spiritual significance beyond that? E.g., does the footwashing as Jesus performs it stand for personal cleansing from sin? Is it a figure for baptism? Does the act itself represent Jesus’ service of dying on the cross for the sins of the world? ANSWER: My initial reaction to this question is that this episode is just a lesson in humility, and … Continue reading →

THE IMPERATIVES OF ACTS 2:38

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THE IMPERATIVES OF ACTS 2:38 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 1:21pm QUESTION: Some interpreters of Acts 2:38 make a big deal of the difference between second person imperative for the verb “repent,” and third person imperative for the verb “be baptized.” My systematic theology professor says that “be baptized,” as third person imperative, is not a command as such but is rather “a strong plea.” His basis is the same usage in Galatians 1:8, where Paul says “let them be accursed,” which is not really a mandatory command to God but a strong plea. What … Continue reading →

Can We Cooperate with Christian Groups?

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Can We Cooperate with Christian Groups? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7:34pm QUESTION #1 – “Some parachurch organizations use the 1974 Lausanne Covenant to describe what they believe. What are your thoughts about this?” QUESTION #2 – “What do you think of the Manhattan Declaration? Have you signed it? How can we cooperate with those whose doctrine is different from ours?” ANSWER: The former question came today; the latter came some months ago. Each involves the same two issues: (1) Can we endorse the doctrine expressed in these documents? And, (2) can we in good … Continue reading →

IS REBAPTISM EVER NECESSARY?

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IS REBAPTISM EVER NECESSARY? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 3:17pm QUESTION: Is it ever a good idea, or even necessary, for a person to be rebaptized, i.e., baptized a second time? ANSWER: My approach to this question assumes that sometimes what is considered to be a baptism is indeed a valid baptism, but sometimes it is not. If a person has been baptized once with a valid baptism, there will never be a need for rebaptism. This is true even if a baptized person has fallen from grace and has now decided to return to … Continue reading →

DEGREES OF REWARD IN HEAVEN

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DEGREES OF REWARD IN HEAVEN by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 10:47am QUESTION: It seems clear that on the day of final judgment, all works (good and bad) of all people (saved and lost) will be brought up. But if we as Christians are justified by faith apart from a consideration of our works of obedience and disobedience to our law code (Rom. 3:28), and if, even in the moment of our death, we have assurance of our salvation, what then is the PURPOSE of having to face our sins on Judgment Day? ANSWER: Please refer … Continue reading →

WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE JUDGMENT?

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WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE JUDGMENT? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 10:39am QUESTION: Some say that Christians will not have to go through the final judgment, based on John 5:24, where Jesus says this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (NASB, &ff.). Others say, yes, we WILL go through the judgment, but our sins will not be brought up there. They base this on Hebrews 8:12, where … Continue reading →

Hebrews 12:15 and the Question of Eternal Security

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Hebrews 12:15 and the Question of Eternal Security by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 11:44am QUESTION: A typical translation of Hebrews 12:15a is this, from the NASB: “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God.” The word translated “of” is the Greek apo, which, when followed by the genitive, means “from, away from.” This raises a question concerning the people being addressed: are they not yet within God’s grace, and are thus being warned not to fall short of attaining it or missing out on it? Or are they now within … Continue reading →