OBJECTIONS #3; John 3:16 is all we need.

It’s not enough to know Him, we must obey Him. [Mat 7:21-23; Luke 6:46;]

Jesus does Love you. He died for you. [Rom 5:8; 1John 3:16]. His love was demonstrated toward us while we are without strength, sinners & enemies. But this doesn’t eliminate our part to receive His grace & love.

Obedience is our Love for Him. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” [John 14:15]. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” [1John 5:3].

He wants us to voluntarily submit & worship Him. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” [John 4:23-24]

Eternal life is given after obeying the gospel. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” [Hebrews 5:8]. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” [2Thess 1:8].

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

[Rom 10:16]

So, you see, belief and obedience are interconnected.

OBJECTIONS #4; “What if you’re on the way to be baptized?”

This is mostly an emotional response. Emotionalism is not the source of authority. Emotion never proves or disproves a fact. God’s word is truth [John 17:17]. ‘What if’ questions can go on ad infinitum. Here’s a question, what if a person is on their way to hearing the Gospel and believing in Jesus, can they be saved without belief? This is not the way to know the truth.

We didn’t bring up or invent baptism. God did:

• Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
• Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
• 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,
• Acts 8:36 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 more…

Baptism is submission to God’s commands. He does the work in the water, not you or me. Grace is a gift, that is what Jesus did in giving His life. Through faith is our part. Faith is dead without obedience. [Jas 2:24]

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

[Col 2:12] (emph mine seb)

–Spencer