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Naaman and Baptism - 2 Kings 5

Naaman and Baptism - 2 Kings 5

Old time preachers used this story on a regular basis. Many modern people have complained about using this story. They prefer 'faith only' and 'you don't need to be baptized' to be saved. I think we need to preach the story more - not less.

While it is an Old Testament story, it does teach by way of example how one ought to respond the word of God. It doesn't teach baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, but it does show how one should respond to a command to be baptized.

Naaman

Leprosy – needs to be cleansed / healed

Sought the Word of God

Was told to

    Dip

    7 times

    In the Jordan River

Her Argued against it

     From human reasoning

He went – dipped seven times

In the Jordan

According to the Word of God

He Was Clean

TODAY

Sin – need spiritual cleansing

We have the Word of God

We are told to be

     'dipped' (baptized, immersed)

 

     in water

Many Argue against it

     From human reasoning

As Many as go / dipped

In water

According to the Word of God

Are forgiven / cleansed

There are some obvious differences such as dipping 7 times and specifically in the Jordan river and it was about physical disease rather than sin. There are some obvious parallels.

Acts 2:41 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 8:36-38 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”  … 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

WHY did these things happen? Because God told them to do so.

Matthew 28:18-19 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

The question is: do we, like Naaman, have enough faith to do what God says?  Hugh DeLong

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