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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.
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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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