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Vol. 46, No.
2 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE
March 14, 2003
The Bulletin Board
Our Sympathy – We extend our sympathy to the Slaughters in the
death of Debbie’s father, Raymond Lee Atkinson, on March 4th.
The funeral was held Saturday at Rogersville, MO….We also extend our
condolences to Hope Zettel in the death this week of her sister, May
Fendwick, of Louisville, KY.
The Sick – J. R. Frost’s mother, Pat Frost, entered St. Luke’s
Hospital last week while visiting here from Georgia. As this is
written she is still hospitalized….The two Parker children are
improved from a stomach virus….Pat Young is recovering from a fall on
the ice last week….Ray Dean Thomas of the Waukesha Church is in
serious condition in the Waukesha Hospital….Remember all in your
prayers.
Youth Rally – Our youth rally is at hand. It will be March 28
– 30. See the display on the bulletin board and sign up for ways you
would like to help – food, housing, etc. See Daryl Miller to
volunteer for other things. The speaker will be Wiley Lowe of Holly
Hill, Florida, who was with us for our youth rally in 2001. Adults
are invited to come and share with our youth and those from sister
churches.
The Christian Workers’ Meeting will be Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. at
Southside.
ATTENDANCE RECORD
Two years ago
Last year Last week Goal
Bible classes
203 128 145
170
Morning worship 286
224 *216
250
Evening worship
54 70 70
80
Contribution $4503.60
$4659.01 $4663.58 $4200.00
Calendar of Events
March
18 – Christian Workers’ Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
March
23 – Concert, Southwestern Christian College chorus, Central Church,
2:30
March
28 – 30 – Southside Youth Rally
April
4 – 6 – York College high school days
April
11, 12 – Southside Men’s Retreat, Camp Matawa
April
12 – Work day at Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
April
12, 13 – W.C.Y.C. youth rally at Fallhall Glen
April
13 – Elders and deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
April
13 – Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
April
29 – May 2 – National Assoc. of Christian Camps workshop, Fallhall
Glen
May 9
– Mother-Daughter Banquet, 6:00 p.m.
A Study of Baptism (1)
The Purpose
Almost all people of different faiths acknowledge the importance of
Christian baptism. Since not all teachings agree, however, we think
it may be helpful to explore the function of baptism from a Biblical
perspective.
The New Testament relates baptism to the forgiveness of sins and
salvation. To the multitude on Pentecost Peter said, “Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Ananias directed Saul of Tarsus, “Rise and
be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name”
(Acts 22:16). Peter informs us that “Baptism…now saves you” (1
Peter 3:16).
These verses by themselves do not tell us how baptism relates
to the forgiveness of sins. Taken alone one might incorrectly
conclude that there is something magical in the water of baptism.
Paul explains the relationship. “Do you not know that all of us who
have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his
death?” (Romans 6:3) Jesus shed his blood on the cross when he died
and in so doing paid for our sins. Paul tells us that we reach that
saving blood in the act of baptism. Baptism is said to save us and to
take away our sins because it is at the point of baptism that the
saving blood of Christ removes our sins.
Paul continues in this passage to more fully explain what happens at
the time of baptism. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism
into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with
him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was
crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we
might no longer be enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:4-6).
Paul is saying that when one is baptized he does what Jesus did.
Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the grave. In baptism we die
to sin with Christ, are buried with him in baptism, and are raised to
a new life. We have renounced sin as a way of living and are
committed to following Jesus the rest of the way. By reenacting what
Jesus did, we are united with him. We have, in fact, put on Christ,
as Paul writes, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
In our next article we will further explore some of the implications
of baptism.
__Monroe Hawley |
