Make The Crossing
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath delivered us INTO the kingdom of His dear Son . . . “ (Col. 1:13).
“For as many of you as have been baptized INTO Christ HAVE PUT ON Christ.” (Gal. 3:27).
We have previously pointed out that men must walk by faith in order to please God; that faith cometh by hearing the Word of God, and that whatever are God’s Commands to us are ACTS OF FAITH. God has commanded alien sinners to BELIEVE, REPENT OF SINS, CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST, and BE BAPTIZED IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS (Acts 2:39). As the sinner obeys these commands, he is walking by faith. As he walks by faith, God gives him pardon and Salvation from sin.
Satan is the author of sin. He has a kingdom. It is strong and powerful. Its citizens are those who OBEY his commands. These are they for whom Jesus died. He loves them so dearly and wants every one of them to live with Him in Heaven someday, but they are blinded and deceived by Satan’s false promises. They refuse to let Jesus save them. They are bound by chains of sin. They need deliverance.
The devil is aware of Jesus’ love. He loves nobody. It is a matter of revenge or vengeance with him. He knows that eternal Hell awaits him and he is striving to take everybody there with him. There is no limit to his efforts to destroy mankind. He hates man because man is made in the image of God. It is such a pity that man can’t see this.
Satan is a LIAR and the father of it. (John 8:44). He tells men: “You are good enough as you are.” This one is real popular. It appeals to the ego and soothes the conscience. It eliminates the need for change, responsibility, spiritual adjustment. It blinds man to his sins. If he can’t see his mistakes and feel his guilt he is hopelessly lost. It must not be forgotten that there are many honest, sincere, moral and respectable citizens in Satan’s kingdom. He perhaps, is more proud of them than many of his vile ones. They are a “front” for him.
Then Satan comes up with another false statement: “The Bible says it, but it doesn’t mean it.” The serious thinker would ask, “Then why does it say it?” You’d think this “gimmick” would have little appeal to men but it is extremely effective. It destroys respect, confidence, and a definite need to rely on what God has said. It opens the door for speculation, human wisdom, tradition. Many preachers (?) use this gimmick.
Satan is not too concerned if a man believing what God says IF believing is as far as it goes. “The devils also BELIEVE and tremble.” (Jas 2:19). The devil is not too unhappy when a sinner repents, if this is the extent of it, because this only means that he is inactive. He is still in the ranks of Satan at this point. However, Satan begins to get nervous and uneasy when a believing, penitent sinner walks down the aisle to confess FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. This step brings him TOO CLOSE to the CROSSING. Satan knows that only ONE STEP MORE will release this servant from the BONDAGE of sin. One step more, baptism in water, and the work is done. Translated “out of the kingdom of darkness and INTO the kingdom of His dear Son.” (Col. 1:13).
Satan knows that baptism in water for the remission of sins is where the TRANSITION is made – where the crossing takes place. He must not permit this to happen. If so, he loses a disciple, a servant. He summons help from some of his ministers, his most influential citizens. The fight is on. He offers fame, money, power, threats, anything and everything at his command. He ridicules the followers of Christ, the church, showing how few in number they are compared with the number in his camp. As per usual, he does not tell the truth, that “. . . strait is the gate, and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.” (Matt 7:13:14)
Don’t forget, SALVATION is IN CHRIST. (2 Tim. 2:10). Redemption, forgiveness of sins is IN Christ. (Eph. 1:7). A sinner is a NEW CREATURE “in Christ.” (2 Cor 5:17). One must be “baptized” INTO Christ in order to “get in Christ”.” We read: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were “baptized into Christ” were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3). It follows then, there is no other way into Christ except by baptism. It is the LAST step. In baptism, the “crossing is made” from sin to salvation, from darkness to light. This is God’s way. It must be right.
Friend, don’t let Satan keep you from making “the crossing”. Don’t let him make you believe that you have made the crossing UNTIL you have satisfied God’s demands. Go all the way with God. Take no chance on your soul.
The above article was written March 6, 1966 by O. D. Wilson. “Truth” is still “truth” today, yesterday when my Father-in-Law preached, and when it began in A. D. 33 when the church was born. (John 8:32). One CANNOT be TAUGHT WRONG in denominationalism, and be baptized in accordance to God’s plan to receive Salvation. One MUST MAKE THAT CROSSING in full compliance with the Commandments of God, or they are not citizens and cannot have the benefits or promises granted to citizens. For example, there are many “crossing illegally” into our country today seeking a “shortcut” to citizenship. There is a “legal” way to citizenship, but no “shortcut.
The same is true of becoming a child of God in His kingdom (the church). God’s Commands MUST be obeyed for one to become a citizen (Christian). There is no “shortcut” into Christ. (Eph. 2:13 & 19)
Why would anyone refuse to “make the crossing” legally and scripturally in order to prepare for eternity? Let us help you learn what God says to do, so you too can make that most important crossing.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
