About the Author
Dr. Derik Hamby is pastor of Randolph Memorial Baptist Church. RMBC is a Baptist church in Madison Heights, VA. Derik is a graduate of Mid-Continent College, the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (M-DIV), and the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (D-MIN).
love your Ministerial Musings–how about that picture–
Hi Derik,
I thought you wrote an interesting piece. It brings alot to the table, and alot of what is right and wrong with religion today. First I would like you to know that I grew up a Southern Baptist. For some reason way down in my gut, it just seemed too simple, and I didn’t like the fact that I was baptized later with several other people I had never met.
I then, attended a small Bible Believing Church ( whatever that really means) ,and was embarrassed in the rock and sand parking lot outside of church after the sermon had finished. Some older woman asked me out loud, so that many people could hear her, if I were a Christian. Of course, I said I was, but left as fast as I could. I was around 19 at the time, and I determined that if it took me the rest of my life I would find out all I could about religion and salvation.
Many Church Institutions later and attending to numerous churches over the years have left me with many things that I can also bring to the table. My attention later turned to the early church to see what I could gather from them. One of the curious things is that I couldn’t find the word Sunday in the King James Bible. Don’t get me wrong…I am not a Sabbatarian, or Sabbath keeper. But I have found out a curious thing about the 1st day of the week, or what they call the Lord’s Day.
If you read The Good New for Modern Man, and the Living Bible you will find an interesting point about Acts 20:7-and following verses. It says that Paul was meeting in Troas on the first day of the week…or Saturday night after sunset which would be the beginning of the Lords’s Day according to Jewish Reckoning. So, the first day of the week or “Sunday” would really begin sunset Saturday and go until sunset Sunday. This is interesting, because the Church of Christ will not offer the Lord’s Supper after sunset Sunday, because they know it would be the Second day of the week according to Jewish reckoning…most members never even know about this.
Baptism is another big dividing issue, as you well know. It has divided the religious world completely. I cover alot of issues concerning these things on my blog…trulysaved.blogspot.com. I would really like you to read it, and get back to me on what you think.
You have raised some very interesting questions…but I will leave you with what I think about scriptural salvation. Here’s my take. I would baptize you in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of sins after you have confessed that Jesus is the Son of God. I then believe that you would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, that obviously comes from Acts 2:38, But remember this. In Matthew 28 Jesus didn’t say go out into the world and baptize them in my Name and I will be with you to the end of the World. He could have said that. That takes us again to Acts 2:38, but remember he said to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ…Christ is not a name..but a title. On the other hand in Matthew 28 the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names but titles. So what I really believe is that baptism is in the Authority of Jesus, or God Himself if you will.
These are somethings I have brought to the table…but let me say one thing more. Mark 16:16 says He who believes and is baptized shall be saved…How could an infant know how to believe or even understand it? Common sense seems to rule this point to me.
Blessings to all,
Brother Paul