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Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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 Jack is just one of a growing
number influenced by men such as
F. Lagard Smith, who teach a NEW
way to look at the scriptures . . .
 Views the church as JUST another
denomination . . .
 Jack is actively seeking members of
the church who are weak and
discontent . . . (NICOCSTUDY.NET)
Don McClain
 Some of his arguments are popular .
. . And we need to know how to
answer them!!
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
3
Don McClain
The Scriptures teach that
that one becomes a
Christian at the point of
faith, before and
without water baptism.
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
4
 Faith is the introduction into grace.
 Salvation takes place by faith apart
from works . . .
 Baptism is just a symbol of
salvation . . .
 Baptism is sometimes uses as a
figure of speech in the New
Testament (synecdoche) –
Don McClain
 There are Biblical examples of
people who were saved prior to or
apart from the baptism of the
Great Commission W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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Thayer Definition:
Προσαγωγή - prosagōgē
1) the act of bringing to, a
moving to
2) access, approach 2a) to
God, i.e. that relationship
with God whereby we are
acceptable to him and
have assurance that he is
favorably disposed
towards him
Don McClain
Romans 5:1-2 (NASB-U)
Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we have
peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, [2]
through whom also we
have obtained our
introduction by faith into
this grace . . .
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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 Access – KJV
Ephes. 2:18 (NKJV) For
through Him we both have
access by one Spirit to the
Father.
Ephes. 3:12 (NKJV) in
whom we have boldness and
access with confidence
through faith in Him.
Don McClain
Romans 5:1-2 (NASB-U)
Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we have
peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, [2]
through whom also we
have obtained our
introduction by faith into
this grace . . .
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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 Access – KJV
Galatians 3:26-27 (NKJV)
For you are all sons of
God through faith in
Christ Jesus. [27] For as
many of you as were
baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.
Don McClain
Romans 5:1-2 (NASB-U)
Therefore,
been
State
- Youhaving
are sons
of
justified
by faith, we have
God!!
peace with God through
Access
through
faith
our
Lord–Jesus
Christ,
[2]
in Christ!!
through
whom also we
have obtained
our as
When??
– For, (gar)
introduction
faith
many ofbyyou
asinto
this grace
. . . INTO
were
baptized
Christ . . .
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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In Romans 4 Paul
says
we are
saved initially by faith
apart from
works. ~ Church of
Christ Mailing List 2/20/06
Don McClain
Romans 4:6 (NKJV)
just as David also
describes the
blessedness of the man
to whom God imputes
righteousness apart
from works:
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
9
 What kind of works?? -(4)
 Paul is NOT referring to
obedience to the gospel in
this text – (Rom. 1:5; 2:7,8;
6:3-6,16-18; 16:25,26)
 Paul is NOT dealing with
initial salvation in this
text – (4:3;Gen 15:6)
 Paul is protesting against
the judaizers in this text!
Don McClain
Romans 4:6 (NKJV)
just as David also
describes the
blessedness of the man
to whom God imputes
righteousness apart
from works:
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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Romans 4:1-6
Justified
Counted for
righteousness
Fulfilled
Genesis 15:6
Strong
Not of works
Don McClain
There MUST be two
classes of “works” or
else a contradiction!
James 2:21-24
Justified
Counted for
righteousness
Fulfilled
Genesis 15:6
Perfect
By works
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
11
Romans 4:2-6 (Jack Holt’s
Perversion)
For if Abraham was justified
by obeying the gospel, he has
something to boast about, but
not before God. . . . [4] Now to
him who obeys the gospel, the
wages are not counted as grace
but as debt. . . .
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
12
Romans 4:2-6 (Jack Holt’s
Perversion)
[5] But to him who does
not obey the gospel but
believes on Him who
justifies the ungodly, his
faith is accounted for
righteousness,
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
13
Works =
Perfectly
keeping the
Law of God,
specifically, in
context - the
Law of Moses!!
Don McClain
Romans 4:2-6 (Jack Holt’s
Perversion)
[6] just as David also
describes the blessedness
of the man to whom God
imputes righteousness
apart from obedience to
the gospel :
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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Consequences: Blessed
is the man that does
NOT obey the
gospel!!!
Mat 7:21-23
Rom. 2:8; 6:3-18; 10:16
1 Peter 1:22,23
2 Thes. 1:7-9
Don McClain
Romans 4:2-6 (Jack Holt’s
Perversion)
[6] just as David also
describes the blessedness
of the man to whom God
imputes righteousness
apart from obedience to
the gospel :
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
15
Don McClain
Christian baptism is a shadow
and type of salvation, but not
the reality of it. It pictures that
salvation, inward
transformation, cleansing,
and forgiveness that takes
place in the heart. It pictures
the death of Christ and faith in
Christ, which are the
substance, but baptism itself
is not the substance but a
shadow or symbol.
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
16
Don McClain
In Hebrews 9, speaking of
the washings (Greek,
baptismos) of the Old
Testament the Bible says
such washing were a
"symbol" (NASB). I see
no reason to consider
New Testament baptism
any differently.
~ Nicocstudy 2/24/06
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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In Hebrews 9, speaking of the washings (Greek, baptismos) of the Old
Testament the Bible says such washing were a "symbol" (NASB). I see no
reason to consider New Testament baptism any differently. ~ Nicocstudy
2/24/06
 9:11 – Christ came – shed His blood –
(Real or symbolic?)
 9:15-20 - Established the NEW
Covenant, (real or symbolic?)
 Hebrews 10:19-23 –To enter the Holiest
& draw near to God - True heart – Full
assurance of faith – Hearts sprinkled
with blood of Christ – Bodies washed!
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
18
Baptism is a
sign and seal
like Old
Testament
circumcision
was – Romans
4:9-11
Don McClain
Romans 4:11 (NKJV)
And he received the sign of
circumcision, a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he
had while still uncircumcised, that
he might be the father of all those
who believe, though they are
uncircumcised, that righteousness
might be imputed to them also,
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
19
Baptism is a
sign and seal
like Old
Testament
circumcision
was – Romans
4:9-11
Don McClain
 Circumcision was a sign of
faith & Righteousness only to
Abraham - All others were
circumcised involuntarily . . .
 Abraham was the father of
both Jew and Gentile – the
SIGN that separated them was
circumcision – Paul points to
Abraham as being accepted by
God before the commandment
was ever given! W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
20
Baptism is a
sign and seal
like Old
Testament
circumcision
was – Romans
4:9-11
Don McClain
Colossians
2:11-13
 Where does the Bible
EVER refer to baptism as
a “sign” or “seal”????
 Where does the Bible
EVER refer to baptism as
being equivalent to the
“sign” and “seal” of
circumcision?
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
21
Baptism is a
sign and seal
like Old
Testament
circumcision
was – Romans
4:9-11
Don McClain
Colossians
2:11-13
 The circumcision of Christ
was without hands!!! – 11
 The circumcision of Christ
is an inward act
performed directly by
Christ – 11; (Rom 2:28,29)
 The operation of God – 12
 The question isW. 65th
WHEN??
St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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“. . . For all the
outward works one
does after he
believes and
becomes a
Christian.” Mark
16:16
Holt/Welch debate – 1st Aff
Don McClain
Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)
And He said to them, "Go
into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature.
[16] He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be
condemned.
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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Matthew 28
Mark 16
Luke 24
All Power
Right Hand of
God
The Christ
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Go Ye
Go Ye
Ye are Witnesses
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Teach all
Nations
Teach Every
Creature
Preach to all
Nations
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Disciples
Believeth
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Figurative
Ongoing
Salvation
Literal
Initial
Salvation
Literal
Ongoing
Salvation
Repentance
Baptize
Baptized
In The Name
Saved
Teach
Don McClain
Remission of Sins
In His Name
Jack Holt
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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“. . . The Eunuch,
Cornelius, Those
baptized with John’s
baptism, Thief on the
cross, Old Testament
saints . . .”
Holt/Welch debate – 1st Aff
Don McClain
“God has had
ONLY ONE
plan for all
ages!!”
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
25
“. . . The Eunuch,
Cornelius, Those
baptized with John’s
baptism, Thief on the
cross, Old Testament
saints . . .”
Holt/Welch debate – 1st Aff
Don McClain
 Period of transition!!
 Same principles with
different
requirements!
 Which of these were
NOT following the
instructions
applicable W.to
65th Stthem???
church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
26
Don McClain
I have stated that those who do not
have access to written revelation
can, through the revelation of
creation itself and God’s
providence, come to see their guilt
as sinners and turn to God in faith
as a solution, and I have stated I
believe such will be saved by the
blood of Christ.
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
Marslist 1/11/06
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My position is that those who are
without written revelation can,
through natural revelation, know
that there is a God, that they are
sinners, and turn to God in faith for
the forgiveness of their sins and
that such will be saved through the
blood of Christ.
Marslist 1/19/06
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
28
Don McClain
“Thus, yes, I have hope that
pagans who do not have
access to written revelation,
can, on the basis of the
revelation of creation, yield to
God, and I believe they are
saved by the blood of Christ
just like I am when they do so.”
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
Marslist 1/19/06
29
 Mat. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38,39
 Hebrews 1:1,2 – “Hath in these last days . . .”
 Acts 17:30 – “Commands all men everywhere to
repent . . .”
 Acts 4:12 – “No other name . . .”
 John 14:6 – “The way, the truth, and the life”
 Rom. 1:16,17 – “Power of God to salvation to all
who believe . . .”
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
30
Jericho-Hebrews 11:30
Samson-Judges 13:16
Brass Serpent-John 3:14-15
Pool Of Siloam-John 9
Noah-Hebrews 11:7
Naaman-2 Kings 5
Baptism-Mark 16:15-16
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
31
 Faith is the introduction into grace.
 Salvation takes place by faith apart
from works . . .
 Baptism is just a symbol of
salvation . . .
 Baptism is sometimes uses as a
figure of speech in the New
Testament (synecdoche) –
Don McClain
 There are Biblical examples of
people who were saved prior to or
apart from the baptism of the
Great Commission W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
32
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
33
Believe
Repent
Confess
Hear
Be
Baptized
Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006
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Don McClain
W. 65th St church of Christ ~ April 30,2006