Gospel News — Mar-May 2012

shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up there on, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:3-10).

Brothers and sister, what a remarkable passage of hope! Here are verses in which we see what God will do for those who abide in His commandments until the end of this evil world. Therefore let us hold on to the truth in the Lord forever and ever.

Asking Questions

Bro Mumbelunga Green (Ndola, Zambia)

Asking questions is how we learn. Children in school are taught to ask questions. The answers to fundamental questions have been the pivot on which great changes in people's lives have depended.

Paul, on the way to Damascus was blinded by the light which was brighter than the mid-day sun. He asked, "Who art thou Lord?" The realisation that he had seen the risen Christ was to change completely the direction of his life.

The people who heard Peter on the day of Pentecost had their minds opened to a new understanding of who the Messiah was, and what God's purpose was through the risen Christ. They asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter answered their question and told them to repent (to change the direction of your lives, is what the word really means), and be baptized for the remission of their sins. The record in Acts tells

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us that they gladly received his word and were baptized. And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:37-42).

The African official returning home from Jerusalem in his chariot, was reading the book of Isaiah, but he did not understand what he was reading. Philip explained that the prophet was writing about Jesus. The Ethiopian, when he understood the gospel message, said "Here is water. What stops me from being baptized?" Philip gave an answer which was to change the African's life. "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest" (Acts 8:37).

Before we were baptized, we were asked many questions about our beliefs. This was to make sure that the body of believers is of one mind in matters of belief and practice as we are commanded in the New Testament. Do you believe the things concerning the Kingdom and the name Jesus Christ? This question is based on the words of Acts 8:12 and summarises the confidence of our faith, so we respond, "I do". Then at the baptism, the brother taking the service will say: "Upon the public confession of your faith, you are baptized by God's command into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins".

Our baptism marks a fundamental change in our direction:

The past has been washed away (Acts 22:16) We have changed our allegiance, so that we will not be serving sin but we will be making our service to God our life's aim (Rom 6:16-22). By our baptism we have also associated ourselves with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised