The Bible you use should reflect what you believe

Before leaving our tribute to the King James Bible, one more aspect must be considered, for I know many out there don’t believe which version they use is important. But this is only true for those who do not understand how important their Bible is as an article of the Christian faith. For those of us who draw our Christian faith from the Bible, the Bible is more than sacred — it is more important than life and death.

Do you believe in baptismal regeneration?

Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person can procure their salvation, in whole or in part, by being baptized. This doctrine has led to various beliefs and practices, including the baptizing of infants. And it stands to reason that if one can earn salvation through baptism, then who would not want their baby to be baptized?

But, if baptismal regeneration is not true, then infant baptism is giving false security to many out there who think they are eternally secure because mom and dad had them baptized when they were only a few days old.

Do you believe in baptismal regeneration? More importantly, what does your Bible teach?

If you have a King James 1611 Bible, your Bible does not teach this. In fact, what you will find is the exact opposite of this doctrine — believer’s baptism. In Acts 8, we find the short story of the Ethiopian eunuch, sitting and pondering the book of Isaiah when Philip finds him. After preaching to him a bit, the eunuch asks him about baptism.

The King James reads in verses 36-38: “As they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized?’ And Philip said, ‘If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

When Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest,” he was teaching believer’s baptism; you must be “saved” before getting baptized. Baptism has absolutely nothing to do with salvation. This is what the King James Bible teaches, and this is what I believe, teach and practice.

But not all Bible versions teach this. I can still remember the day I discovered that verse 37 was completely missing from the New International Version. I mean, verse 36 was marked, and then there was verse 38 marked, but no verse 37.

What you need to understand is that if your Bible is missing Acts 8:37, by omission it is teaching baptismal regeneration. If, then, you believe in believer’s baptism, you have the wrong Bible. Friend, the Bible you use should reflect what you believe.

Of the 10 versions I have in my library for comparison purposes, five have removed this verse from their text, four apologetically so. By apologetically, I mean that they mention its removal in their footnotes by saying that other manuscripts “add” this verse.

Thus, they justified its removal. These Bibles include the New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation and New Century Version. The one that offers no apology is the New World Translation.

While the remaining five that retain this verse, four of these do so apologetically; that is, they offer footnotes that some manuscripts “omit” this verse. By so doing, they demonstrate a willingness to occupy middle ground between two opposing doctrines. These Bibles include The Amplified Bible, New American Standard Version, The Living Bible and the New King James Version. Interestingly enough, the one that offers no apology is the Douay Rheims Bible.

While the doctrine of baptism may be of little importance to you, it was a costly issue for more than 1,000 years, the price of which was paid in blood.

And the doctrine of baptism is not the only doctrine being attacked. The virgin birth, the deity of Jesus Christ and the trinity are also doctrines being compromised among the various modern versions.

Folks, we need to understand that unity at the expense of doctrine produces a very superficial Christianity. No wonder skeptics mock modern Christians. The truth is, it is time for Christians to draw their doctrine from their Bible, and I hope you have the right one.

Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229 or ron.hamman@gci.net.

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