STANLEY VS. SCRIPTURE

On March 6, Atlanta Baptist TV preacher Charles Stanley spoke about the purpose of being baptized. We shall compare Stanley with Scripture. One must be true; the other must be false. Scripture: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven” (Peter, Acts 2:38). Stanley: “A person’s sins are forgiven based on belief in Christ rather than through baptism.” Scripture: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Jesus, Mark 16:16). Stanley: “Baptism is a statement that my sins have been forgiven… baptism follows salvation.” Scripture: “Baptism does now save you” (Peter, I Peter 3:21). This scripture states that Noah and the eight souls saved by water was a figure or example of how we are saved by baptism. Stanley: “No salvation is involved in baptism.” Scripture: “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins” (Ananias, Acts 22:16). Stanley: “Salvation must precede baptism.” Scripture: “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jesus, John 3:5). Stanley: “The sins of the thief on the cross were forgiven based on belief in Christ rather than through baptism.”

(#154)