Webbijbel
Gert-Jan Van Zanten
Acts 2: 38 and...........1 Cor. 11: 14
About 16
years ago when I first came in contact with the church of our Lord I
was delighted to find solid teaching. I had a background in
Calvinism and was searching for the the more perfect will and way of
God.
What a delight it was when I learned better and more perfect truths
about the Word of God.
When I
first came in contact with the church, the question was asked if I
was a Christian.
I had to
think about it and my answer was that I was not sure.
I was
certainly a believer, I was certainly trying to do what was right
and to live right, however
from my heart I could not say that I was a Christian, I
simply did not know.
In the
weeks that followed there were many studies with me and the question
was raised, what does the new Testament teaches on conversion. Many
hours were spend trying to understand the perfect will of God on the
re-birth.
Slowly I
came to understand that faith, repentance and baptism were needed in
order to be converted and to find a place among God children.
What was of special interest were the passages on baptism.
A door was opened when I came to understand the teaching of the new
Testament on baptism.
One of the passages, among others, that was discussed was Acts 2:
37- 38.
Act 2:38
And Peter said
unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins;
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When considering this passage the question was asked, what does this
passage say about the purpose of baptism...............and the
answer is, it is for the remission of sin.
So, for the alien sinner in order to obtain remission of sin, this
person needs to be baptized. Baptized on the basis of compete faith
in God and repentance.
This is what the passage says, we cannot take anything away from it,
we cannot add anything to it. It says what it says and so it stands.
God has spoken.
Now, there is another passage that we would like to look at. For
this passage the same principle can be used, it says what it says
and we cannot take anything away from it. God has spoken.
1Co 11:14 Doth not even
nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
dishonor to him?
1Co 11:15 But if a
woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is
given her for a covering.
This passage tells us that men are to have short hair and women are
to have long hair.
Over the years I have not heard many sermons on this topic. However,
God has spoken on this topic as well.
In this passage where God lays down principles based on headship, He
tells us that these two important matters, men are to have short
hair and women are to have long hair.
God has spoken. He says it and that settles it.
We would like to look at the word “long” in this passage.
Thayer says about this word:
G2863
komaō
To let the hair grow, have long hair
Strong says about this word:
G2863 komaō
From
G2864;
to
wear
tresses
of hair: - have long hair.
From both these sources we learn that this word means what it says,
long hair.
Other evidence that we find is:
1Ti 2:9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair,
and gold or pearls or costly raiment;
1Ti 2:10 but (which becometh women professing godliness) through
good works.
1Pe 3:1 In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own
husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the
word be gained by the behavior of their wives;
1Pe 3:2 beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of
braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting
on apparel;
1Pe 3:4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the
incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price.
In order
to braid the hair it needs to be of significant length.
In these things I see evidence that women are to have long hair.
When we
look at all these verses we understand that in Gods plan men are to
be different when it comes to the hair-lenght from women in that men
are to have short hair. The women are different from the men in that
she has long hair.
What will we do with this teaching?
How do we apply Acts 2: 38?
God says it, He has spoken. We cannot add or take anything
away from the voice of Him who has all authority.
Are we willing to apply 1 Cor. 11: 14 in the same way?
What I
have come to understand is that when it comes to Acts 2: 38 many
denominational folks explain this verse away and make it mean
something else. Many of our denominational friends will tell us that
we need to pray a sinners prayer and we will be saved.
Well, the
passage does not say that, it says what it says, the voice of God
said it and it stands, it stands forever.
The
denominationalist is wrong in their application of this passage.
Now, to
my own brethren, what have we done to 1 Cor. 11: 14, are we going to
explain it away or will we accept as God has spoken? As someone has
said, consistensy thou art a jewel.
