Common Ground

It is interesting to find in my studies that many have come to the same conclusions without having known each other. Just today I found an older gospel teacher who saw the same things and developed the same conclusions I discovered through personal study. I never studied with him or under him, yet we draw the same conclusions at the same points.

Denominational Doctrines On Baptism

by T. Pierce Brown

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/den-doc.html

He gives some quotes from denominational leaders from before our time, so you can see they were actually in agreement with us on many points before eventually evolving into a faith alone theology.

Calvin rejected baptism as a mere sign of salvation, and did not seem to say baptism is New Testament circumcision. I have never seen baptism as circumcision, for New Testament circumcision to me seems to be removal of the law against us.

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

It is the act of God after baptism and in lieu of it that is our circumcision.

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Calvin, for example says, "For he commands all who believe, to be baptized for the remission of their sins. Therefore, those who have imagined that baptism is nothing more than a mark or sign by which we profess our religion before men -- have not considered that which was the principal thing in baptism; which is, that we ought to receive it with this promise, 'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.' Mark 16:16."

Calvin taught identical to the Church of Christ in this area. He did disagree about infants and other areas, he did uphold baptism was for salvation and for remission of sins.