Water
by Dick Ward
Did You Know God has often used Water to extend a blessing to mankind? While some falsely charge Christians with believing in "water-salvation" (for we do not), these accusers overlook the fact that God has extended blessings through the use of Water . Let us keep in mind the power is not in the water but in God.
NOAH AND THE WATER
All Bible readers, young and old, know of Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-9). God separated the good (Noah and his family) from the bad (the wicked generation) by the use of water. Peter said, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1 Pet 3:20 KJV). We see God using water to bless Noah and his family but we all know the power is not in the water but in God’s use of it!
NAAMAN AND THE WATER
When the leprous Naaman heard the message from Elias: "... Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." (2 Ki 5:10 KJV), he just did not want to accept God’s use of water to receive a blessing. Naaman reminds us of preachers today who fight against God’s simple instructions about baptism in water. Obviously, the power was not in the water of the river Jordan: "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian" (Luke 4:27 KJV). The power was in God’s instructional use of water .
THE BLIND MAN AND WATER
When the blind man followed the directions given him by Jesus, he went to the pool of Siloam and after "washing" came forth "seeing." (John 9:6,7). It is unfair to speak of "water-healing" in the case of the blind man. The power is with Christ to enable the blind man to see! Jesus simply chose to use water as a condition of receiving sight on the part of the blind man.
YOU AND WATER
As water had to do with Noah and his salvation, so Peter wrote, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" (1 Pet 3:21 KJV). As Naaman dipped seven times and his leprosy was remitted, so Peter told the Jews, ".... Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38 KJV). As the blind man washed in the waters of Siloam and came forth seeing, so Ananias told Saul, " ..... be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16 KJV). No! the power is not in the water, my friend, the power is in God and the blessing comes in following God’s instructions concerning the use of water.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Dick Ward for the article! He can be reached at 18 El Dorado East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405; (205) 556-2407).
Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com
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