The football fan-favorite Texas Christian University is coming under fire because of their smashing success in the last few games. Apparently, you can have too much of a good thing. College Football has no place for bullying and winning big means bullying. The College Football Playoffs commissioner commented saying, that “TCU has been trouncing opponents. And that’s bad for business and harmful to the self-esteem of opposing players. College football is about fairness and equity, but when teams like TCU are smashing opponents, it looks like some teams are clearly better than others. That’s damaging to team revenues and, more than that, it crushes the spirit of those college athletes who may never recover from that kind of defeat.”
When asked whether TCU’s victories are good sportsmanship, in the spirit of competition, the commissioner added, “When TCU wallops opponents like Texas Tech, Iowa State, or Ole Miss that is ‘bully’ behavior. It is clearly ‘unfair’ to weaker teams. We want teams in the playoffs who are roughly equal, so there can be good close games with established teams that have a huge fan base and generate lots of revenue. TCU offers none of that.” The commissioner added, “There is no place in the playoffs for bullies. We cannot have teams that are clearly better than the rest compete for the trophy because that would make the games lopsided, it would push out established teams with a wide fan base and lots of revenue, and it would let smaller schools think they have the same right to compete as bigger more profitable teams. We can’t have that.”
When asked about Florida’s state’s meme-worthy meltdown to the tune of 5 turnovers and a 39 point differential, the commissioner could only say, “Well, it’s Florida State. Plus, Florida State won games without ‘rubbing it in.’ They deserve to be in the playoffs because they managed to win without embarrassing other teams. They weren’t bullies like TCU. They won close games. They didn’t melt down until their biggest game. And by that time, all the tickets were sold. They can meltdown all the want as long as it doesn’t hurt profits. TCU however, they won big games and won by big margins. That’s bully behavior and that violates the spirit of fairness we try to uphold in college sports.”
FABRICATED VIEWS ABOUT BAPTISM AND BIBLICAL FACTS-BY STEVE FINNELL
Why do the majority of believers in Christ base what they believe about water baptism on the fabricated facts of men? Biblical facts do get in the way of views composed by men.
THE FABRICATED FACTS
1. Water baptism washes away the so-called original sins that men inherit from Adam, however, committed sins are washed away by faith only.
2. Water baptism was commanded by Jesus as a simple act of obedience, but it has no purpose.
3. Water baptism is a way for men to demonstrate their faith to the church and the community.
4. Water baptism is not essential to the forgiveness of sins.
5. Water baptism is performed after someone has been saved.
6. Water baptism is not a baptism into Christ.
7. Water baptism precedes faith if you are an infant.
8. Water baptism is only essential in order to join the denomination of of your choice.
9. The thief on the cross was not baptized, so all men can be saved without water baptism.
10. God does not required men to be baptized if they die before they have had time to be baptized.
11. Sprinkling and pouring water are just other modes of baptism. (Note: Baptism means immersion. Immersion is not a mode. Immersion is baptism.)
12. Water baptism is just an outward sign of forgiveness that has already taken place when men believed one day ago, one month ago, or one year ago etc.
13. Water baptism is a work of man and is not essential to salvation.
14. Water baptism is not essential to enter the kingdom of God.
15. The three thousand men saved on the Day of Pentecost had their sins washed away before they were baptized in water.
All of these 15 mentioned statements about water baptism are fabricated facts preached from pulpits, found in creed books, and or explained in other extra-Biblical writings. NONE OF THEM ARE FOUND IN THE BIBLE. WHERE ARE THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCES?
THE BIBLICAL FACTS OF WATER BAPTISM
1. Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
You cannot separate faith and water baptism.
2. Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;…..
You cannot separate faith and water baptism when taking about the requirements for salvation.
3. Acts 22:16 Now why do you delay? Get up be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
Saul had to be baptized in water to have his sins washed away. Saul was not baptized so he could join the Ananias Baptist Church.
4. Colossians 2:11-14 …..12 having been buried with Him in in baptism…. 13…..having forgiven us all our transgression, 14 having canceled out the certificate consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and having nailed it to the cross.
You cannot disconnect water baptism and Jesus being nailed to the cross when talking about forgiveness from transgressions.
5. Acts 8:25-38 …36 …. “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[37 And Philip said, If you believe with with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”]…….
Belief and confessing Jesus as the Son of God precede water baptism. Infants cannot believe nor confess Jesus as the Christ.
The eunuch was not baptized a testimony of his faith to Philip nor the community. There was no community present. Philip had just preached Jesus to the eunuch and heard him confess Jesus as the Son of God. Philip did have to see the eunuch baptized in order to see his faith. The eunuch was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of his sins.
You cannot separate belief, confessing Jesus as the Son of God and water baptism
6. John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
You cannot dissociate being born of water baptism and being born of the Spirit.
7. Acts 2:22-41…..38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of yoube baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…….
You cannot ignore the the fact that repentance and water baptism are in order to have sins forgiven and that they precede receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
8. Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
The washing of regeneration (water baptism) is one thing. The renewing by the Holy Spirit is another thing. You must be born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5 and Acts 2:38 makes this connection, also).
9. Ephesians 5:25-27…Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
How much self deception and how many man-made creed books do you have to read, to not believe God was not talking about water baptism in verse 26?
10. 1 Peter 3:20-21 ….safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You cannot separate water baptism, an appeal to God, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, from salvation.
Romans 6:3-7 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?4 Therefore we have been buried with Him in baptism into death, so as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father,so we too might walk in newness of life…… 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
Baptism is a burial. You cannot be buried under a sprinkle nor by having water poured on you. You are raised to walk in a new life after baptism, not before you are baptized. You not walking in a new life the moment you believe. Men are freed from sin after water baptism, not before.
MEN HAVE TWO CHOICES.
1. Men can believe the fabricated facts of water baptism contrived in the hearts of men.
2. Men can believe the facts about water baptism found in the Bible and the Bible alone.
MEN HAVE FREE WILL.
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So, do you think TCU should be allowed into the playoffs if they agree to be baptized?