Baptism - What Saith the Scripture? HA Ironside writes about a variety of subjects covered by the Bible and distinguishes John's Baptism unto Repentance, The Baptism of Jesus, Baptism of Wrath upon the Cross, Baptism in the Commissions, Baptism unto the Death of Jesus Christ, Baptism for the Remission of Sins, Baptism of Households and Baptism for the Dead.
The most important day in my life--bar none--is December 7,1959. That was the day I was taken off the Broad road that leads to hell and put on the Narrow way that leads to Heaven. (Matthew 7:13-14) It happened about 8 in the evening. The Bible teaches- and I was taught -.that I was born a sinner and needed to be saved.--(Acts 4:12). And I was taught that jesus was the only way to heaven--(John 14:6) and he had to be my saviour. But I couldn't seem to get saved. I went to lots of gospel meetings and to Sunday School--so I knew lots in my head -but didn't have it in my heart. Then gospel meetings started in the Stout Gospel Hall in October of 1959--conducted by Leonard Debuhr and Eric McCullough. I was aware that I had a soul that would exist forever--and I didn't want to go to Hell.--so I would come to the meetings about once a week---the rest of the time I would spend at the the movie theater or at the bowling alley or at sports events at the school. I played basketball-baseball and football in high school so loved sports. At the end of November an older man said he got saved--and then some of the young people I knew in Sunday School said they got saved. So one Friday evening I went to the meeting with three of my friends.--one of my friends was Alvin Kyhl who I had explained the gospel to -and so he was receptive to going to the meeting. He didn't know the gospel as well as me--but woke me up in the middle of the meeting and wanted me to listen. I went back to sleep and soon the gospel meeting was over. We went to the bowling alley after meeting -and Darrell Brandt who was in the front seat of the car with Alvin-turned around and said that Alvin had gotten saved in the meeting--I said we should go to Cedar Falls and tell Eric McCullough about it.Alvin said that when they were reading John 3:16 he understood that God loved him and sent His Son to die for his sins. I heard someone sobbing at the end of the couch -and Darrell Brandt was upset that he wasn't saved. The next day was Saturday and that evening I was again in the Bowling Alley where I usually hung out. About 7 that evening Darrell came in the bowling alley and was beaming from ear to ear--I had never seen a happier person in my life--and he told me he had gotten saved just a couple hours before reading John 3:16--that God loved him and sent His Son to die for his sins. I decided then that I would do whatever I could to get saved myself. I went home that evening and got down by my bed and asked God to save me-but nothing happened. The next day I went to Sunday School and tried to get saved--and after having lunch at Darrells' house we went to Leonard Debuhrs house to see if he could help me. He read me a couple verses and nothing happened. The next day I read my Bible and Gospel tracts to see if they could help me--and that evening I went to Eric McCulloughs' house to talk to him. He finally put the Bible on my lap and had me read a verse out loud. (1 Peter 2:24) It said that He (Jesus) bore my sins in His own body on the tree--and all of a sudden I understood that Jesus died for me--and I was saved. I was on my way to Heaven and no longer on my way to Hell. What a relief--and what joy filled my heart--I finally had the matter settled. Jim Sluiter
Baptism
The most important day in my life--bar none--is December 7,1959. That was the day I was taken off the Broad road that leads to