Bro N. B. Hardeman once quoted, “God located the life of a fish and put that location in water; and if a fish ever enjoys that kind of life, it must get into that realm where God saw fit to designate and locate it” (1921). His famous Tabernacle Sermons reference the divine plan of salvation that the Great God of Heaven oriented from the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:11, NKJV). Thus, he advances the idea that God holds all authority under Heaven and Earth (Deuteronomy 10:4). Additionally, he reiterates a truth: there is no salvation under Heaven other than the one He initiated through Jesus and His Blood (Romans 5:9). Therefore, no one can advance the idea of salvation outside of where God intended for it to be. What does that mean to you and me?
God manifested salvation “IN CHRIST” (2 Timothy 2:10). Like the fish who can only survive in water, the Scriptures ensure we as human beings can only survive (be safe from death) if we reside in Christ. Additionally, the Bible shows how we come into Christ. Paul states, “or as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
Imagine, if a fish does not “put on water,” would they not die? Further, what if the fish definitively understood that life outside of water would bring about its demise? Would it still choose death? I hope not, but many have and will. Peter stated, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism…” (1 Peter 3:21a). Like the fish, our salvation is in water. Will we be like those who envisioned we grew legs at some point in the distant past? Or rather, trust in the water that stirs the blood and brings repentance and salvation to our souls (Mark 16:16).
In Christ,
Archie R. Green
0 Comments