Mr. Soriano’s Interpretation Has Changed

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

About mid afternoon of May 16^th, as I was checking up the programs in all the channels fed into our TV set by the cable system we subscribe to, I tuned in for a few minutes at Mr. Soriano’s program in Channel 59. He answered a question about the Lord’s Supper celebration.

This is the second time I hear Mr. Soriano about the Lord’s Supper subject matter on TV. He has really changed from his earlier position.

Mr. Soriano and his adherents used to completely reject a literal observance of the Lord’s Supper that uses material elements of bread and wine. The two major premises he used to affirm his earlier position are the following:

1. By using John 6:63, he insisted that the real Lord’s Supper is teaching/learning the words of Christ which give life and not taking in material elements that spoil. His Tagalog term for material bread and wine was “napapanis.” If bread and wine spoil, therefore these are not life giving elements, he insisted in the past.

2. This group used to laugh at people who celebrated the Lord’s Supper at morning time because he claimed that the term “supper” defined the time of observance which should be in the evening.

3. In the past, he merely disregarded the institution of the Lord’s Supper as described in several places in the New Testament like Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 24 and 1 Corinthians 11. He merely insisted on John 6:63.

But his answer this afternoon of May 16 was very clear. He now takes the position that there is a Lord’s Supper that uses the material elements of bread and wine. But it is held once a year in connection with the Passover which falls on the 14^th of Abib and the celebration at evening time falls on the 15^th day, he said.

Which means that Mr. Soriano has repudiated his earlier stand which said that there is no Lord’s Supper using material bread and wine.

By following the earlier explanation of the “Ang Dating Daan” group that their Lord’s Supper was teaching/listening to the words of Christ, we have told our members to ask: “If supper necessarily meant evening time, do you in the Ang Dating Daan teach/listen to Bible lessons at evening time only? Why do you teach and broadcast even at morning time?” We never got an honest answer from the group of Mr. Soriano.

By following the line of reasoning based on Mr. Soriano’s crude literalism on the meaning of supper, we have asked if they cling to literalism when they go to the grocery. When Mr. Soriano buys hotdog, does he get literal hotdogs from the freezer? Is the hotdog from the freezer in the grocery literally “hot” and literally “dog”? No honest answer came our way. We also asked about the plant/flower dama de noche. Is the dama de noche still a dama de noche at morning time? Dama means lady and noche means evening. No answer came.

I urge the brethren to press these items with the members of the group “Ang Dating Daan.”

Ask them why Mr. Soriano has changed his stand. Ask them why they now accept the presence of symbolism in the ordinance when in the past they based their reasoning on literalism.

Beware ! Mr. Soriano is capable of teaching error!! Some people say that they have heard Mr. Soriano making the claim that he is the only tele-evangelist who teaches the whole truth of the Bible. #

Seminar in San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Baguio City – “The Ancient Word for the Modern World” will be the theme of a seminar in this city, says brother Samuel Serideo, one of the evangelists that is based in this city. This will be held on June 7^th with our editor, Eusebio Tanicala, as one of the resource persons.

The Continuing Appendix Debate

This writer has seen his own removed appendix that was placed in a small bottle by surgeons. So he knows what an appendix is.

In past decades, Darwinian evolutionists, on one hand, declared that the appendix is a useless organ, a vestige of the evolutionary process. It was further claimed that in the future as human species would evolve progressively this useless organ shall be discarded. On the other hand, creationists have clung to the belief that God is an intelligent designer and has a purpose for this small organ that is found in man.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) last month the internet science news section came out with the story that some medical researchers from reputable universities have confirmed that the appendix is a factory of “good flora.” One reader who reacted to our story recognizes the medical research conclusion but he goes out of the issue and talks about evolution in general as a science.

Let’s stick to the specific issue at hand. It is the human appendix. The proposition in this on going debate is “The appendix is a useless organ, a vestige of the evolutionary process.” Darwinian evolutionist and atheistic materialists have affirmed the proposition.

Since medical researchers have recently confirmed the appendix’s usefulness to the well being of the human body, the creationists have the right to claim the medical research conclusion in favor of their side. Stick to the issue. Stay with the issue on the appendix. Don’t bring out strawmen in other sections of the evolution debate. We’ll come to those issues in due time.

If Darwinian evolutionists could not refute the conclusion of the recent medical researches that declared the appendix is a factory of “good flora” it is requested that these evolutionists issue out an apology for their “scientific error.” I hope the apology is forthcoming.

Another issue where creationists are taken to task is the question that is premised on one strong argument of creationism: Intelligent Design (ID). The Darwinian evolutionist asked in the past: “If God is an intelligent designer, what then is the purpose of an organ that is prone to infection?” As a Bible student this is my answer:

According to the Bible account, before God created Adam and Eve with a soul encased in a material body, He knew that man would succumb to temptation and become a sinner and die physically as well as spiritually. (Read Eph. 1:3, 1Peter 1:2, 20). Also God teaches humans that the soul is more valuable than all the wealth that the material cosmos could give. Infection makes a man feel his physical mortality. Hence a reminder is a good thing to a person who values his soul. Granting that the appendix is the body organ that is most prone to infection, being the first reminder of one’s mortality the appendix should then be rewarded. Being the first to signal one’s mortality with the consequent judgment day give reasons for a person to prepare for one’s eternal home. Therefore, the appendix is a gold medalist. It has a purpose! It is in the intelligent design of the human body that encases the dweller, the soul. The creationist understands and appreciates this explanation.

Corollary to the Darwinian evolutionist claim that the appendix is a useless vestigial organ, the evolutionist should consider these steps: (1) please identify what’s supposed to be the nearest species from which the human species evolved from, (2) determine if these prior species have appendix, (3) confirm or deny the initial information that the less developed hominoids (chimpanzees, gibbons, apes, orangutans) have no appendix. # (Eusebio Tanicala)

VBS in Baguio City

Baguio Church of Christ at 18 Rimando Road conducts a Vacation Bible School from May 21 to 24.

Evangelists Needed in Kalookan City

Two evangelists are needed by the congregation that meets at the Morning Breeze Subdivision in Kalookan City. Interested persons may contact brother Randy Macapagal in the following email address: macapagalrandy@yahoo.com

VBS in San Jose City, N.E.

A week longDaily Vacation Bible School which ended May 17^th was successfully conducted by the San Jose City congregation that meets along Acacia Street, at Encarnacion Subdivision. One hundred two children were in attendance. Teachers were Rebecca Braga for Bible Learning, Floren Joy Guira for Music, Margie Nell Weygan for Arts & Crafts and Juvy Nonog for Games.

Brother Lito Batoon continues to minister to this congregation in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Dan Dale Drew

Dan Drew, 81, of College Station, passed away Wednesday morning at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2008 at A&M Church of Christ in College Station with Ken Wilkey officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Chapel College Station. Interment will be in College Station Cemetery.

He was born in Abilene, Texas to Evert and Lutie Weger Drew. He graduated from Paris High School in Paris, Texas in 1944 and joined the United States Navy during WWII. In 1949, he married Flowayne Holt and in 1950 received both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from North Texas State in Denton.

Dan worked for the Naval Ordinance Test Station in China Lake, Calif., General Dynamics, and IBM before moving his family to College Station to join the Computer Science Division at Texas A&M in 1960. He received his Doctorate Degree of Engineering from Texas A&M in 1966. He became the Director of the Computer Science Division in the School of Engineering at A&M and retired as Professor Emeritus in September 1987 and was a member of IEEE.

He was a member of the A&M Church of Christ where he served as a Bible teacher and as an Elder. He was a lay-minister, preaching at Trona Church of Christ and Benbrook Church of Christ in the early 1950’s, Central Church of Christ in Bryan in the 1960’s, and other Churches throughout the Brazos Valley.

Dan is survived by his wife, Flowayne Drew of College Station; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Daniel and Karen Drew of Houston, Philip and Shelly Drew of Vancouver, Wash., David and Melody Drew of Plano, and Stephen Drew of Plano; one daughter, Nora Drew of West Palm Beach, Fla.; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. (Source: The Eagle)

Dan Drew and Flowayne also spent a few years in Baguio City, Philippines as missionaries and has touched the lives of many Filipinos. Our condolences to the bereaved – Editors.

Listen and Be Honestly Informed

Note: Parts of this article is written in the Filipino language.

Mga kasamang mangangaral ang gusto kong kausapin sa paksang ito. Sa mga ilang kursong itinuro ko sa seminaryo at sa isang malakihang lectureship na magtatatlong pong taon na ang nakararaan, ipinaliwanag ko ito pero mga ilan ay ayaw makinig. Paulit-ulit ko na ring ipinaliwanag sa ilang sinulat kong sanaysay. Pero di pa rin maniwala ang iba. Siguro totoo ang kasabihan na mahirap turuan ang matanda nang kabaw.

This is about the use of Amos 6:5 as a proof text by some, including a few Churches of Christ preachers, to directly negate the use of mechanical instruments in the Jewish and Christian worship. We should be careful about our interpretations. Kung mali ang basehan ng argumento lalong titigas ang paniniwala ang nasa kabila ng tinutukoy na isyu. Alam ng mga marurunong sa Old Testament na guro at estudiante na ang Amos 5:23 at Amos 6:5 ay hindi pagbabawal kundi pagtutuwid. Just as 1 Cor. 1:17 is not a prohibition of baptism kundi pagtutuwid na ilagay ang gawaing bautismo sa tamang lugar. The baptism of the Corinthians became reprehensible if they boasted on their relationship with their immersers who were Peter or Apollos or Paul. Gaya din ang 1 Cor. 11:22. Hindi ring pagwawalang saysay sa Hapunan ng Panginoon kundi pagtutuwid sa tunay na kahulugan ng ordinansa. The breaking of bread and drinking of the cup became vain if it was just a part of a drinking and feasting session.

If Amos 5:23 and 6:5 possess the language of the “negative prohibitive” hermeneutical principle among Churches of Christ, then all those mentioned in Amos 5:21-23 (like feast days, sacred assemblies, burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings and songs) and in Amos 6:4-6 (lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on couches, eat lambs from the flock, eat beef, drink wine, anoint selves with ointment or lotion, reclining at fiestas and building palaces) should likewise be prohibited in the Mosaical Dispensation. But I don’t hear these same teachers/students declare the unscripturality of these other items. Bakit ang mechanical instruments of music lang ang pupulutin na bawal mula sa mga talatang ito? The inconsistency is obvious. Such way of reasoning is not a demonstration of intellectual honesty.

The language of Amos 5:23 and 6:5 is the same language in Isaiah 1:10-17. But I’ve not heard the users of Amos 5:23 and Amos 6:5 employ Isaiah 1:10-17 to deny the scripturality of animal sacrifices, in offering blood on the temple altar, assemblies in the temple court, burning of incense, feasts of the New Moon and Sabbaths, and prayers. Yet the style is the same. The listed items were provisions in the Law of God given to Moses. These items were not wrong in themselves. In fact these were commandments of Yahweh. But these became contemptible because of the moral and ethical failures of Judah. Religious life should be interwoven in social justice, the prophet said. Religion is not separated from everyday life.

Let me submit Matthew 23:1-36 as a working comparison in the language of correction and reproof and not prohibition. There are good deeds that are mentioned in this text. They are good and acceptable deeds if practiced correctly. However, these good deeds became negative in the discourse of the Lord because of the incorrect motivation and the inconsistent logic taught by the Jewish teachers.

Notice the pronouncement of woe or condemnation in Matt. 23: 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27 and 29. Also note the negating deeds following the good deeds:

1. Good deed: Long prayers, v. 14. Long prayer per se is not a prohibited act. Among Churches of Christ and other religious groups there are overnight prayer meetings. These are longer prayer sessions than the prayers of the Pharisees. Sometimes there are prayers lifted up to the heavens by so-called “prayer warriors” who spend long hours in chapel sanctuaries. We commend their long prayers because we believe they are sincere.

Negating deed: Praying with the aim of devouring widows’ houses. The motivation is essentially wrong.

2. Good deed: Travel land and sea to do mission work, v. 15. This is not a prohibited at. Among Churches of Christ, mission work is highly desirable and intensely prayed for.

Negating deed: Jewish missionaries taught their proselytes traditions of men that make converts doubly sons of hell. See Matt. 15:1-9.

3. Good deed: Recognition of the temple’s sacredness, v. 16.

Negating deed: Making the gold in the temple more sacred and valuable than the temple.

4. Good deed: Recognition of the altar’s sacredness and value, v. 18-20.

Negating deed: Making the gift on the altar more sacred and valuable than the altar.

5. Good deed: Pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin according to the letter of the law, v. 23.

Negating deed: Neglect the observance of justice, mercy and faith – v. 23.

6. Good deed: Cleanse the outside of the cup and plate (washed and well dressed physical bodies), v. 24

Negating deed: Heart is bent on bribery and corruption , v. 24.

7. Good deed: Whitewashing tombs (practiced in the Philippines on All Saints Day), v. 27.

Negating deed: Microbes inside that represent hypocrisy and lawlessness, v. 27,28.

8. Good deed: Build tombs/monuments in honor of prophets, v. 29, 30.

Negating deed: Honoring their forefathers who refused to heed the moral reforms of the prophet.

In Matthew 23, our Lord did not prohibit the good deeds we listed down, but he was saying that these “good deeds” became reprehensible to the Lord because of the immoral and unethical lives of the actors. That is the same kind of hermeneutics in Amos 5:23 and Amos 6:5. The making of musical instruments and the singing to the accompaniment of musical instruments at the time of Amos were good deeds, but these became vain because of the wrong motives and the immoral and unethical social behaviors of the Jewish actors. ©

Reader’s Reaction

Mr. John Paulin made a reaction to one item in our blog. He writes:

“While the appendix may help produce good flora, it is not a necessary part of the human body. The fact that it is prone to serious infection and that people who have it removed are seemingly perfectly healthy afterwards suggests that the appendix is a poorly ‘designed’ organ if you choose to believe that God made human beings in a “good way”. Also, you obviously have a poor understanding of evolution if you believe that major evolutionary changes occur in a few thousand years. Take the time to fully understand how complicated evolution and natural selection are before you post ignorant responses trying to justify the mythology of creationism.

“Please stop dumbing America.”

(Sgd) John Paulin

Following is my observation:

The finding that comes from reputable medical teams from reputable American universities that said the appendix is a “factory of good flora” is the issue. Evolutionist used to taunt creationism by pointing at the appendix as utterly useless. The question is: On this appendix issue, were evolutionists right or wrong when they concluded that the appendix was good for nothing? They have now been proved WRONG.

The American medical school researchers have concluded that the appendix do produce good microbes helpful to the well being of the body. Still Mr. Paulin prefaced his statement by writing, “While the appendix may help produce good flora, it is not a necessary part of the human body.” He says “it may.” He should say, in agreement with scientific research, “yes, it does.” And he should confess that the atheistic evolutionist taunt of past decades was utterly useless.

He closes with the appeal, “Please stop dumbing down America.” We are not dumbing down America. Mr. Paulin’s belief and promotion of atheistic evolution is damning America. Of course some would prefer to be damned than be dumbed. I wished Mr. Paulin should have been present when the Pilgrims and founding fathers of America laid the foundation of the American Nation so that he could have shouted, “Please stop founding up America with the motto, ‘In God We Trust.’”

Mr. Paulin thinks “good design” by the God of heaven is that which is not prone to serious infection. But there are many organs of our body that are prone to serious infections. This kind of reasoning is based on materialism. That there is no inner man, no spiritual aspect of personality. To a spiritual person an organ, like the appendix, that is prone to serious infection serves a beneficial purpose. Infection would remind the individual that he is mortal, thus he prepares for the eternal destiny. A person who does not sometimes become weak become proud and thinks he does not need God. But a person who sometimes become sick would think of existence beyond the grave. Therefore, an organ that is prone to infection serves a good purpose. ©

Related article – Evolution’s “Useless Organ” Argument

8 baptized in Matalam, Cotabato

A gospel campaign was conducted last May 3 in Kibudoc, Matalam, Cotabato by preachers and church leaders who came from the provinces of Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. Eight souls obeyed the Lord Jesus through their faith and submitting themselves to baptism. These brethren are added to the congregation in this town.

Brethren Virgilio Haban and Ferdinand Guillermo spoke during the gospel meeting.

On May 31^st, another weekend campaign shall be conducted in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.–F. Guillermo

New congregation holds first worship service

In the afternoon of May 11^th, a new congregation shall start its worship service in the downtown area of San Fabian, Pangasinan. An apartment is rented to serve as an assembly hall and will also become a Bible study center during week days. Brother Robert Basbas will be one of the congregational leaders over there. This work is a joint labor of the Rabon Church of Christ and the faculty-students of the Rabon Bible College.

The Rabon Church of Christ and the Rabon Bible College staff are looking at the town of Caba, La Union as the next church planting area.

National Ladies Retreat

Bonbon Church of Christ in Butuan City successfully hosted the April 24-27, 2008 National Ladies Retreat. It is reported that 137 ladies registered who represented 37 congregations.

The congregation in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental will the host next year. And in the year 2010 this retreat will be held in Baguio City.

The Gospel of Christ in Five Progressive Stages

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

(This article is a sequel to the previous work which is titled “OT Water Ceremonies.” It is hoped that this will help furtherclarify the significance of water baptism).

Christ’s gospel story is composed of the following acts: (1) Christ DIED for our sins, (2) Christ was BURIED, (3) Christ RESURRECTED from the dead. Through these acts, our Lord Jesus paid for the penalty of the sins of the world. And those who put their trust in Him and obey Him will have a resurrection unto life in heaven.

But there are those who teach that man’s salvation is solely, completely and absolutely accomplished by God’s grace, and that there’s no condition, no responsibility, no participation of a sinner. This teaching is absolutely false.

If salvation were solely God’s act through grace, then salvation should have been fully and absolutely accomplished in the year A.D. 33 when Christ came and died at the cross in Jerusalem. John 1:17 says that “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Add what Apostle Paul wrote to Titus when he said, “For the grace of God has appeared…” (2:11). Read also Titus 2:1-6. Do these verses mean that all men were actually and absolutely saved in the year A.D. 33 when Christ appeared? If so, there should be no more preaching today to call people to come to Jesus Christ. The fact that preaching and persuading men is an on going ministry even by those who teach that salvation is solely by grace proves that man has an obligation to participate in his own salvation. Verily grace appeared and is offered to man with the coming to earth of our Lord Jesus, but to appropriate that grace, man must exercise his will and act to meet the conditions set forth by a holy God.

Raffle Ticket – An Illustration
Currently, there is a promotion of a big pharmaceutical store. It wants to give away to a customer a car worth more than a million pesos. For many years, this writer has been buying medicines from this store. At the present time any purchase worth three hundred pesos, one entitled to a free raffle ticket. A purchaser has to will to receive the raffle ticket or throw it away. If he believes in the credibility of the promotion, one has to write his name and address on the small piece of paper then drop the stub in a box at the store. If and when the raffle draw shall be held and the car worth more than one million pesos is awarded to Mr. Lucky, how shall he qualify and quantify the effort of writing his name and address and dropping his stub into a box? A meritorious, laborious effort? Is it pabor? Kaloob? Gratia? Parabur? Suppose you were the Lucky Winner?

Gospel is the Power of God
Romans 1:16 declares that “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” The items contained in this dynamo of salvation are the following: (1) Death of Christ at the cross for sins, (2) Burial of Christ, and (3) Resurrection of Christ. Read 1 Cor. 15:1-4.

These three events in Christ’s sacrificial life are the meritorious acts that man must appropriate for the remission of his sins. How to get into these three events in Christ’s life to personally appropriate their overflowing energies is the question. In the New Testament, we find that there are six progressive stages wherein a truth seeker is made to encounter the gospel of Christ:

Five Stages
I would like to suggest that there are six stages on the time line when a truth seeker encounters the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Stage: (Gospel Perfected). The truth seeker must recognize God’s love that sent His Son into the world and that Christ’s personal ministry which resulted to His Death, Burial and Resurrection is called “Gospel Perfected.” Read Luke 24:44-49.

Second Stage: (Gospel Committed). Christ gave the Great Commission to preachers. Proclaimers go into all nations to tell this story of Death, Burial, Resurrection. This stage is called “Gospel Committed.” Read Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-49; Romans 10:14-15.

Third Stage: (Gospel Believed). Christ’s story of Death, Burial, Resurrection blossoms in the mind and heart of a disciple. This stage is called “Gospel Believed.” 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Romans 10:8,9; Mark 16:16.

Fourth Stage: (Gospel Confessed). Christ’s story of Death, Burial, Resurrection needs to be confessed by mouth. This stage is called “Gospel Confessed.” Romans 10:9,10; Acts 2:37.

Fifth Stage: (Gospel Dramatized). The body parts of a disciple need to be spiritually energized and dedicated to the service of God by incorporating them into Christ’s Death, Burial, Resurrection in a rite that is done in water baptism. This stage is called “Gospel Dramatized.” Read Romans 6:3-14; Galatians 2:20; Gal. 3:27-28; Colossians 2:12; Titus 2:5; John 3:3; 1 Peter 3:21. Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:4 about being married to Christ. By bringing together all the images from the listed passages we have at the time of water baptism the following: being incorporated into the death of Christ, being incorporated into the burial of Christ, being incorporated into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, putting on Christ, being wedded to Christ, body parts are surrendered to Christ, body parts are like military and agricultural equipment dedicated to the service of Christ, Christ starts living in you.

Sixth Stage: (Gospel Memorialized). Christ’s story of Death, Burial, Resurrection must be remembered and declared every Sunday in the Lord’s Supper by a disciple and this is called “Gospel Memorialized.” Read 1 Cor. 11:23-30. With a weekly memorial, the disciple declares his ever fresh, heavenly hope. Thus he is inspired and he strives to keep himself pure and holy in the Lord. Read Titus 2:11-15. When a disciple stumbles and commits sin, forgiveness and washing away of sins is available through the blood of Christ appropriated thro repentance, confession of sins and prayers. Read 1 John 1:7-10; James 5:15-16; Acts 8:24.

Viewed in the totality of the six stages as described above, baptism is therefore a gospel proclamation. Baptism is part and parcel of grace because it is a drama of the gospel. Baptism is grace because it is a very small act of faith. Baptism is an exercise of faith in the Lord’s meritorious acts of dying, being buried and resurrecting from the dead. Failure to exercise this small act of faith shows lack of trust in the Savior.

Churches of Christ preachers’ emphasis
We, preachers in the Churches of Christ, have a tendency to emphasize baptism as separate and apart from the grace of God. Propositions debated are usually worded in such a way that baptism is isolated and separated from grace and faith. Propositions like “Resolved: Baptism is essential to salvation.” Or “Resolved: Baptism saves us” could easily be misinterpreted. Many people get the impression that Churches of Christ teach baptismal regeneration or water salvation. As if being immersed is a magical rite through which the grace of God abundantly flows into the soul.

This writer recommends that propositions we affirm should be worded similar to this: Resolved: The New Testament teaches that water baptism is Christ’s gospel dramatized, a part and parcel of God’s grace, and it is in the act of being baptized that Christ’s blood comes in contact with the soul because in baptism the disciple is incorporated into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.”

Teaching or debating baptism as presented in this article effectively eliminates the accusation or impression that the act of being baptized is a meritorious labor that earns salvation for the disciple.

This method of presentation is correct because the following statements are all acceptable:

1. The Gospel Perfected, Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is the basis of salvation.
2. The Gospel Committed, Christ gave the Great Commission and sent out preachers to tell the story of DBR. This is essential to salvation.
3. The Gospel Believed, Christ’s DBR received in the heart and mind is essential to salvation.
4. The Gospel Confessed, Christ’s DBR orally confessed is essential to salvation.
5. The Gospel Dramatized, Christ’s DBR dramatized by the disciple’s body parts is essential to salvation.
6. The Gospel Memorialized, Christ’s DBR celebrated in the Lord’s Supper is essential to salvation.

I trust that this article is of help to our understanding about water baptism. ©