LAFAYETTE, Tenn. (BNC) — Preacher Jack Honeycutt said today he knew of 10 people who had obeyed the gospel as a result of a public discussion with a Baptist minister May 27-28.
He shared background on the Carolina Christian website to the public discussion he held with Baptist minister Michael Brawner. His article was published today.
The debate centered on whether or not baptism in water was essential to salvation.
The public discussion grew out of a private study he and a deacon had with two Baptist preachers.
Considering the toxic nature of public discourse today, their agreement about one aspect of the debate draws interest:
We both wanted to conduct ourselves in a civil manner and we wanted the audience to do the same. Thus, rules were announced each night prior to our speaking. No one from the audience was to speak or make any kind of gestures. If either participant became angry the discussion would immediately be over.
During the two-night debate, Jack was surprised by an argument he’d never heard before:
He also made a comment I had never heard, even while I was growing up in the Baptist Church. He said, “A saved person gets into Christ by baptism, but a lost person won’t ever get into Christ by baptism.” How can one be saved if they are not in Christ?! Michael doesn’t understand that being in Christ is the only way one can be saved! I tried to get this concept across by using Ephesians 2:12-13, Jesus here speaking to the Gentiles, “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Gospel Broadcasting Network taped the discussion, which can be viewed below.
2016-10-24 at 12:32 pm
His statement, “the saved person can get into Christ through baptism.” – is that from a predestination argument that we are predestined to be saved or lost? Isn’t that one of the Calvinistic doctrines? That we are predestined.
Ron Jones
2016-10-24 at 2:44 pm
He is referring to the fact that when you are baptized you are saved from your sins. Without he baptism you do not have your sins washed away. Acts 2:38 the inspired apostle Peter told the crowd to get up and be baptized for the remission(forgiveness) of your sin. This has nothing to do with the concept of predestination. Saying in order to be in Christ you must be baptized to get to heaven.
2016-10-24 at 12:59 pm
There is salvation in no other, and the only way scripture says we get into Christ is through being “baptized into Christ” as per Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:26-27.
2016-10-24 at 8:19 pm
Is the actual discussion posted someplace or available elsewhere?
2016-11-01 at 2:11 pm
It is available for purchase on DVD at:
http://www.wvbs.org/index.php/public-discussion-on-water-baptism.html
2016-10-27 at 9:34 am
I enjoyed watching this debate. I thought it was very well done. I was a little disappointed that Mr. Brawner’s use of 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 wasn’t addressed. I understand it’s hard to address everything, but I thought that it was such a good example of taking scripture out of context that I had to write an article about it myself. If anyone is interested, here is the link: https://bmccord.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/the-importance-of-context/
2018-11-07 at 1:09 pm
Paul speaks of baptism in ways other than the term “baptism.”
2021-10-27 at 5:04 pm
An Interesting debate . The Baptist Preacher, does not understand, Baptism is not a work. Baptism is a condition .As is Repentance Belief and Confession . People do not understand Grace . Grace is that the Father sent His Son. The Blood of Yeshua who is The Passover Lamb was shed on the Cross . Now Salvation is Not Unconditional. If it were the world would be saved even if they did not want it . No No Salvation is Conditional .By Grace we are saver through Faith. This means to receive Salvation we must fulfill the Conditions 1. Believe. 2. Repent. 3. Confess. 4. Immersion ( Baptism ). These are conditions to receive -Sins removed – we die and become a new creature . After the condition of Immersion-(Baptism). Belief is not a work its a condition ! And so on Immersion-(Baptism) is also not a work Baptism is a Condition. I am a Messianic Jew Baptism is not New all through the Hebrew Scriptures daily the Jewish people had to be Mikvah( Baptized ) for Purification . New Testament Baptism started after Yeshua ‘s Resurrection . Therefore The Thief on the Cross did not have to be Baptized . Rabbi Yeshua said in the great commission Go make Disciples Go Baptise Go teach my Torah (Law). I guess people miss this . Baptism is a direct command by Rabbi Yeshua The Messiah The Lion of Judah . Shalom
Baruch HShem B’Shem Yeshua .