Sample page from Study on Baptism by Prof. M.M. Ninan of San Jose, California. His painting © serves as cover art on this helpful book.
Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of righteous things we
had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of
rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
"The washing of rebirth can only be that washing of the blood of
Christ that cleanses us. It is not the symbol that saves, but the reality.
The reality is the blood of Christ. If baptism were necessary for salvation,
we would expect to find it stressed whenever the gospel is presented in
Scripture. Though Peter mentions baptism in his sermon on the day of
Pentecost (Acts 2:38), in his sermon from Solomon’s portico in the Temple
(Acts 3:12-26), Peter makes no mention to baptism. He links forgiveness of
sin to repentance (3:19). If baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sin,
why didn’t Peter say so in Acts 3?
"Paul never made baptism as a part of his gospel presentation.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul gives a summary of the gospel message he
preached. There is no mention of baptism. In I Corinthians 1:17, Paul states
that “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,” thus
clearly differentiating the gospel from baptism. That is difficult to
understand if baptism is necessary for salvation. If baptism were part of the
gospel itself, necessary for salvation, what good would it have done Paul to
preach the gospel, but not baptize? No one would have been saved. Paul
clearly understood baptism to be separate from the gospel, and hence in no way
efficacious for salvation. In Galations 5:1-12 Paul rejects the argument that
circumcision is necessary for salvation. But Paul makes no alternate claim
that baptism is required in place of circumcision, but emphasizes that we are
saved by faith through Jesus Christ alone.
"The purpose for writing the book of John was that we 'might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.' Therefore, if we want to know about salvation,
we need to look into this book. But there is no reference to water baptism at
all in this book. The only reference to it is in the conversation to
Nicodemus well ahead of any institution of baptism and could not have been
referring to that at all. To add force to the importance of John’s Gospel
regarding this controversy about water baptism, it should be mentioned that it
was written in about 90 AD. This means it was written well after the final
Pentecost. But John never mentioned baptism in connection with salvation.
(and it continues...)
EDITOR'S NOTE:
I
found this book totally involving and interesting. Proudly—if ever
Christians are allowed to use this word—I found that my views
were in 100% alignment with Prof. Ninan's writing on this controversial subject in Christianity. Rare indeed is such a unity of thought! I could not but praise God for it and now present it, too, for your consideration. Be brought up to date and gain a thorough knowledge of this subject by having the entire book of your own to read through. STUDY ON BAPTISM by M.M. Ninan—it's a good investment and yours by clicking here to obtain your download or hard copy at:
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Very reasonably priced.
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Professor
Madathilparampil Mammen Ninan hails from a Mar Thoma Syrian Christian family
which traces its origin from the time of Saint Thomas. Shown here is Ponnamma, a sociologist and Professor M.M. Ninan's wife. Prof. M.M.Ninan is a
Professor of Theoretical Physics and has taught around the world in various
schools including, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jamaica, Sudan, Yemen, India and the
USA. He was a tentmaker (a la Paul/Saul of Tarsus), investing his time in
church planting while working in these various Universities. In Yemen, Prof.
Ninan started the International Christian Fellowship of which he was the
first Moderator (Chairman). This was the first Church after the (about) 1350
years of the destruction of the Thomas churches of Yemen in 600 AD under the
Islamic thrust. The Indian Fellowships of Yemen started from his home. He
was also closely linked with the Red Sea Mission, Missionaries of Charities
(Mother Teresa), Sudan Interior Mission, Summer Institute of Linguistics,
and the Swedish Free Mission. In the Sudan Prof. Ninan was one of the
founding Pastors of the Sudan Pentecostal Churches and taught in the Sudan
Theological College. Most of his biblical studies (to be found listed on
http://www.mmninan.com) were done during these Pastoral periods. He retired
as the Principal (President) of the Hindustan Academy of Engineering and
Applied Sciences, affiliated to the University of Bangalore, India.
His eldest brother Dr. M. M. Thomas is a world-famous Theologian of the
Princeton Theological Seminary and was the Chairman of the World Council of
Churches (WCC, Geneva); President of the Christian Institute for Study of
Society and Religion (CISRS) in Bangalore, India; and the Governor of
Nagaland in India.
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