As one moves from childhood to adulthood, various changes occur in one’s physical body, relationships, responsibilities, maturity, knowledge, wisdom, and so on. However, many people do not want to grow up and put away childish things, whether that be in the form of a refusal to take on adult responsibilities or a reluctance to outgrow childhood obsessions (like toys and entertainment).
Paul used this basic principle of growth and maturity as an analogy for our spiritual lives.
“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11).
In this article, we will consider some “childish things” we are to put away from a spiritual standpoint.Continue Reading
Jesse L. Sewell (1818-1890) was a Tennessee preacher who sincerely wanted to please God and to proclaim what he found to be taught in the Bible. Eventually, he became connected with the Restoration Movement. It was common for these preachers to begin their work within the denominations before breaking away to follow the New Testament as their only rule of faith and practice. Sewell followed this course, having his start among the Baptists.
It is a thrilling thing to witness someone respond to the invitation at the end of a sermon, make their way to the front of the auditorium, confess their faith in Christ, and then be baptized to have their sins washed away. Of course, this is not the only setting in which one could obey the gospel. Baptisms can occur in bathtubs, swimming pools, rivers, and anywhere else there is sufficient water for someone to be “buried with [Christ] in baptism” (Colossians 2:12) after they made the decision to become a Christian.
