CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 17, 2022
A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA HAS RESIGNED AFTER A CHURCH INVESTIGATION LEARNED HE HAD BEEN PERFORMING BAPTISMS INCORRECTLY OVER HIS 20-YEAR CAREER.
BISHOP THOMAS OLMSTEAD OF THE DIOCESE OF PHOENIX SAID AS HE POURED WHAT HE CALLED HOLY WATER ON BABIES AND PRESUMABLY ADULTS, THE REVEREND ANDRES ARANGO WOULD SAY “WE BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” THE PRIEST IS SAID TO HAVE MISSTATED ONE WORD: “WE BAPTIZE” WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE SAID “I BAPTIZE.” THE BISHOP SAYS GETTING THAT ONE WORD WRONG HAS NULLIFIED ALL OF THE RITUALS HE PERFORMED USING THAT LANGUAGE.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR SALVATION BASED ON WORDS AND RITUALS USED BY ANOTHER PERSON? AS PAUL WRITES IN ROMANS 5:1-2: “THEREFORE HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED OUR INTRODUCTION BY FAITH INTO HIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND.”
IN EPHESIANS 2:8, PAUL WRITES “FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH – AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.”
BAPTISM IS MERELY THE OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD CONVERSION. WATER SAVES NO ONE. I’M CAL THOMAS.
