By David J. Stewart | March 2014
Acts 24:16, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”
I bought a fascinating book in October of 2013 titled, “KILLING JESUS,”
by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. I have been wanting to write and publish
a book review every since reading it, and am finally getting around to it.
It is well worth the money. I really like the book because it provides
incredible secular history which parallels the end of the Old Testament and
New Testament times in secular history. If you have an interest in history,
you'll love the book.
At first I was skeptical before buying the book, thinking it would just be more warped religious garbage, but to my surprise, the book is an accurate historical record and superbly written to keep the reader's interest. It's really a great book!
Albeit, as a born-again Christian I need to speak up and refute the book for espousing a FALSE PLAN OF SALVATION. Bill O'Reilly is an unsaved Roman Catholic who believes that water baptism is the way to get saved. For example: On page 95 O'Reilly says . . .
JOHN THE BAPTIST STANDS WAIST DEEP IN THE COLD, BROWN river, waiting patiently as the next pilgrim wades out to stand at his side. He looks to the shore, where scores of believers line up on the Jordan's muddy bank, oblivious to the heat as they wait to experience the full immersion ritual that will cleanse them of their sins. [emphasis added]
SOURCE: KILLING JESUS, chapter 7, pages108-109; a book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard; copyright 2013; publishers: Henry Holt And Company, LLC; ISBN: 978-0-8050-9854-9 (hardback); ISBN: 978-0-8050-9855-6 (electronic book).
Bill O'Reilly is teaching heresy! NO ONE has ever been saved by water baptism. Roman Catholics view the baptistry as the gateway to eternal life, which is a demonic religious doctrine. Notice that O'Reilly calls John's baptism a “RITUAL THAT WILL CLEANSE THEM OF THEIR SINS.” My friend, no ritual can wash away your sins. Salvation is NOT a ritual; but rather, a new birth. Jesus said, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN” (John 3:5).
There has always been ONLY one way of salvation, and that is through faith in the cross of Jesus Christ upon which He died, His burial, and His resurrection. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” This includes John the Baptist!
People lined up along the Jordan river, waiting to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist practiced a baptism of repentance in anticipation of the coming of Christ. The people acknowledged (confessed) that they were guilty sinners and BELIEVED on the coming Messiah to be saved. John plainly taught the people that Jesus the Messiah would baptize them with the Holy Spirit . . .
Mark 1:7-8, “And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
Repentance and faith are inseparable and happen at the SAME time, evidenced by the fact that the words “believe” and “believed” are mentioned 85-times in the Gospel of John, but the word repent is not mentioned even once. Salvation is so simple that even a little child can be saved by believing on Jesus as the Christ, Who died upon the cross for our sins, was buried, and then miraculously raised up from the dead after three days.
Water baptism is a step of discipleship, not sonship. No one in the Old Testament was water baptized. The thief on the cross was not baptized with water. Salvation has always been by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, Who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected three days later, and is now seated on the right-hand of God the Father in Heaven (Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1-3). Thank God for the gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
