Baxley vs Riggins (Baptist)
April 25, 1918
Mt. Pleasant, Chilton County, Alabama
(By Thomas Daniel)
March 29, 30 at Mt. Pleasant, Chilton County, Alabama (Baptism for Remission of Sin)
Bro. Baxley used great commission, diagraming on the board, and showing faith, repentance and baptism to be essential steps in the commission. Mr. Riggins was asked to erase all that was not essential, but he dared not touch it. Dr. Baxley then asked Riggins: "The baptism in the commission, whence is it? From heaven, or of men?" Riggins answered: "From God."
These questions were asked:
(1) Is the command to be baptized the word of God? If yes, baptism is a part of the new birth, for we are born of the word of God (I Peter 1:23) If no, why do you practice it?
(2) At what point is the penitent pardoned, and what are his evidences of it? Riggins made no effort to answer these and three or four others besides.
On the blood argument Bro. Baxley made a cross on the board, and presented Christ's death on the cross by a big letter "D" and his blood in his death by the letter "B" in the "D". Scriptures used: John 19:34; Matthew 26:28; I John 1:7; Romans 6:3; II Corinthians 5:17.
He also used John's language in I John 5:8, "The Spirit, the water, and the blood agree in one." and the Savior's language in John 3:5: "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Dr. Baxley presented truth humbly, but firmly, boldly, and satisfactorily to all Bible readers. He speaks the right word at the right place and at the right time. At last speech Riggins granted that baptism, taken in connection with faith and repentance is essential to salvation.
A. D. Duke (Baptist) moderated for Riggins. I, Thomas Daniel, moderated for Baxley.