A discussion worth having? ... Looks more like a stealth effort to get Christians arguing with each other so the demons can do their damnedest with less opposition.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus wasn’t baptised. He admitted his sinful state, recognized Jesus as Lord and asked for mercy.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus wasn’t baptised. He admitted his sinful state, recognized Jesus as Lord and asked for mercy.
Baptism is a public celebration to celebrate salvation, an internal event. (simply put)
Baptism is not necessary for salvation.
The HOLY SPIRIT came upon Cornelius and his family before they were baptized, which shocked everyone present.
Act 10:42
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Act 10:43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:44
¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Yet again?
Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:29)
Our salvation is therefore not now possessed. Salvation is conditional; we will be saved if we hold fast the true faith (Heb. 3:12-14), if we remember the basic doctrines which comprise the Gospel (1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:1,2), and if we do those things which are in keeping with such a great hope (2 Peter 1:10).
Hold on their slick....Ephesians speaks of us being sealed by the Holy Spirit. No where in the Bible does it ever say we are unsealed, nor is there anything we can do to unseal it.
If we could, how would you know when you were unsealed, and what would you have to do to get it back??
big caution to all who read this post:
this article is put out by a group that teaches:
1. Jesus is not God
2. Jesus did not exist before His birth
3. Jesus needed to save Himself
4. The Holy Spirit is a force or power and not God
obviously these beliefs contradict historical Christian faith as expressed in the Nicene and Apostle’s Creeds.
I have been in the baptism committee at our church for years now and I have personally seen a person's life turn around days or weeks before that person was baptized. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but every saved person must follow Jesus' instructions and be baptized.
Christ WARNED .... Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you ALL things.... This was before He gave Peter the authority with a key. Funny few ever get around to the ‘Key of David’.
I fully expect a whole bunch of belly aching and whining when what Christ said would be takes place and the sleepers are still asleep being awaken and out hunting the ‘oil’. (Parable of the 10 virgins)
But then is it the spirit of slumber, God promised for some? As Christ said I have foretold you ALL things, nothing new under the sun/Son, what has been will be again .......
Savior, save, salvation and:
Baptism - “... in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:20-21)
Faith - “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that (note: grammatically “that” refers back to its proper antecedent, “faith”) not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Christ - “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)
I give only one verse for each, but there are many more that could be cited for the support of each.
Jesus saves.
Baptism saves.
Faith saves.
All are true. All are scripture. All are the very word and promise of God. None is to be set in opposition to the others. What God has joined, let not man separate. There is no contradiction here, but there is often misunderstanding, miseducation, and misguided zeal in defending the truth of one to the undermining of the truth of the others. The devil loves it when Christians play that game.
This is worth bearing in mind if this post is to initiate a profitable discussion.
I’m with Spurgeon:
“The velvet has got into our ministers’ mouths of late, but we must unrobe ourselves of soft raiment, and truth must be spoken, and nothing but truth; for of all lies which have dragged millions down to hell, I look upon this as being one of the most atrocious — that in a Protestant Church there should be found those who swear that baptism saves the soul. Call a man a Baptist, or a Presbyterian, or a Dissenter, or a Churchman, that is nothing to me — if he says that baptism saves the soul, out upon him, out upon him, he states what God never taught, what the Bible never laid down, and what ought never to be maintained by men who profess that the Bible, and the whole Bible, is the religion of Protestants.”
A snippet from: Baptismal Regeneration
A Sermon (No. 573) Delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
by Charles Spurgeon, June 5th, 1864
http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/historic_controversies/baptismal_regeneration.aspx
“The descriptions of the believers as being washed from their sins in the blood of Christ therefore refers to their doing this by means of baptism “
Wow. Bad theology.
Earth bound understanding that imagines water when there is none.
Never in the Bible was a baptism conducted unless/until a person (an ADULT person) made a conscious decision to follow Christ. It’s a profession of faith. If current cults assign the power of salvation to baptism, well... that’s what cults do. They make up stuff.