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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Created "in " Christ Jesus | Eph 2:10 | mark d seyler | 129356 | ||
Hi J. Elkins, I agree with you that the Bible declares only one truth, and that there is no contradiction. One of the ways I use to try to determine I my understanding is a correct one is to see if it is in complete harmony with the rest of God's Word. With this in mind, I have two questions for you. The first is this: Do we maintain our salvation by our righteous living (by which we could boast), or do we know we have salvation because of our righteous living (by which we know we have been changed by God)? How I answer this will determine how I read a great many verses that can go either way. The second is this: How do you regard the salvation of the thief on the cross, who was not baptized, and that of the gentiles in Acts 10:44, who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit prior to water baptism? I actually have one other question, more of a logical issue. If water baptism is required for salvation, does this mean that "death-bed" conversions are impossible? Love in Christ, Mark |
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2 | Created "in " Christ Jesus | Eph 2:10 | jelkins | 130975 | ||
Mark, answering your last question: If water baptism is necessary for salvation, does this mean that death-bed conversions are impossible? I have to say I don’t know. Since God has commanded water baptism for remission of sins, I have no right or authority to say anyone can be saved without baptism. Nor has anyone else that authority. In my mind, to teach such may be to “tempt God.” I know God requires repentance and obedience, and that He did not lie when He said “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” but I also know the scriptures teach that nothing is impossible with God, that He is not willing that any should perish, that He is merciful, and He knows men’s hearts. I don’t play the “what if” game; like, what about the man on his deathbed, or what about the man in the fox-hole, or what if there is not enough water -- what about those who want to be saved but can’t be baptized? I have to leave them to God and beg Him to be merciful. Fair or unfair? His ways are not like mine, his thoughts are not like mine; There is a way that seems right to man but the end of it is death; We are all judged by the written word (all scriptural teachings). To speculate what God would do in any circumstance that is not clearly taught by the Word, to me would fall under “foolish questions,” or going beyond the Word. My job is to believe and obey, grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, live righteously, and to teach others to do the same, before they get to the deathbed. This Old Testament story has always seemed a little unfair to me, even though I know God had commanded that no one should touch the ark. II Sam 6:6-8 “When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.” “Consider the goodness and severity [extreme strictness] of God.” (Romans 11:22) J. Elkins |
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