Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Rom 7:9 What's it mean? | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 51588 | ||
Let It Rain! [And why not: I've always liked rain.] And I hope to prove worthy enough to be included on your roster of friendly fellow swimmers :-) ..... And now, time for a 'commerical' message.... I happen to be of the Southern Baptist variety of Christians and, being Baptist, perhaps I am supposed to ascend the podium and sing an ode to baptism, but instead I fear that so adamantly have I spoken against baptism as a means of salvation that some may have concluded that I'm against baptism and may have remarked, "Look, here's a Baptist who is against baptism. Why, he isn't living up to his name!" Well, an anti-baptist I'm not; -- nor an Anabaptist either for that matter! -- I just don't exegete the Scriptures as teaching that anything or anyone has the power to save except Christ Jesus alone, and that this salvation is by the grace of God and is accessed through faith in His Son. It is made possible by what Christ accomplished on the cross, by the merit of His shed blood and not by any human merit, or by any human ritual, act, deed or work. Salvation is of God alone; thus, all praise belongs to Him and none to ourselves. Salvation is of God alone; thus, all boasting is boasting about the majesty, mercy and might of the eternal and sovereign God and none about ourselves. Baptism is necessary, yes indeed, and I quite agree with you there, but I part with you on your observation that it is part of the salvation (justification) process. It is not. It is part of the obedience (santification) 'process' that follows as the Christian begins to walk his new walk in Christ Jesus. So, I take baptism, herein understood to mean believer's baptism, very seriously and so does 'my' church, a Southern Baptist Church. So seriously, in fact, that you can't become a Baptist without it! Blessings and smooth cyber sailing on the forum. --Hank | ||||||
2 | Rom 7:9 What's it mean? | Bible general Archive 1 | let it rain | 51831 | ||
Hank, No towel snapping allowed! I'm only one of a couple of folks on these boards that think being united with Christ's death in baptism so that I might walk in newness of life has any meaning -- therefore I must be right!! The narrow road is lonely, but that's (shrug) the cross I bear ((heavy sigh)) J/K!! |
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3 | Rom 7:9 What's it mean? | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 51837 | ||
Let It Rain: Oh, I don't think you are among a miniscule minority of folks on this forum who alone see any significance in baptism! On the contrary! Virtually all Christians attach a great deal of importance to it. The crucial issue is not whether baptism is important, or whether it is a biblical command, or whether to be or not to be baptized. The issue of debate is whether faith alone in Christ is all-sufficient, or whether saving faith can become a reality in our lives only when it is supplemented by other things, such as baptism and, possibly, good works too. Of course, as you know, many of us hold that we are saved by grace only through faith only in Jesus Christ only, and that baptism is an act of obedience by the regenerate believer -- of obedience but not of salvation. --Hank | ||||||
4 | Rom 7:9 What's it mean? | Bible general Archive 1 | let it rain | 51922 | ||
Hi Hank, When he knocks on the door, I don't think Jesus cares if one turns the knob and opens the door believing opening the door is faith or works. But if the door isn't opened, faith was never present. There are many churches, a methodist one comes to mind, that won't even have baptismals installed in their buildings, and they will not bring the subject up. In fact, in a bible class I went to, a question in their printed material asked this regarding acts 2:38: "Why do you suppose Peter told the crowd to repent and believe in order to be saved?" Of course, you and I know that's NOT what Peter told the crowd. This was a Navigator series study. Another correspondent on this subject believes that even death is a work. Do you agree? Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. We are empowered by the Spirit to DO good works, baptizing others fits that description. I see no work in being baptized and being united with Christ in his death. Death is not a work, though we do participate in it, don't we? If we have hands laid on us and are healed, the elders praying may be engaged in a work, but the person being healed is not, though he is a participant. I think Martin Luther and his fellow medieval protestors were so obsessed with the "popish" church that their considerable (though violent)intellects spent too much energy refuting roman teachings. I haven't seen it in print, but I'm told that Luther called the Book of James "the book of straw" because of it's emphasis on works. When you see "works" the way he and other reformers did, it's easy to see why he didn't like it. Love ya man! |
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