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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What does baptism consist? | 1 John 5:6 | Tim Sheasby | 23455 | ||
OK, I agree that "faith works". Works demonstrate faith in other words. Though most on this forum seem to agree that baptism is important they do not agree with me on just how important it is. At the same time I have read postings that point to the idea that baptism is not optional -- which says to me it is essential. This may be semantics, I know, and we may be closer in belief that I want to admit but the issue is not whether we are saved by grace or faith or the Blood of Christ since I agree with you on all those points. The issue is at what instant are your sins forgiven? Not what saves you but at what point in time are you saved? When Jesus died on the cross he paid the debt for all our sins -- Rom 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". Yes, there are many references that say we are saved by grace, saved by faith. But the only verses I recall that talk about remission of sins or washing away sins (except when the Saviour spoke directly to individuals while He was still alive) are in Acts 2:38 "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." and Acts 22:16 "'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'" Since sin has to be removed and baptism is the mechanism for that I cannot see how one can be saved without it. Furthermore Romans 6 draws the analogy even further and says we are baptized into Christ's death and then are raised to walk in newness of life. Not the other way around. According to the timetable of most on this forum you are raised from the dead spiritually (saved) first and then you get burried to prove it. This does not work for me. I was baptised to show I had repented and so that I could wash away my sins (as opposed to the filth of the flesh). Water baptism does not represent spiritual baptism to me -- it is part of the same event. I must now apologise, I get drawn into this argument so easily but that is because I feel it is so vital. I can't help myself! In Jesus Christ our Redeemer Tim Sheasby |
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2 | What does baptism consist? | 1 John 5:6 | Sir Pent | 23546 | ||
Clarification ................................... Dear Tim S. I found this last post of yours to be very helpful in understanding how you see Baptism. I too think that your beliefs are closer to those of most others on this forum than it first appears. It seems to me that you primarily see Baptism as the burial view (being buried with Christ and then ressurected as a new forgiven creation). Therfore, it doesn't make sense to you for a person to be saved and then go back and be buried again. I'd like to possibly help you see it a little differently. If the water itself actually "accomplished" the burial and resurrection, then your view would be logical. However, if the water is "symbolic" of the burial and resurrection, then the timeing is less relevant. For instance, we shoot fireworks in America on Independance Day, July 4th. These are symbols. The fireworks do not grant us independance, and are incapable of earning us independance. Besides that, we actually gained our independance over 200 years ago. Yet we still shoot them off as a way to celebrate and show the world that we are free. Baptism is similar. It is a Christian's way of celebrating their salvation (through faith in Christ), and showing those around them that they have chosen to be buried and become a new forgiven creation. It is an important symbol to participate in, because the Bible says to do it, and because it gives evidence that we are not ashamed of our faith. But it is still a symbol. |
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