Subject: Baptism not necessary to be saved |
Bible Note: You are in Error with all due respect sir. Believing IN Jesus means you are a you believe Christ and were baptized into His body(1st Corinthians 12:13 and Mark 16:16. Baptism is not a work from man but a work from God according to Luke 7:30, Colossians 2:12, and Titus 3:5). Now let us look at the text of John 3:1-21 which is Jesus teaching Nicodemus how tho be saved. John 3:2 Nicodemus declares "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him". Jesus says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN(regeneration), he cannot see the kingdom of God". Jesus here is cleary speaking of regeneration or being reborn spiritually. Is Jesus so dumb to teach Nicodemus who was born of flesh years ago that he needs to have a "vaginal birth". Jesus is not teaching about anything physical or prenatal. Nicodemus does not get it yet either by asking: "How can a MAN be BORN when HE is old"? Nicodemus is asking this question because he does not understand that Jesus is teaching him about spiritual REBIRTH for regeneration, remission of sins, and reception of the Holy Spirit. Jesus can see that Nicodemus does not understand so Jesus breaks it down in laymens terms by teaching: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, HE cannot enter the kingdom of God". Notice Jesus goes masculine here by saying HE. Jesus is cleary implying by saying HE that the man already was generated of flesh. A man does not come from the womb a MAN but is born of flesh as a baby so again Jesus is not teaching of anything prenatal or physical. Also the scriptures do not contradict each other because "It is impossible for God to lie"(Hebrews 6:18 and Titus 1:2). Jesus is also a prophet (Acts 3:22,23) who is phrophesying the way of salvation through Himself and also interpreting Acts 2:38 and Titus 3:5 which was taught later by brother Luke and Paul. Baptism into Christ Jesus for remission of sins and the Holy Spirit come together that is why Jesus teaches being "born of water and Spirit". They are one in the same. They are not two different events. You go down into the water without the Spirit but come out of the water regenerated by the Holy Spirit. John 3:5 is not talking about being born of flesh or a vaginal birth and again Jesus confirms this in John 3:6 thus saith the Lord. |