Subject: Unforgivable sin |
Bible Note: Greetings Teacher! One quick correction, if I may? You wrote: "The bible says neither "with" or "by", but "into"." However, the verse in question does say 'by'! Here is the text of 1 Cor. 12:13 with the work 'by' in all caps. "For we were all baptized BY one Spirit into one body?whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free?and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." Brad's point about this verse was valid. The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ. This baptism is not water baptism, but spiritual. It is also this baptism to which I believe John 3:5 refers. "Jesus answered, ??I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." First of all, notice that the word baptism does not appear in this passage, so seeing it as a reference to water baptism is a major stretch. Secondly, the contrast is not between baptized and un-baptized, but physical birth and spiritual birth, as made clear in John 3:6. So, the baptism which saves, is not water baptism, but the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. This baptism takes place at the moment of faith and is not dependent upon anything we do! :-) Concerning your comments about circumcision and baptism. You are partly correct in the sense that circumcision was part of the Law of Moses and baptism was not. However, I do think that you still miss the major point of Galatians. You have simply substituded one law for another. Yet, Paul argues throughout Galatians that salvation is not based upon law period, but upon promise. You still make the same error that the Judaizers made in that you still believe that there is something which we must 'do' to be saved. Gal. 3:20 streses that no law can save. If one could, then the Law of Moses would have been it - "Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law." Old law, or new, it cannot save! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |