Subject: Teacher, when were the 11 rebaptized? |
Bible Note: Greetings One! Thanks for your response! You asked: "Is there grace without baptism?" My answer is: Yes! There are several basically synonymous terms which are used to describe repentance: believing, receiving, calling, ect.... The important thing to note about each of these terms is that they are not the basis of grace, but our response to grace. For example, suppose that I go and research your background (likes, dislikes, ect...) and through my research determine that there is one gift which you could really use, but would never be able to get. I however have the ability to get this gift for you, so I purchase it for you. I then come and offer you this gift and you accept it. By accepting the gift, did you earn it? Did you contribute to the price of the purchase by accepting the gift? Do you see where I am going my friend? Salvation is totally based upon what Christ did, not what we do. We can repent, receive, accept, ect... (all changes of attitude on our part, not effort), but we can in know way DO anything to deserve salvation. This is the point that baptismal regeneration fails to address. Anything that we DO is a work. In fact, the Enhanced Strong's concordance defines the work 'work' or 'ergon' as: "an act, deed, thing done". If I must jump through hoops before I can be saved and perform certain tasks, than I have earned salvation - or at least contributed to it. This is exactly what Paul said that we can't do. No matter how one tries to say otherwise, if I must DO something to be saved, that thing I must DO is a work. Repentance however is not an act done, but a change of attitude toward God. Acceptance of the gift of salvation is a response to God's grace, not something done to earn it. As I explained to Teacher, those who believe in baptismal regeneration have simply exchanged one Law for another, one legalistic system for another. The Biblical view of works in quite clear: I believe and am saved then I obey and do good works. Not: I believe and obey and do good works and then I am saved. This is another gospel! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |