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NASB | Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' [Deut 6:5] |
Subject: What is the literal Greek translation? |
Bible Note: These are good thoughts. I don't think any serious bible student suggests that we should not be concerned with baptism, I think the debate occurs when the idea is suggested that someone in a prison in a country that will not allow baptism to be performed (and yes this happens and even in the US) that the prisoner is not saved if he has expressed faith in Christ and has a testimony of being born again. It might be as much as 8 months or more before he is allowed to be baptized by a chaplain in jailhous infirmary bathtub. Is he saved during the 8 months? Yes of course I was :) and I had the fruit of a changed life as well as the baptism of the Holy Spirit to proove it. Did I have the right to dismiss the need for baptism? Of course not. As soon as I was able I jumped at the chance. And yet I was saved an on my way to Heaven and leading others to christ preaching the Gospel under the annointing of the Holy Spirit for months. Some would say, I should not make up such scenarios becuase they do not happen, but that is not true, if you are in prison ministry you know that it is a daily issue, do you affirm that the young men you are ministering to are born again, and teach them the doctrine of eternal security in Christ as you do other saints or do you leave them in doubt until the baptism of water when it could be months before that occurs? Yes I know that they allow baptism in water by chaplains, but it is planned and often in many institutions very infrequent. This raises another question I have. Why don't we seek to baptize people as fast as Peter did. Why do we seem so ho hum about baptizing when the next "baptismal service" is scheduled on the church calendar? As stated I believe that in cases like prison the new believer is just as saved and born again as anyone else if he has faith in Christ, even though he has not yet been baptized in water. However if the opportunity is there, what gives us the idea we should not be as urgent about finding water as they did in ACTS. I am a firm believer that despite the challenges and problems we see in the first church the book of Acts is our pattern, it is no a changeable pattern to be modified to fit our day. If they saw baptism in water as urgent so should we. If I pastored I would seek to baptize the same day someone repented, I don't care if the church service lasts longer, and all the half baked get mad and leave, the real saints will be left rejoicing as we baptize the new believer impromptu and forget about this sending out cards to family members and bringing your video camera. We have become quite wierd in our complacent and indifferent attitude toward the eternal things of a Holy God. |