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NASB | Luke 23:43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 23:43 Jesus said to him, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." [2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7] |
Subject: why was the thief saved without baptism? |
Bible Note: Hello Country Girl, "The baptism of the Holy Spirit was the primary source for these miraculous powers..." The purpose of baptism is for identification. This is the use of the term throughout Scripture. The primary source for miraculous power was the filling of the Spirit which was periodic. And even then, the primary use of that power in Acts was preaching the gospel. "This also is in harmony with Paul's teaching in 1 Cor as there tends to be much strife and immature bickering between christians when they are blessed with these powers." Any of God's gifts can be misused--even helps and administration. That is not a good measuring stick for appropriateness today. "Subject: why was the thief saved without baptism? Note: You seemed to have left out a very important detail of this discussion and these words are from Christ himself: John 3:4 Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." I've mentioned this kind of logic before but I'll repeat myself yet again. When the Bible teaches two or more different ways to answer a particular question such as this, it behooves one to be thorough and study all of what Scripture says about it. Now readily enough, everyone knows about Paul's statement: "one faith, one baptism,... But then the Bible also clearly states there are two different kinds of baptism cited within the Scriptures which were apparently applicable in their day when these Words were written. So we're left with a puzzle. Oviously Paul's words about "one baptism" were issued for guidance to ALL christians throughout all the age or this dispensation. The one single baptism that we can know for certain is indeed applicable to ALL christians is the one as Jesus referred to in being born again and thus the phrase "born again christian." Like I've mentioned before the age of miracles was a temporary one in this Christian dispensation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was the primary source for these miraculous powers so since the Apostles, Cornelius and his family were the only ones blessed with these miraculous abilities from this primary source, it is perfectly logical to conclude that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is no longer applicable in this day and time. This also is in harmony with Paul's teaching in 1 Cor as there tends to be much strife and immature bickering between christians when they are blessed with these powers. I think it is correctly inferred from all this that God never really meant for us as His children to have these miraculous powers throughout this dispensation because in addition to the strife, it takes away from our development of our faith. If we had physical manifestations or demonstrations of miracles all the time like the Jews did in their world, they would become commonplace like they did then." They weren't commonplace. Some were not even witnessed by anyone but the author who recorded it (see Jonah). What we have in Scripture is a condensed timeline of history. Take a Bible history chart and note the miracles against the chart. You'll find several decades, even centuries, between miracles. "The conclusion cited above is shared now and has been promulgated by christians by the tens of millions plus throughout all 2000 years of the church's existence." Which of the church fathers agrees with you? I only request one citation. Steve |