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NASB | 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek 36:25-27] |
Subject: Verses where water alone means baptism? |
Bible Note: Greetings Dalcent! There has been much debate about whether or not baptism is 'necessary' for salvation. I am beginning to think that many of us may be using different meanins for 'necessary'. For instance, you wrote: "Catholics teach the normative method of Christian initiation is faith AND baptism. They do not insist that one must be baptised." No one, to the best of my knowledge, is arguing that baptism should not be a normative part of our Christian experience. We are certainly commanded to be baptized. However, when I use the term 'necessary', I mean something without which one cannot be saved. Thus, I reject that one must be baptized to be saved. But, I do not reject that we are commanded to be baptized. However, if something is 'necessary' (in the sense that I used it above) than there can be no exceptions. However, I would not agree with your characterization of prayer. Prayer is simply an expression of repentance and confession. Ps. 86:5 - "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." Ps. 145:18 - "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Rom. 10:12 - "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Joel 2:32 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls." Acts 2:21 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." These Scriptures make it clear that there is nothing wrong with crying out to God for salvation, and that God has promised to answer that call. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |