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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed--united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life]. [Rom 3:22; Gal 3:28] |
Subject: Kin, too much ritual in baptism? |
Bible Note: Dear Robert, It has been a while since I have received this note from you and I apologize for not answering sooner. I hope you had a great New Years and Christmas. Your hope and faith touches my heart and it is obvious you have dedicated yourself to searching for the truth as I have as well. You have touched on a topic that I find myself totally immersed in, the heart. I too, like you, did not feel I was saved for only believing, except I looked at it from the point of, if all we have to do is believe why is the Bible so thick. Why has God written such an inexhaustible book if salvation was only to believe in Jesus?, this is what I would pray to understand. Yes, I do believe we are saved by grace but grace comes through faith and faith by hearing and hearing by the Word, which is the Word of God. It seems no matter what, God always takes me back to the Word. I like your reference to John 3:3, but even better I like John 3:5," Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". The reason this verse has so much meaning to me is because when I was recently reading Jeremiah again in Jer 2:13 we read,"For my people have comitted two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. In this verse God says He is the fountain of living waters and I believe He referrences the broken cisterns to be symbols of man in the flesh body. We can go many places with water, but my point is that Jesus is the Word(John 1:1), the Living Word and both Jesus and the Word have very definite similarities in the Bible, and I believe Jer 2:13 is God telling us we need to have knowledge and wisdom within in our hearts and the lack of these is seen as evil to Him. "The blood of Jesus Christ...cleanseth us from all sin" 1John 1:7 "Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken" John 15:3 Christ " Healed them" Matt 4:24 "He sent His Word and healed them" Psalm 107:20 "Christ hath made us free" Gal 5:1 "The Truth shall make you free" John 8:32 I believe we are saved by grace but I also believe we are to be ready when Jesus comes back as the Bridegroom and be presentable unto Him without stain, spot or blemish(spiritually), which is the great mystery Paul talks about in Eph 5. Every time I have seen so far in the Bible, when the Holy Spirit comes in unto people, it is always preceeded by the written or spoken Word and I believe it is the hearing and understanding of the Word which leads to repentance, belief, healing and cleansing. Ultimately I feel that baptism today is much too ceremonial, and I am confused by what it does. I see no spiritual significance with being baptized by a man. Please read Mark chapter 7, it is about ceremonially cleansing, God says ceremonially cleansing is likened unto cleaning cups and pots and likens it unto traditions of men, "making the Word of God of none effect". All I know is that I have never appreciated anything in my life that has been given to me half as much as the things I have worked for and to think I have eternal life based on grace and belief without having to do nothing else, just does not make sense to me. So much so that I believe God wants more from His children than I hear being taught in the world today. I am interested in your thoughts, thank you for listening to me this time. Jer 29:13 for ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Bless you!, Love Fountain 1Pet 1:22-25 |