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NASB | 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. |
Subject: why is baptism important |
Bible Note: I believe that the physical act of water baptism is an outward expression of the spiritual baptism that has already taken place when one responds to God in repentence with belief. See Acts 2:38. What baptism occurs apart from saving faith? Believe and be baptized is all about what God does in response to our belief. From Matthew 28:19 it appears that baptism follows discipleship. Paul also focuses on his prime directive "to preach the gospel rather than to baptize" in I Cor. 1:17. Personally, I believe that following the example of Christ in the waters of baptism is a choice that the believer has to respond to, just as any other command! If salvation depended upon our obedience to "following rules or commands" such as the outward expression of our faith: love one another, being baptized, tithing, etc, then grace would be of no consequence. |