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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: You wrote: “There is still no argument whatsoever against the simple command of Christ in Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved". Actually Mar 16:16 offers strong scriptural evidence that water baptism is NOT a salvation requirement. Mar 16:16 does not say belief AND baptism are required for salvation. It simply says "He who believes and is baptized will be saved”. I believe, have been baptized, go to church, pray, read my bible.... To say anything saves me besides believing (grace thru faith Eph 2:8-9), is not taught in the Word. No one who lives, has ever lived, or will ever live, will be saved by anything other than the blood of Jesus applied by grace thru faith! Anything else that could be considered “good” is a result of, not a means of salvation. The second part of Mar 16:16 tells us what CANNOT be left out; “but he who does not believe will be condemned”. If water baptism were a salvation requirement, Mar 16:16b should say “he who is not baptized in water will be condemned”. I can’t find that in the Word. If anyone insist that Mar 16:16 is saying water baptism is required for salvation, surly they must also believe that ALL the signs spoken of in the next two verses are requirements that MUST follow ALL believers who are truly saved. How could they defend their interpretation of Mar 16:16 if they did not interpret Mar 16:17-18 in like manner? Is that your position, bro? If not, what allows anyone to add baptism without adding the other signs? We must balance scripture with scripture, not pick and choose. Please don’t assume that anyone who does not believe as you considers water baptism a “minor thing”. It is a clearly instructed for all believers to receive. However, to make water baptism out to be a means of salvation goes beyond what the Word teaches and substitutes the blood of Jesus with water of baptism. This debate is old and tired. Let’s move on. How about it, bro? In Christ Jesus, retxar |