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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: Does Mark 16:16 teach that a person must be baptized in order to be saved? This is a difficult passage. But a basic principle of Bible interpretation is that difficult passages are to be interpreted in light of the easy, clear verses. Now, notice the latter part of the verse: "Whosoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). It is 'unbelief' that brings damnation, not a lack of being baptized. When one rejects the gospel, refusing to believe it, that person is damned. In regard to the question of whether baptism is necessary for salvation, consider the words of the apostle Paul: "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (1 Cor. 1:17). Paul here draws a clear distinction between baptism and the gospel. And since it is the gospel that saves (1 Cor. 15:1,2), baptism is clearly not necessary to attain salvation. That's not to say that baptism is unimportant. I believe that baptism should be the first act of obedience to God following a person's conversion to Christ. But even though we should obey God and get baptised, we mustn't forget that our faith in Christ, not baptism, is what saves us (Acts 16:31; John 3:16). Baptism is basically a public profession of faith. It says to the whole world, "I'm a believer in Christ and have identified my life with Him." Blessings to you, Nolan |