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NASB | Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace [God's remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; |
Subject: is water-baptism needed for salvation? |
Bible Note: Hello Godinus, You ask, "How has God "caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," if not through baptism?" By Faith! Heb. 11 is recognized as the faith Hall of Fame! I notice that there is not a corresponding chapter devoted to those noted because of baptism:-) The Pauline passages such as Rom. 6:3-5 are often (mistakenly) taken to be referring to water baptism. I do not believe they are and that he is here referring to spiritual baptism, which is the agency by which we are placed into union with Christ! The work of the Holy Spirit in our salvation is much overlooked and neglected! Note 1 Cor. 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." (NASB) Paul's use of this term is interesting. This is in the aorist tense, passive voice. This basically means it refers to a past (aorist) action (once for all)where the subject (passive) is acted upon by an outside force. The question then becomes, what is this outside force? It is also interesting to note that Rom. 6:3, Gal. 3:27, and Col. 2:12, are also aorist tense, passive voice! The action of 1 Cor. 12:13 is clear! So is Acts 1:5, "for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with (by) the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (NASB) In both these examples, denoting the difference between water baptism and Spirit baptism, the passive voice is used. This signifies the action being performed upon the subject by an outside force. In this case, the Holy Spirit. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |