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NASB | Ephesians 4:9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? |
Subject: Baptism or No? Our Forefathers said... |
Bible Note: I must admit, dear friend Tim, I read your posts and sometimes I can't tell whether you're on my side arguing in favor of my posts or on the other side arguing against. "Faith is a complete trust in God. It is a surrender to His will. It even includes obedience to His commands. But, faith is not 'mere mental assent'! "Would you care to show me anywhere in Scripture where faith is defined as 'mere mental assent'?" I'll mention here again there is, by the Forum's count exactly 87 verses from the NT to add to this discussion. (Just be sure to insert the word "bapti" in the Word Search to get them all.) Please don't misunderstand me, I'd be literally the last person in the world to deny the solid truth behind every one of the scriptures you cited above. But please take another look at the article with the quote from Martin Luther. Even he agreed to baptism being essential to one's salvation. "[I] affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God Himself. Moreover, He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. No one is to think that it is an optional matter like putting on a red coat. It is of greatest importance that we hold Baptism in high esteem as something splendid and glorious. The reason why we are striving and battling so strenuously for this view of Baptism is that the world nowadays is full of sects that loudly proclaim that Baptism is merely an external form and that external forms are useless…. Although Baptism is indeed performed by human hands, yet it is truly God’s own action" (1978, pp. 98-99). Don't you see baptism is merely the real and genuine demonstration of real and genuine faith just like you've described above? It is the same principle Naaman discovered in being healed from leporsy. It's the same principle the Israelites discovered when they accepted the gift of the promised land. Although it was a gift of the Promised Land, they still had to obey God in conquering the Cannanites who were there first. God even told them to kill everyone, men, women and children. That too wasn't easy, I'm sure but God said it and Joshua obeyed. King David discovered this principle when he obeyed God, He knew with genuine, absolute confidence that God was with him. How else could he have conquered giant Goliath at least twice as tall as he and at twice the warrior as David? How? Because Goliath was dwarfed when placed beside David AND his God Almighty. When we're baptized and obey ALL of God's other commands then and only then can we approach God with absolute confidence, even to the moment of Judgment Day, as per 1 John 2. With reference to your question about "mere mental assent," that's the modern way to emphasize the point of complete obedience that our friend, Kyle Butt is trying to make. If we as humans hold anything back but absolute obedience to ALL of God's commands, we might as well as stay home. It has the same effect as "mere mental assent." Again, don't you see, King Saul discovered this very important principle when Samuel told him "It's better to obey than to offer sacrifice." When we do/say anything less, it's like we're telling God "OK God, I'll obey but I gotta do it my way, on my terms and conditions; here's my counter-offer." Ananais and Sapphira discovered this principle in Acts 5 and paid with their lives AND their souls. When we hold back from God and actually choose NOT to obey His commands, how can we truly call Him Father and then dare to think we're good to go to Heaven where only the faithful and the obedient with the blood of His dear Son covers their sin? No, my friend, I would beseech you. Study ALL of this article, the truths contained therein but most especially keep studying and praying on this matter. I'll keep on praying for you and God bless. Rowdy |