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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: Greetings Rowdy! You wrote: "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." When I list Scripture, there is always a 'but' in your response! :-) You also wrote: "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." However, this is not what Scripture says. Scripture says that we are saved through faith, not through works. This isn't even what 1 John 2 says. 1 John 2:3 - "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, ‘‘I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Notice what 1 John 2 actually says. It doesn't say that if we obey Him we are saved as a result. It says that our obedience is the evidence that we really know Him. The difference between our two positions is quite simple. You see: Faith plus works equals salvation. I see: Faith equals salvation that results in works. There is a world of difference between the two views. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |