Subject: Unbaptized children |
Bible Note: Hank, Is believing that we participate in the death burial and resserection of Christ in baptism take faith? Is it a saving faith to obey Acts 2:38? Is it unfathomable to think that God would use the waters of baptism to accomplish this? “Works” are following the Law, faith is obeying God. “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” If one passage says to simply believe and this one says to be baptized, do I dare to pick and choose or do I accept them both? Consider the faith that it took for Naaman to be healed: “ The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, Wash and be cleansed!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” 2 Kings 5 Did the water heal him or his faith as he went into the water? And would have he been healed if he didn’t go into the water? Is baptism any different? Does the water save you? No But going into the water with faith does. Take a look at the study I put on the forum 10-01-01. It’s very in depth and insightful. (I didn’t make it up, I got it online). I look forward to hearing from you, Kin |