Subject: Raven and John Reformed, Baptism? |
Bible Note: Greetings Raven, Praise God!! Thank you for your well thought our response that you sent me earlier. I'm responding to this instead of the one you sent me becuase it seems it was your latest post. I am not, in my stance, denying the importance of Baptism, just that to me, it does not appear to be a prerequisite for the Salvation of one’s soul. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" Raven, you said: “It is true that baptism without belief will not save. For why would a person be baptized if they believe not. Mark 16:16 says that he that does not believe will be condemned. It is not necessary to say "and not be baptized”” If Baptism is sorely needed for Salvation, then why not say “and not be baptized” ? You’re saying that Baptism is needed for the Salvation of one’s soul: For this logic the passage should read: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who believes and is not baptized will be condemned" Of course it doesn’t say that because the one ingredient for Salvation comes after the “but” which is “believe”. Compare this simplistic analogy. "He who has a license and a car can drive, but he who has no license cannot." So, no matter what you do, you need a License to drive. However, you can still drive without owning a car but it’s illegal to drive any car without a license. Ephesians 2:8 “For by Grace are ye saved, through Faith….” Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” KJV Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Why no mention of Baptism in any of those verses? You also mentioned Lydia, which is in Acts 16: “Another conversion was Lydia. The bible says, "The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household were baptized” The word "baptized" ("ebaptisqh" from the Textus Receptus Greek Text) here is the same word that is used in Luke 11:38 for “washed” which says: “And when the Pharisee saw [it], he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.” The NASB has it as “ceremonially washed”. This is also the same word that is used for when Paul(Saul) was Baptized in Acts 9:18, the same word as in Acts 16:33 "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was "baptized", he and all his, straightway.", and also the same as when Jesus himself was Baptized in Mark 1:9. The Greek word Baptized means: baptizo bap-tid'-zo from a derivative of baptw - bapto to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:--Baptist, baptize, wash. You also said: “Now I might ask you the same question. Did Jesus make an inaccurate statement? Why did He say be baptized if it wasn't needed?” As I put in my last post, what of this woman that Jesus said that her faith had saved her but didn’t mention anything of Baptism? Luke 7:48 “Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Verse 50 “And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Thanks for sharing your views Love in Christ bgg |