Subject: Do Jesus and Paul agree on salv by faith |
Bible Note: 'My friend, the bible never mentions "faith alone".' Romans 4-5 indicates that we are justified by faith apart from works and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. "As we have seen in James faith alone is dead. James 2:19 says even the demons believe and tremble." Yes, it does, which means that biblical, saving faith results in God-honoring works. "Why did Christ command us to do things, if it wasn't nessesary to be saved." So do you consistently do everything Christ commands? If not, how can you call yourself saved? And for the question which no one of your theological persuasion has ever been able to answer satisfactorily: If immersion is required for salvation, where was the church during that millennium and a half, when almost everyone was sprinkled in infancy. Immersion did not (re)emerge as normative until 1550 or so. So, where was the church before the Anabaptists made an issue of believer's baptism by immersion? Did God let this bride disappear off the face of the earth for over a dozen centuries? Many of these non-immersed people are the theological ancestors of the Churches of Christ. Many of them wrote the hymns that you sing every Sunday. Do you really think that the men who wrote "Amazing Grace" and "A Mighty Fortress is our God" were not Christians because they were never baptized as you think Christ commanded? If so, your church needs to tear out the hymns of John Newton, Isaac Watts, Martin Luther, Augustus Toplady, and Charles Wesley, for they are all roasting in hell, according to your theology. So where was the church during all those years of almost exclusive infant sprinkling? And what of those your church considers men of God who did NOT ever get immersed? --Joe! |