Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: I'm sorry if I was confusing about some things. I read my note, and I noticed where I contradicted myself about faith alone. I did not mean to say that faith alone would save us. I believe faith is necessary for salvation. Your 2 paragraph about Jesus' atoning sacrifice, if I read it correctly, I agree with. It must be remembered that God did his part for man's salvation, we must also do ours. In Acts 22:16 what did Paul have to do to have his sins washed away? He was not merely baptized after he was saved. Some say Saul/Paul was saved on the road to Damascus. If you closely study the account you will see otherwise. You also make mention of calling on the name of the Lord to be saved. I would like to ask how a person calls on the name of the Lord. You must also remember that the sum of God's word is truth. We cannot pick one scripture and leave another. That is what we call cafeteria style Christianity. Just because he mentioned beleiving in God in one place in the Bible for our salvation and not the other does not erase the scriptures about baptism. I was incorrect about Ephesians 2: 8-9. That does include any works and not just the works of the Law of Moses. This scripture tells us that we can never earn our way to heaven. That is true. I am not saying baptism will earn our way into heaven. I am saying God commanded it so I'm doing it. Baptism would not be included in what you might think as "works." This is not what is being discussed here. Baptism is as much as a work as believing is. Read John 6:29 carefully. You are also correct about James. Yet, the principled can still be applied. Thank you for your time. In Christ, Coty |