godrulz said:Corinth was a Gentile, not a Jewish, congregation. Baptism has a place in the Church Age. Believer's baptism was not just for those who were ethnic Jews.
thelaqachisnext said:Remission of sin is the sending away of that sin.
Only by submitting to water baptism in the name of Jesus can we "send our sins away".
daddyugi said:No offense, but by your words, Jesus is a liar. He promised the thief on the cross that
he would be with Him in Paradise. The thief wasn't baptised. How do you explain Jesus
Himself? He was baptised and He was sinless. When you see baptism mentioned in
Acts, you see that it is in response to a person or persons receiving Christ as thier
Saviour. Acts 10:37 states that baptism was done AFTER they had recieved the Holy
Ghost. Acts 8:36-37, the Ethiopian eunuch asked what prevented him from being
baptised and Philip answered that if he believed with all his heart, he could be. As far
as remission of sin, Heb. 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no
remission and in Matt.26:28 Jesus said that "this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Water baptism does not "send our
sins away" ONLY the blood of Christ can do that. In Mark 1:4 we find that John the
Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Even then, when
John saw Jesus, he proclaimed in John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world." Baptism is an act of obedience in response to having sins forgiven,
again, refer to Acts 8:36-37 and Acts 10:37. We find that baptism always follows
salvation since the death and resurrection of Christ. As always, if there is ever a question
to the interpretation of Scripture, let Scripture interpret Scripture. If you think that a
particular verse means this, then check it against other Scripture. If other Scripture does
NOT agree with what you think this verse means, then that verse doesn't mean what you
think it does. Remember to keep everything in context.
I believe baptism is both an act of obedience toward Christ and also identifies a believer
with his Lord and Saviour. I think that it is extremely important for Christian to be
baptised, but Scripture does not support that thought that baptism washes sins away.
I think Spitfire is right on. What Godrulz is doing is another example of exactly what I am talking about. Those who deny baptismal regeneration feel justified to go against clear, more natural reading of texts in favor of an "interpretation" of a passages that is convoluted, simply because they feel it "contradicts" other concepts. In this case, however, I think this presupposition creates a false dilemma. Let's stick with the everyday meaning of the texts. If we don't, we can make Scripture say whatever we want. I am not saying that there are not figures of speach either, but the context needs to make that clear.Spitfire said:The least likely possibility? If being born again of water and the Holy Spirit does not indicate baptism, what would? Or what does it more likely imply?
Although I agree with most of what Cellist has been saying in his thread that theology is not in fact a simple matter of coming up with an interpretation of scripture which seems non-contradictory, and I understand much of the truth in the Bible not to be literal truth (Jesus spoke in parables after all,) in most cases I feel that an explanation evident in the words of the scriptures themselves is far more likely than one that would require pages upon pages of explanation.
Baptismal regeneration? Are you really trying to communicate?godrulz said:The Greek grammar, not a superficial English reading, of Acts 2:38 links regeneration with repentant faith, not baptism.
No wonder there are so many denominations
Preaching is not a work, but baptismal regeneration would be a work. Preaching tells us to receive Christ by faith alone, not by works. An outward ritual is superfluous in light of the finished work of Christ appropriated by faith alone (I thought you were a Reformer?).
Sacramentalism is not biblical.
chrysostom said:Baptismal regeneration? Are you really trying to communicate?
I won't argue the Greek with you because I have not studied it, but there are obviously many Greek scholars who disagree with you.godrulz said:The Greek grammar, not a superficial English reading, of Acts 2:38 links regeneration with repentant faith, not baptism.
No wonder there are so many denominations
I agree with Augustine that the Gospel, the announcement of Christ's work for the forgiveness of our sins, comes to us aurally in preaching but is also visibly displayed before our eyes. Hence, he coined the phrase that the sacraments are the "visible word" of God. The sacraments work in the same way the preached word does. We are not saved because we are baptized but because baptism works faith in the finished work of Christ. But, this work of faith can be resisted (man can prevent his conversion) as in the preached word so this is not something automatic. Also, someone can come to saving faith apart from baptism through the preached word at which time baptism would increase his faith, as does the preached word. I think you have a false dilemma.Preaching is not a work, but baptismal regeneration would be a work. Preaching tells us to receive Christ by faith alone, not by works. An outward ritual is superfluous in light of the finished work of Christ appropriated by faith alone (I thought you were a Reformer?).
Sacramentalism is not biblical.
All that is necessary is faith in the finished work of Christ. So yes, a person can be saved without baptism. Also, baptism is not necessary to have faith. Someone can come to faith apart from baptism. In fact, in adults, this is probably more often the case.godrulz said:Is water baptism essential or optional? Can a person call on the name of the Lord on their death bed or before a plane crash and be saved (Rom. 10:9, 10; Jn. 1:12; 3:16, 36)? If they can, then water baptism is NOT a condition of salvation and is not essential to faith. Did Luther, the king of faith alone, make baptism regenerational or essential for salvation?
I guess this is anothe reason I am not Catholic or Lutheran.
We would say that baptism would not fall under a step of obedience, like acts of love towards God and neighbor (law) but promise (gospel).godrulz said:I agree that baptism was a normative step of obedience/discipleship by those who were saved by faith. It is not a condition of salvation like repentant faith is.
Paul of Scripture said if you are called circumcised to not become uncircumcised.
Paul of Scripture said if you are called uncircumcised to not become circumcised.
1 Cor 7:18Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
Paul was a born again, water baptized Spirit filled, Pentecostal, tongues speaking, tongues singing Jew, of the Tribe of Benjamin, who never departed from Moses and never taught Jews to depart from Moses all his days.
Paul never taught to not be water baptized in his entire life.
Jesus said to be baptized in water. If we do not obey Jesus, how can we call Him LORD?
Paul does not have the Jewish contingency in Corinth to deal with. I think these individuals named by Paul had Greek names, but you can check that out. If the Jews are being baptized and the gentiles are not being baptized then Paul is creating an unnecessary division in the Church. Is Bob saying the Jew’s have to be baptized and not the gentiles, if so when did that stop?
1After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Can you give me one New Testament Christian that we know for certain was not water baptized?
I am not tying baptism to salvation, I think you can read what Godrulz has said on this subject. It is something we should, given the opportunity, submit to doing, similar to confessing Christ to unbelievers.
chrysostom said:Repentant faith?
This suggests that you can repent without believing and you can believe without repenting. I don’t think sogodrulz said:A few authors coined the term since repentance and faith are conditions of salvation. They are like two sides of one coin or two wings of a bird. In Acts, there is a verse about turning from sin or Self and turning to God. Turning from sin is the first step to turning toward the Savior. It is giving up the gods in our lives to follow the true God and to love Him supremely rather than living supremely for King Self.
We cannot cling to sin and Self and follow Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not tack Jesus on as fire insurance while persisting in godless sin and unbelief. Some verses talk about repentance, while others talk about belief or faith (trust, love, obedience). 'Repentant faith' shows the close connection between turning from something (sin) to someone (God). It is a change of ultimate intention to make God 'Boss' instead of living a godless life. He has a right to rule our lives because of His value and authority. We must cease rebellion and selfishness if we are to embrace God and the finished work of Christ.
Those who make Jesus one guru out of many gurus are fooling themselves. He is Lord and Savior, not just one of many gods people add to their lives.