Bible Discussion Thread

The apostle Paul said that he preached the Word of God with boldness. It is with this same boldness I now speak. I am in awe and, at the same time, fury over the comments I have read on this website. Why people do not take the word for what it says in its ENTIRETY, I will never understand. I want to address multiple comments in this post, so please read my post knowing it is in sincerity and in the love of Christ that I write.
First, I would like to talk about those who say that baptism does not consist of water. Baptism is derived from the Greek word "baptizo" which means "immersion." Now, I ask, in what are we immersed? A prime example of immersion takes place in Acts 8, when Philip is called by the Spirit to go and explain the scripture to the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip “preached unto him Jesus” ( Acts 8:35). It continues, “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down BOTH into the water, BOTH Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” ( Acts 8:36-38). How did the eunuch know that he needed to be baptized? Because Philip preached unto him Jesus. Jesus is the word; therefore we must take ALL of the word – not some of it only to make it say we want it to say. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”. Jesus thought baptism to be important enough to mention it as part of his last words on earth. Don’t you think that means it’s pretty significant? Shouldn’t it be easy enough just to say “well, Jesus said it, so I am going to do it”? I would think so. But so many denominations have taken the precious word of God and twisted it so it fits what they want it to. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. Jesus was talking to the apostles here who were men. Men cannot baptize in the Holy Ghost. Only God can baptize in the Holy Ghost. So this proves that it HAD to be water baptism.
Secondly, I have heard so much about the “thief on the cross” that I am seriously sick. I am sick of people AGAIN not interpreting the Bible for what it says. Let’s look at the setting of Calvary and the conversation that took place between Jesus and this thief. First, Jesus was still alive when this all took place. THE OLD LAW WAS STILL IN EFFECT. Jesus’ blood had not been shed yet; therefore, baptism was not in effect yet and would not be until the day of Pentecost. When Jesus died and fulfilled the Old Law, the New Law entered into effect. And if it were not enough that the Old Law was still in effect, he was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and could do what he wanted to do. He forgave sins long before the thief on the cross. What about Zacchaeus ( Luke 19:9)? What about the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil ( Luke 7:48)? Both of these were granted salvation by Jesus, yet you don’t hear people basing their salvation off them! Jesus did not tell the man that his sins were forgiven. Jesus told the thief he would be with Him in paradise. Paradise. Not Heaven. Now, granted, no one knows what paradise was, but I think it possible to be the place where Jesus went during the three days after his crucifixion. 1 Peter 3 says that, “he went and preached to the spirits in prison”. Maybe this was the paradise in which Jesus spoke of. If I could I would list all the examples of baptism in the New Testament as “what now saves us”, 1 PETER 3:21. But I do not have enough time nor space in which to write. It is my earnest prayer that you study your Bible. Please read it with an open mind and take it LITERALLY and not interpret it. Do NOT take another man’s word for what it says. Read it and believe it by yourself.