Bible Discussion Thread

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One does not have to be baptized to go to heaven. However, believers and their children should submit themselves to baptism if they are able. God commanded that we should be baptized TO WASH AWAY THE OLD SINS THEN GO, SIN NO MORE! The Lord commanded that we remember His salvation through the practicing of these sacraments until the end of the world. So, the signs of engrafting into the one true body of Christ - that is, Baptism-along with Communion - the sign of nourishing and caring for those who have been saved - are vital signs of life within the church. Having said that, and recognizing that there are communities of conviction who received Scripture to say that baptism is necessary for salvation, I would humbly but resolutely submit that there is**nothing necessary for salvation apart from repentance and faith in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ: His perfect life, His atoning sacrifice at Calvary.

Dear Texsis

Having in mind scripture like the following:

1 Peter 3:21

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Mark 16:16

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Matthew 28:19

'"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Acts 2:38

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 2:41

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

Matthew 3:13-15

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."

If Jesus had to be baptized John's baptism to "fulfill all righteousness" and John had to step back to allow that, what about us been baptized the christian baptism to fulfill God's righteousness? Baptism is not symbolic, it is essential for fulfilling God's righteousness, essential for our salvation.

GBU

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Bible verses related to Baptism Of The Holy Spirit from the King James Version (KJV) by Book Order. John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 1:5 - For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost

Hellow Textis

There is a huge difference between bapt. in water and bapt. in Spirit. They are different things that serve different purposes. Bapt. in Spirit is mainly for sanctification, bapt. in water is the official testimony of a christian before people. Baptism in water is a man's work to do, baptism in the Spirit is God's work to do.

Lets consider salvation as a covenant between God and man. It is like having an agreement/covenant that has to be signed by both sides to become officially valid. God signs the papers by new birth, man has also to put his signature on the papers otherwise the agreement is not valid. His signature is to get baptised in water. It then that the covenant becomes official and lawful.

The vision I described in my post is true, not fake. For me it is a proof from God that what I've been taught about bapt. in w/r is right. But the yardstick we use to see what is true or not is not visions or dreams but the Word of God. So let's see the incident that Peter went to preach salvation to Cornelius. As he was preaching to people that were present there, they got baptised in the Spirit. Was it considered by Peter as enough? Acts 10:47 "And he COMMANDED them to be baptized in the name of the Lord...." Pay attention please, Peter didn't say" if you please like to.., would you like to.. ? How about ..?". He ordered them to be baptized in water. It is compulsory, not a choise, not a likeness.It has to be done. New birth is essential for salvation, as Jesus described to Nicodemus. But it is not the only condition to be fulfilled. Baptism in water is also a condition for salvation, as the verses that I posted before state. So one has to go through both to be saved. There are so many incidents in the Acts where baptism in water is involved. Philip and the treasurer of the Ethiopians, Phillip and people in Samaria, Paul and the disciples in Ephesus, Paul and the prison guard in Philippii. It is always a priority for apostles.to baptize believers.

GBU

spell my name correct and I may respond, thanks

Hellow brother Fred.

I have never seen a vision, but my wife has seen a few.

When she was going to be baptized in water at the end of the church service, during the preaching she saw at the right hand side of the pastor, elevated from the floor, Lord Jesus Christ sitting on a throne and behind Him an angel was standing having in front of him an inclined board with a book fixed on it. The book was the Book of Life. The angel was waiting for her to get baptized in water so to write her name in the Book of Life. My wife kept seeing this for the all the time that the preaching was taken place.

Praise the Lord, we have a Living God, not myths and fairy tales.

GBU