Bible Discussion Thread

Oh my, oh my. If you believe we are born pure and blameless, you are definitely reading a different scripture, because it is most certainly not the Holy Bible. When Paul writes, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, I must have missed the part about it only being adults over the age of 8. When looking at the notion of Baptism=regeneration one must take into account the entirety of scripture, starting in Genesis. Christianity is a continuation and fulfillment of the Jewish faith, therefore, a complete knowledge of scripture is required, not just looking at the New Testament. Pay particular attention to the covenants that God establishes throughout, the theme of passover and exodus, and finally the theme of Messiah. You can even just reference the passages of scripture that refer to water and see how they relate to baptism. The like figure in vs 20 is referring to the fact that Noah and his family were brought through the waters of the flood and out the other side. How do you correlate 8 souls being saved through the waters to 8 years old is now an age were you are held accountable before God? We as human beings have already proven that we are unable to do a single thing to be justified in front of the Father. This is why he sent the son. Scripture is clear on that. Just look at the figures throughout the scriptures that screw up royally...every single one of them. We are united to Christ through baptism in which his righteousness is sufficient to save us( Romans 6). In our Baptism this is something that God says about us; its an adoption ceremony. Does God require perfection from us? Yes! Christ says this on the Sermon on the Mount..."Be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect." Where do we get that perfection? Being united to Christ, not through belief, because one can never obtain perfect belief or perfect repentance(Galatians). This is why Christ came in the manner in which he did; through a birth canal. Christ represents us in all areas of our life, from childhood through adulthood. In regards to Paul referring to a baptism of spirit. You need to look up the Greek text on this as well as the baptism that is referred to in Romans 6. In both cases, the Greek text is translated as a physical aspect. A person is physically dunked under water, not just spiritually. There is nothing metaphorical about it, it is something that has definitively happened to you with the spirit present with the water. Unlike, asking Jesus in one's heart, something that is completely subjective...did I do it right the first time? I better do it again to make sure. Well I was feeling pretty good when I did it but now I'm feeling low, let me ask Christ into my heart again to make sure.