Originally posted by redsoxmaloney View Post
I was speaking to someone today who said the theif on the cross was not baptised in water because he was still under old testament law and Jesus hadn't died yet. She says she's been a Christian for 30 yrs. But my sinfulness comes in when I want to rebuke it, and not realize I'm the same way. It reminds me that I really have a long way to go. Pray for me that I am not afraid to tell the truth, and tell it in love.
We grow by simply praying and continually asking The Lord to guide us and cause us to do His will. We confess that we are blind and He then will give us sight.
I was speaking to someone today who said the theif on the cross was not baptised in water because he was still under old testament law and Jesus hadn't died yet. She says she's been a Christian for 30 yrs. But my sinfulness comes in when I want to rebuke it, and not realize I'm the same way. It reminds me that I really have a long way to go. Pray for me that I am not afraid to tell the truth, and tell it in love.
We grow by simply praying and continually asking The Lord to guide us and cause us to do His will. We confess that we are blind and He then will give us sight.
Ephesians 4New International Version (NIV)
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
There are not several bodies of Christ. There is but ONE true church.
There are not several faiths that can save, but ONE faith and that is trusting in Jesus to save you, NOT trusting in water baptism to save.
There is but ONE BAPTISM. So now baptism in water is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures and so is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Any person who is truly looking for the truth should be able to see that surely the baptism of water can not compare to the baptism of His Holy Spirit. There is but ONE Baptism that is necessary to be saved and that is to have His Holy Spirit living inside of you.
Water baptism was simply a symbol that one was confessing their sinfulness and their wanting to be washed clean. BUT the symbol of water can not clean the soul.
NOTICE also that there is but ONE Spirit, not three. ONE God, not three.
If one has given their life to The Lord Jesus and confessed their sin to Him and He is living inside of them, then what could being dipped in water possibly add to His presence.
Some may seek water, I will seek The Lord Jesus.
Water is part of His creation and it can not save. Water can clean the flesh, but it can not cleanse our soul or bring life to our spirit.
We are to worship the Creator NOT His creation.
How could being baptized in water save ? Does water have some magical power ? That is believing in witchcraft.
OR does someone claim that when one OBEYS the Lord by being baptized in water it saves. That is being saved by obedience, OR being saved by obeying a law. The law can not save, as written in The Book above, there is ONE FAITH. That is FAITH in Jesus.
Faith is water can not save. Faith is obedience can not save. Faith is some group (church) or faith is some leader can not save.
There is ONE FAITH and that is faith is Christ, OR TRUSTING in Christ to save us. As we are told in Colossians:
Colossians 1
15 Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God. He existed before God made anything at all, and, in fact, 16Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory. 17He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together. 18He is the Head of the body made up of his people —that is, his Church —which he began; and he is the Leader of all those who arise from the dead, so that he is first in everything; 19 for God wanted all of himself to be in his Son.
20It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him —all things in heaven and on earth —for Christ’s death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies and hated him and were separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. 22 He has done this through the death on the cross of his own human body, and now as a result Christ has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are standing there before him with nothing left against you —nothing left that he could even chide you for; 23 the only condition is that you fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you. This is the wonderful news that came to each of you and is now spreading all over the world. And I, Paul, have the joy of telling it to others.
The word ONLY is an adverb from the word ONE. There is ONE condition to being saved.
Is that ONE condition to be dipped in water. Or is that one condition to trust Jesus to save you ?
If water baptism was necessary to be saved, then why is it not even mentioned in the passage above ?
Water baptism can not save, just as being circumcised in the flesh can not save. ( but we must be circumcised in our hearts). Also having the elders lay hands on you can not save you. Joining some group ( church ) can not save anyone. ( but everyone that is saved is part of the true Church ) No man can make anyone part of The true church of The Lord Jesus. Only The Lord can make you part of His church.
Some may trust in water, I will trust in Jesus.
I believe The Creator is much greater than anything that He created.
Yes, one MUST BE BAPTIZED TO BE SAVED. But that ONE baptism is the baptism of His Holy Spirit.
Lou Newton
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