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Some thoughts to consider on baptism There is no mention of any blessing that is connected with baptism that is not also given at the point of faith. If baptism gives salvation then one only needs water and does not need the blood of Jesus, it is either one or the other; it’s not both. In Scripture A person was notto be baptized unless they repented and believed the gospel FIRST , believing that Jesus Christ is the Lord who died for their sins. This makes it impossible for them to be baptized by water to be saved, when one needs to be saved first to be baptized. If anyone were pronounced saved by their faith before baptism then baptism is clearly not part of the gospel. Baptism is not the gospel because it is a physical work of man, it is a act of obedience, after salvation. The gospel is something you believe and trust in (Christs crucifixion and resurrection) not something you physically do. Belief, trust is what is needed to accept the gospel, it is not by our work (Eph.2:10), even if we are told to do it. “To believe” (have faith) is used 240 times in the New Testament in relation to receiving salvation, this belief/ faith has one enter into covenant. The Hebrew word for covenant, berith, occurs over 280 times in the Old Testament. The translators of the Old Testament into the Greek Septuagint chose the Greek word diatheke in place of the Hebrew berith. In the New Testament diatheke occurs 33 times. The term "testament" (as in "Last Will and Testament") is used in some translations of the New Testament 13 times to translate the word diatheke. The New Covenant rests upon the death of the one who died for your sin, that is God who became flesh and gave his life, shedding his human blood (which is the new covenant) It is always a believers baptism, water does not communicate salvation, neither is the blood found in the water. The blood saves because it is from the body of the savior who died for sin, who is God. This is whom the gospel is focused on. It is the person of Christ and his life being given, (the life is in the blood according to the Scripture). Otherwise the water becomes the savior and not the blood shed on the cross which negates Christ alone being the savior. He did not make the way through the water. The Bible teaches the way to the Father was through the Son by the crucifixion, by his sacrifice. If baptism saved you then Jesus is not the way. Water cleanses the body from the outside. The blood of Christ the sacrifice of God to the Father cleanses us from the inside, our conscience (Heb.9:14; 10:22; 1Pt.3:21). Heb. 9:11: “ But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation .” This is stressing the point of the work of God and not of man. Water being a part of creation cannot transmit any spiritual benefit to us. Believers are already saved and are willing to be baptized to put a seal on what they have already committed. You wouldn’t choose to be baptized unless you were saved. Water does not bring forgiveness (Heb.9) the shed blood does, water does not cleanse our sins, the shed blood does (1 Jn.1:9). The blood is the only cleanser for our sin (Rom.5:9; 1 Cor.11:25; Col.1:14; Eph.1:7; Heb.9:14,20;10:19;1 Pt.1:19; 1Jn.1:7). Keeping faith, trusting, and holding to the gospel proves that you are saved (1 Cor.15:1-4). Claiming that water brought salvation proves you have not accepted nor hold to the gospel that does save. |
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