Petro
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« Reply #185 on: January 11, 2004, 12:10:40 PM » |
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Good question, what do the scriptures say;
1 Pet 3 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 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:
Col 2 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Water is not in view here at all, it is only symbolically used to point out the true baptism which saves, and it is in nothing other than FAITH in operation of God the Holy Spirit who seals the believers.
Should believers be watrer baptised, yes; is it a essential to be saved, NO, because the outward sign of watewr baptism is that of giving public testimony, unfortunately this is lost in the ceremony of the way water baptisms are held today, they are not public at all, they usually are done in the privacy of a church building, not openly for the world to see.
Blessings, Petro
Blessings, Petro
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