1.A question asked about Baptism
QUESTION:
Can you show me any where in the bible where it says
that you are saved first, then get baptized?
Because in my bible is says that you believe
and get baptized then you are saved.
(Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21)
Most assuredly, If one is not baptized in the name of Jesus,
(Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5, 22:16, Col.3:17)
then the baptism is not valid.
(Acts 4:12, Gal.3:27).
A Pastors ANSWER:
At Pentecost, those present were impressed
by the spiritual power of the Apostles.
They asked how they could receive similar power.
They were told to repent
(repent and belief are fruits of each other),
be baptized, and they would realize the benefits
of a Spirit-filled life.
So to get the Holy Ghost one must believe
AND THEN be baptized.
Paul was asked by the Philippian jailer
how to be saved.
Note, he was NOT asked how to get the Holy Ghost.
The questions in these passages are not the same.
The Philippian jailer only wanted salvation
and so he asked and Paul said,
"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
THEN LATER he was baptized.
John asked for fruits of repentance
(salvation) and THEN he baptized.
The Etheopian Enich was first saved,
THEN LATER baptized.
Please read your Bible more carefully in the future
since you are obviously so deeply entrenched
in a theological system that you are missing blatantly
obvious Bible incidents.
Rule #1- The simple interpretation based on a literal rendering of the passage
is almost always the correct one.
Do NOT go looking for complicated explanations
and "doctrines" when simple answers are
easily found in scripture.
Also notice that in Mark 16:16 Jesus said,
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Why did He not say instead that he who is not baptized is damned?
It can be taken for granted
that a true believer will be baptized.
But the damnation, if it is to come,
will be because of a lack of faith,
not for lack of baptism.
You are making claims for this passage that simply are not there.
Nowhere in the passage does it say
that those not baptized are lost.
It ONLY says unbelievers are lost.
2.Their Redeemer [is] strong.
I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins.--I have laid help
upon [one that is] mighty.--Thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of
Jacob.--Mighty to save.--Able to keep you from falling.--Where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.--He is able . . . to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jer 50:34 Am 5:12 Ps 89:19 Isa 49:26 63:1 Jude 1:24 Ro 5:20 Joh 3:18 Heb 7:25 Isa 50:2 Ro 8:35,38,39
Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and
ye shall find rest unto your souls.--Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of
me.--Christ . . . suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
his steps:
Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into [this]
world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and
raiment let us be therewith content.
I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
Jer 45:5 Mt 11:29 Php 2:5-8 Mt 10:38 1Pe 2:21 1Ti 6:6-8 Php 4:11
See: Luke 14:28-33; Phil 3:7-8
Samuel Logan Brengle
a leader of the Salvation Army said these challenging words:
"Spiritual authority and power is never won by
promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is
attained by confessions of sin, and much heart-
searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender,
a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold,
deathless, uncompromising and uncomplaining
embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering
looking unto the crucified Jesus.
It is not gained by seeking great things
for ourselves, but rather, just like Paul, by
counting those things that are gain to us as
loss for Christ. That is a great price, but it must
be unflinchingly paid by him who would be not merely a nominal but
a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power
is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell."
