let us go to heaven together.
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Thanks all for your reply God bless you... Could you explain why Jesus said that before one could receive salvation he must believe and be baptized? Mark 16:16. Could you explain why Peter told the Jews to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins? Acts 2:37-38. Can one sins be forgiven without baptism? Can one call on the name of Lord without baptism? Acts 22:16.
Is there any scripture references attested to the fact that baptism is just for symbolic and not for salvation?
While baptism in and of itself isnt necessary for salvation its actually a component of salvation. Of course everyone that goes for a swim or dives underwater is not a christian. One must first repent and believe the gospel.
However Without baptism of the holy spirit one does not have the new life necessary to live out a christian life. One can be a disciple, (student) but one doesnt have the power to witness. This is why Jesus commissioned the apostles to spread the word so that people repent and believe, and baptise others in His name. When one is given the gift of the holy spirit one is spiritually added to the church and becomes the body of Christ. One cant be a christian by simply attending a church. One cannot be a christian by agreeing with a church doctrine. Or being married in a church or being raised in a church. That is being just being a churchgoer or nominal christian. One one needs to be saved and born again.
Miracles happen when one believes, people can be healed and set free. The gift of salvation is synomonous with the gift of the holy spirit...this is what Jesus promised that the will dwell within us, our bodies being temples of the holy spirit. How does the Holy spirit actually enter our bodies? We can receive by being laid hands on by believers and breathing...and that is via baptism in Jesus name.
The holy spirit can be likened to the breath of heaven from GOd inside of us.
However Without baptism of the holy spirit one does not have the new life necessary to live out a christian life. One can be a disciple, (student) but one doesnt have the power to witness. This is why Jesus commissioned the apostles to spread the word so that people repent and believe, and baptise others in His name. When one is given the gift of the holy spirit one is spiritually added to the church and becomes the body of Christ. One cant be a christian by simply attending a church. One cannot be a christian by agreeing with a church doctrine. Or being married in a church or being raised in a church. That is being just being a churchgoer or nominal christian. One one needs to be saved and born again.
Miracles happen when one believes, people can be healed and set free. The gift of salvation is synomonous with the gift of the holy spirit...this is what Jesus promised that the will dwell within us, our bodies being temples of the holy spirit. How does the Holy spirit actually enter our bodies? We can receive by being laid hands on by believers and breathing...and that is via baptism in Jesus name.
The holy spirit can be likened to the breath of heaven from GOd inside of us.
I think people accuse others of what is actually in the bible but give it a fancy name distinguish themselves from it.
For example. People that obey and get baptised or baptise others get accused of teaching baptismal regeneration, as if they dont preach the gospel first. Wonder what people accused John the baptist of then.
People that talk about the good works God ordains us and obeying Him in this area seem to get accused of preaching works salvation. Well the entire book of Acts show people acting through the holy spirit it wasnt called 'the book of doing nothing'
People that dare praising God out loud in an unknown tongue get accused of being drunk or babbling.
For example. People that obey and get baptised or baptise others get accused of teaching baptismal regeneration, as if they dont preach the gospel first. Wonder what people accused John the baptist of then.
People that talk about the good works God ordains us and obeying Him in this area seem to get accused of preaching works salvation. Well the entire book of Acts show people acting through the holy spirit it wasnt called 'the book of doing nothing'
People that dare praising God out loud in an unknown tongue get accused of being drunk or babbling.
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The above link, "How does one become a Christian" would take you this this article below...
After Jesus has done so much to make salvation possible, why are so many lost anyway? Why only few become Christians and live as Christians? Beloved, there is difference between living as a Christian and becoming a Christian. One must first become a Christian in order to live as a Christian.
Friends, becoming a Christian has now aroused much controversy among the Christendom in this 21st century. The word, “Christian” is often misused and abused by so many people today. These are what religious leaders say when you sincerely ask them how does one become a Christian;
- One becomes a Christian by becoming a member of a church
- One must be “baptized” as a baby to become a Christian.
- One must be “confirmed” at age 12 or 13 to become a Christian.
- One must lead a moral lifestyle to become a Christian.
- One must regularly go to church and is thus a Christian.
- One must read the Bible regularly and this will make you a Christian.
- One must “invite Jesus into his heart” to become a Christian.
- One must repeat “the sinner’s prayer” after a pastor to become a Christian.
- One must prefer “Christian things, books, TV programs, and this will make you a Christian
- One must be visited by an angel or Jesus Himself to become a Christian.
- One must hear the voice of Jesus to become a Christian
- One must have a spiritual feeling in the heart to be considered a Christian.
Beloved, many people can arrive at some very unusual, even strange, ways to connect to God and assume that he or she has become a Christian. God is the ultimate Author of the Bible; therefore, we must go to the source and ask: “How people became Christians in the first century?”
In the Bible, in the New Testament, the first century people became Christians because they Heard the gospel message – Rom 10:17.
They became Christians because they Believed the gospel message preached to them – Heb. 11:6; John 1:12-13; John 3:16; Acts 2:44.
They became Christians because they Repented from their sins – Acts 2:38, 41; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30. Salvation is not possible without repentance!
They became Christians because they Confessed Christ before men – Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9, 10; Acts 8:37. Salvation is not possible without confession!
They became Christians because they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins – Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:27. Salvation is not possible without baptism.
Truly, my friends, in Galatians 3:27, Paul said, “As many of us as” is conditional. There are no unbaptized Christians because it is through baptism that a believer enters Christ. He is baptized into Christ. He is baptized into His death. In baptism the believer is united with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ! – Rom. 6:3-5. From baptism he rises to walk in newness of life by living a Christ-like life (Christian)!
It is regrettable that in our time many who call themselves Christians do not really believe much of anything from the Bible! The first Christians had an action faith that conquered the world – Acts 11:26. Beloved, are you ready to surrender and humbly submit yourself to him by obeying His saving gospel? Or will you reject the truth and continue yourself-chosen and self-deceived way? May the Lord be with you and give you wisdom to make the right choice – Deut. 30:19……. Amen!
