Please clarify something. Are you referring to water baptism when you say you were baptized in Jesus' name in front of the whole church?
How do you get saved?
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Jimbone,
I know that many will disagree with me, but I do not put much importance in being baptized following coming to faith in Christ. It is OK for a non-believer to be baptized, even as a child, as a promise that they are being set aside and belong to the Lord.
This in no way means that they are saved due to this action. It is done in the hope that later they will grow in faith and be baptized by the Spirit, the only one who can give them a new heart.
In Catholicism for instance, they do believe that infant baptism is unto salvation. In fact when I experienced my conversion close to 20 years ago and was planning to get baptized, my mother and my oldest brother both asked me why, since of course they knew I had been baptized as a baby... Also I do agree with you that dedications of infants unto the Lord are lovely celebrations for congregants to enjoy together.
Only through Christ Jesus can someone obtain eternal life. No one is saved by the keeping of law nor by the keeping of commandment because they are law or commandment. Salvation is given to those who are completely underserving of it as a free gift from an exceedingly merciful and gracious God.
I agree!
Even the best of Christians can never keep the law perfectly. That's where grace comes in, through our trust in the work that Christ has done on our behalf.
When we look within we are beating ourselves up which puts our assurance in doubt. We begin doubting our standing and relationship with God. We are setting a bar too high to overcome in our own strength. I know this to be true because I struggle with this myself from time to time.
However, if we look to Christ, if we thank Him for the forgiveness that only He can provide, if we ask to be strengthened to overcome our sins – then He will certainly hear our pleadings.
Thank you for your posts! I always enjoy them!
Thanks (I think). But is there anything that you would expect to be new to the gospel and the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus? It has always been and will always be what it is now, and it cannot be added to. However, I've found that what should be obvious in it, often isn't. Some don't recognize its "by grace" part, which is one of salvation's pillars. Should someone speak about being saved through their keeping of the law or commandments, as Disciple003 (at least) seems to believe (and hence my reply to him), then apparently, it isn't obvious to him. It therefore becomes our responsibility to bring to light the obvious of the gospel in order to edify, wouldn't you agree? So, by saying "anything new other than obvious stuff", what else would you expect to find mentioned that could be of greater significance or of greater importance, than of salvation solely by God's grace? So, with that, I'll just say that whenever I happen to read a post that speaks about our works as a requirement to become saved, rest assured, that there will be a very high likelihood that I will repeat myself time and time again about God's grace, no matter how redundant it may seem to others.
To understand what the vision that Peter saw meant in Acts 10, you must understand the old Jewish law of Moses. For 1500 years the Jews thought gentiles were “unclean” people. They called them “dogs”. This reference is not about their salvation, it is about things that are forbidden by their law. When Peter came to Cornelius in verse 28, he said it was UNLAWFUL for a Jew to keep company with a gentile ( or even go into their house). This is why they were considered unclean, or not “lawful” company. It was socially unacceptable. It had nothing to do with whether they were cleaned from their sins. Jesus tried to show Peter in the vision that he was not to call any man COMMON or unclean based on their nationality. You might say the Jews were racists. They looked down on all gentiles. In the vision that Peter saw, were all kinds of unclean animals. These were animals that they were not to eat because they were “unclean”” acccording to their Jewish law.. Christ brought a law that replaced their Jewish law and He declared that people and animals were no longer “unclean” to the Jews. That’s why Peter said God has shown me that I should not call any one COMMON or UNCLEAN.
It did not mean that they were clean spiritually. It had nothing to do with removing their sins—only removing the “stigma” attached to them. God proved that these people were to also be partakers of the gospel when He miraculously poured out the Holy Spirit on them. It was a “sign” from God.
That’s why Peter commanded them to be baptized with the same baptism that he told to the 3000 Jews in chapter 2 verse 38–the baptism that would forgive their sins. THEN, theY would be clean spiritually as well as socially.
Actually,God has Baptised them in the holy Ghost.He washed them clean when he poured the spirit into them.
They were unclean , they were told the gospel ,believed and were Baptised in the holy Ghost by God.
It's the best feeling a person can experience.
I was sincere when asking if you were referring to water baptism in your post. I asked because many believe baptism in the name of Jesus is not water baptism. I just wanted clarification before answering your question. However, since I've received no response please consider the following:
I don't understand your being annoyed with what I shared concerning the NT rebirth. Especially since you've been obedient to the commands relative to the experience. Repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin, and receiving the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost is required of everyone regardless of the sequence in which they occur. All detailed accounts witness this to be true.
In the Samaritan account, the people knew that hadn't received the Holy Ghost even though they believed the gospel message and submitted to water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin. (This begs the question, How did they know the experience had not occurred?) Peter and John came days later to assist them in receiving the Holy Ghost; indicating both experiences were necessary. (Acts 8:12-17, 2:38, 22:16)
The Gentile account proved yet again both experiences were necessary. Even though they received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, they had to obey the water baptism command in order for their sins to be remitted. (Acts 10:43-48, 2:38, 22:16)
The account of the 12 Ephesian disciples sheds light on the same thing. It reveals all individuals must follow the instructions presented at Pentecost in order to acquire the NT rebirth. The 12 had submitted to John's baptism, yet were required to be re-baptized in water in the name of Jesus in association with His sacrifice. And, afterward Paul laid hands upon them and they received the Holy Ghost.
If you will recall, Jesus pointed out the need to lay a proper foundation AFTER telling a group of believers that He never knew them. (Matt. 7:21-27) That account is eye opening. The account as recorded in Luke gets more specific, it states a foundation must be LAID UPON the rock. (Luke 6:47-48)
The book of Hebrews reveals the foundation all must LAY UPON the rock. The rock being Jesus, the Cornerstone:
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again (this indicates it must be laid) the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." Heb 6:1-2
Note the striking parallel as seen in all detailed conversion accounts: (Acts 2:4, 36-42, 8:12-18, 9:17-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7, 22:16)
The gentiles did not need to be washed by Peter after God had washed them.
Three times God made it clear to Peter that what he washes is clean and that Peter should not treat them as if he had not cleaned them.
Peter did not need to wash those gentiles.
Water baptism will not clean you
you might as well get circumcized, it will have the same affect.
While you did an excellent job of showing the meaning of the passage here, you still cling to a ceremonial physical cleansing outwardly as a means to salvation. It's interesting that you understand that what goes into a man does not defile him, but what comes out of him, yet insist that an outward cleansing can cleanse him inwardly.
What's on the inside must be cleansed, and only the Spirit of God is meet for such a task.
Baptism is the
Romans 6:5
For if we have become united in the likeness of His death, certainly also we will be of the resurrection,
"His" being Jesus
And is the way one is
Colossians 2:11
having been buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the working of God, the One having raised Him out from the dead.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life
Thus being
Romans 6:5
For if we have become united in the likeness of His death, certainly also we will be of the resurrection,
SO THAT we are
Romans 6:5
For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
Colossians 2:12
And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Ephesians 2:6
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
If you, IN BAPTISM, [repent, confess Jesus Christ, and] believe
Colossians 2:12
And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Mark 16:15-16
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Thanks, as Paul said it in Phil 3, I never get tired of telling you, put no trust in flesh.
In regard to Romans 6:3-4, as Greek scholar AT Robertson explains - Baptism is the public proclamation of one's inward spiritual relation to Christ attained before the baptism. See on "Galatians 3:27" where it is like putting on an outward garment or uniform. Into his death (ei ton qanaton autou). So here "unto his death," "in relation to his death," which relation Paul proceeds to explain by the symbolism of the ordinance. The picture in baptism points two ways, backwards to Christ's death and burial and to our death to sin, forward to Christ's resurrection from the dead and to our new life pledged by the coming out of the watery grave to walk on the other side of the baptismal grave. There is the further picture of our own resurrection from the grave. It is a tragedy that Paul's majestic picture here has been so blurred by controversy that some refuse to see it. It should be said also that a symbol is not the reality, but the picture of the reality.
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/romans-6.html
Before mentioning baptism in chapter 6, Paul had repeatedly emphasized that faith (not baptism) is the instrumental cause of salvation/justification. (Romans 1:16, 3:22-30; 4:4-6, 13; 5:1) That is when the old man was put to death and united in the likeness of His death, which water baptism symbolizes and pictures. Righteousness is "imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised up because of our justification." (Romans 4:24,25)
Since believers receive the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection (justification) and that through faith, believers must be spiritually united to Him (delivered and raised up with Him). If baptism is taken as the instrumental cause, then Paul contradicts what he had established before, namely that justification is by faith, not baptism. *Hermeneutics. Paul clearly teaches that what is signified in baptism (buried and raised with Christ) actually occurs "through faith." Christians are "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12). Justification on account of union in Christ's death, burial and resurrection is brought about "through faith" - and is properly symbolized by dipping the new believer in and out of the water.
I have studied .God told Peter that he cleaned those gentiles and that Peter should not consider them unclean.
Why do you believe Peter needed to wash those gentiles after God washed them?
Do you also not get the message God was giving?
Acts 10:15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
The message is that what God has cleansed.Not what Peter has cleansed.
It the washing away of sin which God has performed on those gentiles that had made them clean.Not Peter washing them .