Using Ephesians 2:8-9 As A Pogo Stick To Easily Leap Over Baptism Verses

[1still_waters]

I'm concerned that many use verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 like a pogo stick to easily leap over and evade very serious and weighty verses on baptism. Such approaches end up redacting/trimming off the whole counsel of God.

If you're one of those who use verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 like a pogo stick to leap over and evade serious Bible verses on baptism, I strongly encourage you to slow down and reevaluate. You may in fact be guilty of trimming off and redacting part of the full counsel of God.

I'm talking about verses such as these.

1 Peter 3:21
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Acts 2:38
[SUP]38 [/SUP]And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:16
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned

John 3
[SUP]5 [/SUP]Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The below verse isn't a pogo stick so you can easily evade and dismiss the above verses.

Ephesians 2:8-9
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [SUP]9 [/SUP]not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [SUP]10 [/SUP]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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Remember this is about the whole counsel of God.

 

[Angela53510]

I have been thinking about your post, Still! I am a Baptist. Now, we are not saved by Baptist, according to church tradition, but it is expected that people will be baptized. Yet, although we have many new believers, no one but young children seem to want to take the step forward.

You are so right that this is a necessary step. This year, as a chaplain, I baptized a 93 year old woman in a wheelchair. It is never too late to take that step. And personally, I don't think it matters whether it is dipped, sprinkled or whatever.

Just do it!!