What is a church?
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I agree. My applying that
Baptism is only for BELIEVERS, not unbelievers, as Acts 8: 36-37 clearly teaches. What to do to be saved is clearly taught by Jesus in the first part of Mark 16:16. The second part about unbelief is not for anyone wanting to be saved. The second part of that verse in no way negates what Jesus said when He said that belief AND baptism is what it takes to save a person.
Baptism is only for BELIEVERS, not unbelievers, as Acts 8: 36-37 clearly teaches. What to do to be saved is clearly taught by Jesus in the first part of Mark 16:16. The second part about unbelief is not for anyone wanting to be saved. The second part of that verse in no way negates what Jesus said when He said that belief AND baptism is what it takes to save a person.
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Yes, but the canonization of the Bible was like making sausage, so we must think that God guided the process so that it is sufficiently inspired to accomplish His POS, but not that it does not contain some problematic passages, such as MK 16:9-20, which has a footnote explaining that it is not well-attested (and so we should not handle asps or drink poison).
Where do you find baptism in the Holy Spirit? What is it and where is it found scripturally? What baptized believers receive is baptism into Christ, thereby receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Spirit (Acts2:38). So, where is it you find that we all are somehow baptized in the Spirit, or is this what you mean; and if so, all who are baptized receive it, contrary to your statement that "not everyone will experience a baptism in the Holy Spirit"?
And BS is self defining (broccoli soup).
And BS is self defining (broccoli soup).
It's not a physical immersion in water that reconciles you to God.
It's what the water baptism represents that matters and not the ritual itself.
A person is baptized as a sign that they believe, that they trust Jesus.
A public proclamation that their sin is washed away in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
They rise from the baptism as a new creation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:21
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh,
but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here is an example below of how Christian rituals get blown out of proportion.
In the first century, Christians would gather to break bread. Before the eleventh century, there
was a huge ongoing debate about whether the bread, should be leavened bread or unleavened bread.
How the bread was made became a key point of division that precipitated the greatest church split
in Christian history. The western church (Catholic) used unleavened bread.
Whereas the eastern church (Orthodox) used leavened bread.
There were other major differences also but the debate above illustrates the profound depth
of man's corrupt nature. Christians lack the ability to distinguish ritual from faith.
Was there debate about variations in the ritual of water baptism?
Will it be a water baptism of affusion?
How about a water baptism by aspersion?
Better still a water baptism by full immersion?
Should infants be baptized?
I even wonder if you attend a church whose name is based on baptism?
Was the church ever interested in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
It's what the water baptism represents that matters and not the ritual itself.
A person is baptized as a sign that they believe, that they trust Jesus.
A public proclamation that their sin is washed away in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
They rise from the baptism as a new creation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:21
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh,
but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here is an example below of how Christian rituals get blown out of proportion.
In the first century, Christians would gather to break bread. Before the eleventh century, there
was a huge ongoing debate about whether the bread, should be leavened bread or unleavened bread.
How the bread was made became a key point of division that precipitated the greatest church split
in Christian history. The western church (Catholic) used unleavened bread.
Whereas the eastern church (Orthodox) used leavened bread.
There were other major differences also but the debate above illustrates the profound depth
of man's corrupt nature. Christians lack the ability to distinguish ritual from faith.
Was there debate about variations in the ritual of water baptism?
Will it be a water baptism of affusion?
How about a water baptism by aspersion?
Better still a water baptism by full immersion?
Should infants be baptized?
I even wonder if you attend a church whose name is based on baptism?
Was the church ever interested in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The purpose of baptism is not a public proclamation. When the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized it wasn't for that reason, and it was in the middle of nowhere in the presence of no one, just he and Philip.
And the question as to how to baptize or by what means, or variation, is/was a silly one. The word itself in the Greek addresses that. It was and still is a stupid argument causing problems today in "Christianity".
Likewise, the question pertaining to baptism of infants is equally stupid.
Infants can't believe, confess, repent, and are without sin.
And you really didn't address the question about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There is only one baptism, in water by immersion, and anyone being baptized receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, that's everyone, not a select few, and that's it. No outward sign, only the indwelling of the Spirit in each and every baptized believer.
And the question as to how to baptize or by what means, or variation, is/was a silly one. The word itself in the Greek addresses that. It was and still is a stupid argument causing problems today in "Christianity".
Likewise, the question pertaining to baptism of infants is equally stupid.
Infants can't believe, confess, repent, and are without sin.
And you really didn't address the question about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There is only one baptism, in water by immersion, and anyone being baptized receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, that's everyone, not a select few, and that's it. No outward sign, only the indwelling of the Spirit in each and every baptized believer.