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Good grief... I thought you knew me better than that.... or are you just wanting to make a point?
I have never claimed that we (I) can live sinless lives. We (I) fail every day to live sinless lives.
What I was talking about was deliberate refusal to obey Jesus command to be baptized. I fully expect every saved believer to fail during their walk with God to obey all commands... but, if you know Jesus commanded baptism, and you willingly accept Jesus as your savior, but REFUSE to be baptized? I would have to question whether that person was truly giving their life to Jesus.
I mean, if you refuse to obey from the "get-go".....
If it is an optional kind of thing, why did Jesus command it? Why did the apostles command/expect it?
How far are you willing to go, to try to "prove" that baptism isn't important? I am not willing to do that. I'd much rather take Jesus command at face value, and not try to parse it down to "how much can I get away with" .... that smacks of the Pharisees tithing even their spices... or asking "how many times are we required to forgive someone"....
I have never claimed that we (I) can live sinless lives. We (I) fail every day to live sinless lives.
What I was talking about was deliberate refusal to obey Jesus command to be baptized. I fully expect every saved believer to fail during their walk with God to obey all commands... but, if you know Jesus commanded baptism, and you willingly accept Jesus as your savior, but REFUSE to be baptized? I would have to question whether that person was truly giving their life to Jesus.
I mean, if you refuse to obey from the "get-go".....
If it is an optional kind of thing, why did Jesus command it? Why did the apostles command/expect it?
How far are you willing to go, to try to "prove" that baptism isn't important? I am not willing to do that. I'd much rather take Jesus command at face value, and not try to parse it down to "how much can I get away with" .... that smacks of the Pharisees tithing even their spices... or asking "how many times are we required to forgive someone"....
One of these days people will understand, that even though I KNOW (at least I think) what you believe, other people do not. So when anyone comes into a place, and says baptism is REQUIRED, and then says it does not save you. You just contradicted yourself. (At least to people who do not know you)
Thats why people like me have to come in and question what you say. So they understand,
the truth is, those who have true faith will get baptised. Maybe not immediately (some have no access immediately) as well as do other things God commands us to do.
what they will not do is be perfect. So to claim one who has not been baptised right away is lost. Is the same as saying if they have not done (insert any command God gives) right away they would be saved.
ie. No one could be saved, Because we ALL have our struggles in certain areas (some do to fear of public do not get bastpised just because of this, it is not they do no0t want to , they are afraid to get in front of anyone, And that would be for anything n ot just baptism.
I have seen it take people years to get baptised because of this, then after they take that step they start praying publically, and their public shyness starts to wither.
Anyone who judges these people because they did get baptised right away. That's just wrong, period.