Are little babies that die saved? Are they not a perfect illustration of the bare minimum? They have no cognitive ability to understand what baptism means. They don't have the ability to repent. Does a baby repent and or let Jesus into his/her heart? Does a baby say the "sinners" prayer? Does a baby confess? Does a baby have faith? Does a baby go to church? Babies are illiterate. They can't read the bible. Can a baby that basically took a couple of breaths and then went to be with the lord offer or point to a single thing other than his lack of transgressions that might save him? Are babies rapture believers or staunch supporters of a highly specific and comprehensive set of doctrines? Do babies keep the commands? Do babies love (think of pre-term babies)? Are babies born again?...
If you believe that God doesn't send babies to the Lake of Fire then you pretty much have a great illustration of what is essential. God's judgment.
Having said that... non-essential is more fun. Is baptism required for salvation? Yes. Is baptism required for salvation? No. Why? Because Jesus said we have to but if we haven't and God so chooses to work outside of his model and saves us anyway, I don't think anyone will complain. Does it mean that baptism is not there for our salvation? No.
And you can do this with pretty much everything God tells us to do, and there are a lot of people that are catching onto this little logic loop-hole and exploiting the monkeys out of it. It's bananas. They ask themselves, can I find a way that God will save despite what God said was required of me in order to be saved. Hm, yep!
If nothing is essential except for God's judgment then everything is non-essential. However, if you are not a new-born baby then you can pretty much expect that you are required to do the works of faith (yes, I know, I said works of faith. there's no difference between works and faith. they're the same thing. faith IS a work. As is prayer, worship, reading yer bibles, fellowship, going to church, baptism, chrismation, fasting and love. Love is not static, it's an action. Love is not a feeling or emotion, it's an action - a work). Faith IS work. Works ARE faith.
John 6:28-29
28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
I'm not accusing anyone in here of finding loop-holes to exploit, but whenever we start boiling things down, feels like we're flirting with disaster.
God bless
If you believe that God doesn't send babies to the Lake of Fire then you pretty much have a great illustration of what is essential. God's judgment.
Having said that... non-essential is more fun. Is baptism required for salvation? Yes. Is baptism required for salvation? No. Why? Because Jesus said we have to but if we haven't and God so chooses to work outside of his model and saves us anyway, I don't think anyone will complain. Does it mean that baptism is not there for our salvation? No.
And you can do this with pretty much everything God tells us to do, and there are a lot of people that are catching onto this little logic loop-hole and exploiting the monkeys out of it. It's bananas. They ask themselves, can I find a way that God will save despite what God said was required of me in order to be saved. Hm, yep!
If nothing is essential except for God's judgment then everything is non-essential. However, if you are not a new-born baby then you can pretty much expect that you are required to do the works of faith (yes, I know, I said works of faith. there's no difference between works and faith. they're the same thing. faith IS a work. As is prayer, worship, reading yer bibles, fellowship, going to church, baptism, chrismation, fasting and love. Love is not static, it's an action. Love is not a feeling or emotion, it's an action - a work). Faith IS work. Works ARE faith.
John 6:28-29
28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
I'm not accusing anyone in here of finding loop-holes to exploit, but whenever we start boiling things down, feels like we're flirting with disaster.
God bless
