Originally Posted by sreno7 So instead of adherency or soldiership one could just give their testimony as a public statement of their faith.
Yea, I would say that was a fair enough comment. I mean, what is a public statement of your faith?
A fish bumper sticker?
Testimony in a meeting?
Adding your view as a Christian to discussions at work/school etc?
A tee shirt with a CXheristian message?
The list could go on ad infinitum.
There are countless ways of making a public affirmation of your faith.
So, in that context, I wouldn't just associate Baptism with being a public faith statement, although it undoubtadly is one. But it is a great deal more as well.
When we are saved, we are 'born again', and our sins are washed away. It's God saying "Ok Andy, you screwed up real bad, but lets draw a line in the sand and start again. Whats gone is gone."
Baptism is like a physical representation of that new relationship with God. The water washes us clean.
So, although it does publically affirm our faith, it is usually in front of people who already know that we are Christians.
Taking on board what Dani said about John 3:16, I believe that is correct.
WHOSOEVER believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life. Nobody ever got saved by being Baptised. Only a one to one relationship with Jesus can do that. The Baptism is that new life in physical form.
I know that many Christians could take me to task on my rather simplistic view, but I really don't believe that getting into such areas as a state of Grace, and other heavy theology, is really going to help this discussion. As Christians we are guilty far too often of making out faith way too complicated.
Originally Posted by sreno7 WHenever I have asked at the army about Baptism I am always told that they were never intending to be a church therefore didn't do those things.
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Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender. --A. W. Tozer
Error>Reality.sys:File not found> Re-install Universe & Reboot
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