squint
Well-Known Member
Your use of the thief on the cross does not work. Baptism is the sybolism of Christ's death, and resurrection, you can not have a symbol of something before it has happened.
Many symbols of Him were provided well in advance of the events of Him. An entire O.T. worth.
Baptism is viewed by so many in so many different ways. Some say like you, that it is 'symbolic.' When we step onto the grounds of the 'symbolic' that opens up a wide field of views. Some say it is a must do physical action.
Having been baptised along the trail by at least 3 or more variations (just to make sure... ) I have to say that all the 'methodologies' did not provide some magical transformation other than to wet my skin in various ways. But NEVER did I hear one baptiser tell me that when any person is IMMERSED into the WATER of the WORD they come out TOTALLY CLEAN of SINS. Hence BAPTISM in squints understanding as a reality of the symbol of physical baptism but far more a reality that transpires when we ARE IMMERSED into HIS LIVING WORDS.
Is there MORE to the disclosures in the IMMERSION into His Words? Yes. Far more and continually ongoing.
The physical event is an expression of the reality of certain WORD FACTS but the WORD FACTS do not change for lack of physical expression. By the physical expression we are saying that WE KNOW the FACTS as a reality in our hearts.
So, let's all fight about it? Let's ALL condemn each other to HELL over ALL the petty intricacies of the ways and means and various incantations? Yeah, makes sense to me...not.
IF the River of Life is IN US we all make busy washing others and no, not with WATER.
John 4:2
Though Jesus himself baptized not
John the Baptist delivered a little water to some others at the banks of the Jordan here as well:
"And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits-"
The Word is an interesting event. For every man that picks up Gods Words to condemn another person, that SAME WORD will quickly turn upon their own heads.
How many different DENOMS 'baptise' in their OWN NAMES and in their OWN FORMATS? I feel free to observe that ALL of them do, even though this is FORBIDDEN by Paul, and Paul himself was thankful he didn't get caught up in that MESS:
1 Cor. 1:
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Today believers are baptised under the name of Luther or of Calvin or of the Pope or of whoever and whatever DIVISION...and they do so in the POWER of DIVISION proving Gods Word to be TRUE to DIVIDE them all away from each other rather than to JOIN all into HIM.
enjoy!
squint
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