What is the good of belief without a corresponding action?
As James said, "faith without works is dead". However, many misunderstand what James meant. He sure didn't mean works are necessary for salvation. Or he would have actually said that.
He meant that unless a believer demonstrates his faith towards others, others will NOT SEE his faith. Consider this:
James 2:18 - But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Unfortunately, the quote marks are misplaced in this translation.
In fact, in biblehub.com, of 29 English translations, only 11 are translated this way. In 18 translations, there either aren't any quote marks (Greeks didn't use quote marks) or the end quote mark is at the end of the sentence.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."
Why is this important? Because if the end quote mark is just after "I have deeds", the verse makes no sense.
So, the majority of translations have it correct. The "someone" says both sentences. He is making the point that one cannot "show you my faith" if that "someone" doesn't have deeds.
iow, it takes deeds to demonstrate one's faith. God doesn't need deeds to know a person has faith. But humans do.
I said:
"Peter taught that water baptism doesn't save, but is a SYMBOL of what does save: baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is totally different than getting wet."
We've already been through this.
1 Pet 3:21 - and
this water (the literal water like that of the Noaic flood) symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
The red words refer to literal water, from v.20 and the Noaic flood, which, btw, KILLED everyone who was immersed in it. Hardly a salvation baptism.
The blue words show what literal water SYMBOLIZES; the baptism that DOES save you. That would be the Holy Spirit. Just as John the baptizer said:
Mark 1:8 - I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
One would have to be blind not to see that John's baptism was with water and Jesus' baptism was with the Holy Spirit, not with water.
I'm glad the jailer isn't here to read of your attack on his faith.
Please explain how I have attacked his faith. And quit your ad hominem.
I said:
"Holy Spirit baptism is a real identification with Christ."
Why do you offer so much without a scriptural basis?
Where is your proof?
lol. You're the one without any evidence from Scripture for your opinions.
I've already explained this to you, but here goes again. I hope you are paying attention.
The Greek word baptizo meant to dip in water. Yup. It was used for dipping white cloth into a vat of dye, to change the color of the cloth. The word became to mean to "identify with something else".
I don't you don't believe anything I say, so research it for yourself. I kid you not.
"Identification with Christ"? Sounds like the deadly "man's wisdom" without scriptural backing.
Said the man without biblical wisdom. Or evidence.
Consider what Paul said:
Rom 6:4 - We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Did you die when you were immersed? How silly.
Col 2:12 - having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Did you share Jesus' burial tomb with Him? The verse SAYS you were.
It is clear to most people that water baptism is a picture, a symbol, of our baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Why didn't your "methods" work for the Samaritans, Cornelius, or the twelve at Ephesus?
Why do you say they don't? What are you trying to get at?
And why do you say anything about "my methods"?
You just keep making up stuff, don'tcha.