RaptureTicketHolder said:
Ive posted this in a twin string, but Ill paste in here as well.
Welcome to the discussion, I'm glad that you're hear and are willing to talk about spiritual things with the rest of us!
IS BAPTISM A MUST? Not quite.
This is a bold claim to make. Claiming that anying is or isn't necessary for our salvation is a bold claim simply because of what we're dealing with - eternity. I noticed that you have posted no scripture in support of this bold statement, and when we're dealing with anything spiritual, this is a necessity. If you wouldn't mind posting some Scriptures to support your point of view, that would be wonderful and greatly appreciated!
I think baptism is like the current day wedding ceremony. Are you married because you have walked down the isle in a white dress, or tux?
This example actually works contrary to what you are trying prove here, Rapture
. You are only married because it is something that God has established for mankind. Just as one needs to be baptized because it is something that God has said is necessary.
It is something you do in following Christ's example and indeed a blessed and wonderful event.
This is something that I hear quite frequently when people are discussing baptism - and unfortunately no one ever discusses or posts a Scripture reference specifically and exclusively stating that we need to be baptized
only because Chirst was baptized. You also have to remember that Christ was baptized with the baptism of John, and this is something that those who wish to become Christians are not commanded to do.
But, think of this the next time you tell someone BAPTISM IS A MUST - you just might cause them to NOT become Christian - here is why:
How far are you willing to go in compromising the gospel of Christ
??? What if confessing Christ as Lord was too much for someone? Should we just get rid of that, too? What if repenting of one's former ways was too much for someone? Should we toss that aside as well? What if someone decided that this whole "faith thing" was just too much? Why don't we just get rid of that as well?
The point is that the gospel cannot be changed just to suit what someone else wants or desires. Christ came and died for our sins, and if we would only do what He has said is necessary then we might be saved. We can't change the gospel because someone doesn't like it. If we change the gospel then we have no gospel at all.
This is all I'm going to quote from your story. Others can just go back to read it. This was a nice heartwarming story. Unfortunately, this is not what the Bible teaches. It would be sad for Joe to go through his whole life and then wind up missing heaven. Again, unfortunately, there are many people who do this. This is why it is so important for us to do what God says as soon as we hear the Truth. Is Joe in heaven or in hell? I don't know, because frankly I'm not God. I don't have to make those decisions, I can't make those decisions and
neither can you. That is not our place. What we can do, however, is be obedient to the things that God has told us we need to do. Baptism is one of those things.
Im curious how you equate baptism as salvation? It seems to me the verse in Mark is talking about NON-Believers. Tell me, when a person is scheduled for a baptism, but dies before the date, what happened to the committment made that resulted in the baptism appointment? Do you really believe that person goes to Hell thanks to ill timing?
Baptism is not equated with salvation. Belief and baptism are equated with salvation. Just like Christ Himself says in Mark 16:16.
Come on..... Mark's verse is about two seperat groups, those saved and those not. The assumption is baptism, as like Christ. But the equation is actually committment.
Then why didn't Christ say, "He who believes and is committed shall be saved." ? That's just not the way it works. Christ outlined what was necessary - belief and baptism.
