Is baptism necessary to be saved?

western kentucky said:

Gentle Panther,

Is that your guide? I do believe in an absolute truth, and anything that is contradictory to the word of God is wrong.

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Thanks for sharing your viewpoint and opinions. Many people feel that anything contradictory to the word of God is false.......but they interpret it different from you.

Rev. 22:18-19 says "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Western Kentucky

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And your reason for quoting the above scripture was? That passage is a warning not to add to the prophecies of the book of Revelation. Have I added something to the book of the Revelation?

Gentle Panther said:

But you "do what it says" according to your interpretation and opinion. You promote your interpretation as being the "only" one. There are millions of Christians all interpreting the bible in different ways than you. Are they all wrong?

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Gentle Panther,

If the bible said that there was "one faith," wouldn't that seem to answer your point about all the different interpretations?

Ephesians 4:5 says there is one faith.


Are there any examples of a Christian's interpretation (or understanding)being wrong?

Isn't Acts 15:1-2 an example of just that?

Unless I'm mistaken, Paul's rebuke of Peter in Galatians 2:11-16 would also be another example.

Was not Simon's understanding wrong in Acts 8:12-22?
And I couldn't help but notice the reading of Acts 8:12 "But when they believed . . . both men and women were baptized." NKJV Interesting!

FC

Gentle Panther said:

Have I added something to the book of the Revelation?

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No, but you have taken away from it when you said that the book was unimportant to you.

Gentle Panther said:

Thanks for sharing your viewpoint and opinions. Many people feel that anything contradictory to the word of God is false.......but they interpret it different from you.
And your reason for quoting the above scripture was? That passage is a warning not to add to the prophecies of the book of Revelation. Have I added something to the book of the Revelation?

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Panther,

While it is true that the Rev. 22:18-19 specifically forbids adding or subtracting to the book of Revelation itself, would not the same principle apply to other scriptures? If it doesn't, would it be okay to add or subtract to the other books?

I find Galatians 1:6-9 to be a companion passage to the principle that
we are considering in Rev. 22:18-19.

FC

Panther,

A sentence you posted on page 28:
Why must grace have strings attached?

I believe one answer to your question can be found in Joshua 6:1-21. God gave Jericho to the Israelites (vs. 2). Even though God gave them the city, were there some actions required of the Israelites?

FC

Florida College said:

Gentle Panther,

If the bible said that there was "one faith," wouldn't that seem to answer your point about all the different interpretations?

Ephesians 4:5 says there is one faith.


Are there any examples of a Christian's interpretation (or understanding)being wrong?

Isn't Acts 15:1-2 an example of just that?

Unless I'm mistaken, Paul's rebuke of Peter in Galatians 2:11-16 would also be another example.

Was not Simon's understanding wrong in Acts 8:12-22?
And I couldn't help but notice the reading of Acts 8:12 "But when they believed . . . both men and women were baptized." NKJV Interesting!

FC

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The problem is, the bible can be made to fit whatever you want it to. That's why there are so many different denominations.

heb12-2 said:

No, but you have taken away from it when you said that the book was unimportant to you.

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That's just your opinion, once again! Do you think I have the power to take away from the book of Revelation because I said it was "unimportant to me as this time".?

The book of Revelation is so full of metaphors and symbolism that it does not make sense. It has little meaning to me, for now.....other than the opinion I hold that if it's for real then all that is spoken of happened already.

Florida College said:

Panther,

While it is true that the Rev. 22:18-19 specifically forbids adding or subtracting to the book of Revelation itself, would not the same principle apply to other scriptures? If it doesn't, would it be okay to add or subtract to the other books?

I find Galatians 1:6-9 to be a companion passage to the principle that
we are considering in Rev. 22:18-19.

FC

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I have no interest in "adding" or "subtracting" from any scripture. They have enough contradictions on their own without me meddling.

Florida College said:

Panther,

A sentence you posted on page 28:
Why must grace have strings attached?

I believe one answer to your question can be found in Joshua 6:1-21. God gave Jericho to the Israelites (vs. 2). Even though God gave them the city, were there some actions required of the Israelites?

FC

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What?


Hey, what denomination are you guys?

Gentle Panther,

I notice that you speak a lot of the bible, but where are your references? If your going to speak, then speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet 4:11).

You say "They have enough contradictions on their own without me meddling." (referring to the scriptures).

Why do you speak of the bible so much when you don't truly believe in it? What contradictions do you speak of? I guess if this gets too deep, then a new thread should be started.

Is this just my own opinion and interpretation?

Mark 16:16: He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved (...).

Acts 2:38: Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;

Acts 10:48: And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

He ordered them to be baptized.... He did not suggest it or say that it was a good idea. Is that my own interpretation?


Western Kentucky

Gentle Panther,

You asked "Hey, what denomination are you guys?"

I am a member of the Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16). The church that I worship with is not connected to any kind of denomination. I refer to myself as a christian - that is, one who follows Christ (Acts 11:26).

Gentle Panther said:

That's just your opinion, once again! Do you think I have the power to take away from the book of Revelation because I said it was "unimportant to me as this time".?

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You do not "have the power" to make it untrue or unimportant, but obviously if you could not "take away from the words" of the book, then why would the book state the condemnation of those who do so?

You say that it is "unimportant" to you, but the book itself says, "he that hath an ear, let him hear." (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22), AND "Blessed is he that readeth..." (Rev. 1:3). I guess being blessed is unimportant to you. Is that not taking way from its words?

who here believes that God is in the flesh right now?

A brethren in Christ,

What does that have to do with "Is baptism necessary?" You have started that topic in another thread, so discuss it there.

hebrew hebrew where art thou


Spirit Baptism is not nessessary for salvation but one of those gifts that is included after salvation

eph 2:8-9

western kentucky said:

A brethren in Christ,

What does that have to do with "Is baptism necessary?" You have started that topic in another thread, so discuss it there.

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afraid to answer aren't you

A brethren in Christ,

I'm not afraid to answer you. I don't understand the point of your personal attack on me!?! I am definitely willing to discuss this topic with you IN YOUR THREAD! How is this question relevant to the topic. I have to ask you to please explain yourself, because you don't make a bit of sense. I don't understand your question, or the point your trying to make from it. EXPLAIN YOURSELF (IN THE OTHER THREAD - THANK YOU).

Western Kentucky

A Brethren IN CHRIST said:

hebrew hebrew where art thou


Spirit Baptism is not nessessary for salvation but one of those gifts that is included after salvation

eph 2:8-9

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I don't see Spirit baptism in Eph. 2:8-9. Where do you see it? Eph. 2:8 speaks of salvation itself as "the gift of God". No Spirit baptism in that verse.

exactly

Gentle Panther said:

The problem is, the bible can be made to fit whatever you want it to. That's why there are so many different denominations.

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Panther,

I, like you, believe that people do manage to convince themselves that their belief or practice is justified by the bible. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 is a passage that seems to get right to the heart of the this issue.

The denominational concept arises from the idea of a denominator (or a fraction): the idea is that the church is made up of many churches - - each with different beliefs, practices, worship, and plans of salvation.
The underlying issue with this concept are these questions:
Is God pleased with this concept? (that question can only be answered with the following question)
Is this a scriptural concept?

I believe that you are right in recognizing that there is a problem. What needs to be determined is whether the problem is in the bible itself, or in the way it is handled? I personally acccept that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . that the man of God may be complete." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It just becomes a matter of harmonizing the scriptures after that. This can be tough sometimes, and I don't know of any shortcuts. It takes diligent bible study. I don't know about you, but I find that the more I study, the more there is to study. I'm amazed at the depth of wisdom that God's word contains.

FC