Mass Baptisms

d taylor said:

The Bible states a person is condemned because they do not believe, not because they are not baptized.

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Not only "a person", but many multitudes, billions (two thirds after one third dies) , are already condemned (while alive on earth) because of unbelief, even refusing to give up serving demons..

Aaron112 said:

Not only "a person", but many multitudes, billions (two thirds after one third dies) , are already condemned (while alive on earth) because of unbelief, even refusing to give up serving demons..

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The gate is wide

CoreyD said:

I don't understand.
I was not aware that one is saved before baptism. Acts 2:40, 41

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No where does this say they were saved before immersion (baptism) in Jesus' Name .

Most groups of men do not realize this, nor what is the truth and the reality.

Jesus Knows who believes in truth, and who does not accept Him.

"With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

Taking Scripture at its word when it talks about baptism, and having a working understanding of the historic and ancient faith of the Christian Church going back to the Apostles (and thus, in Scripture), would do a lot to help people come to a basic biblical and Christian view of baptism.

Instead there are all sorts of ideas floating out there that have no basis in Scripture, and which were unknown until very recent times because of people making up whatever they want.

For example, baptism is not a public declaration of faith in Christ. Or, at the very least, that is never what the Bible says. Baptism typically is pretty public (but not always), and so a secondary consequence is that baptism is visible in the midst of the Faithful--but that's not why the Church baptizes, and it's not the meaning assigned to baptism in the Bible. The meaning assigned to baptism in the Bible is the remission of sins, new birth, and union to Christ, to Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It's not a public work done for the sake of other people, nor for the sake of God; it is a working of God, His grace, to accomplish what He Himself promises in His word. Since baptism is God's work for us, not a human work for men or for God, then it should never be treated as a human work. I it is not a human work which merits us any righteousness before God as though it were our effort; neither is it a mere ritual "ordinance". It is a Sacred Thing, a Sacrament, through which God acts and accomplishes what He promises.

All of this is plain to see in the clear and explicit words of Scripture, and it is what Christians have always believed. For many people that doesn't matter, but it would go a long way to just be honest and say, "I don't believe this because I don't like it" rather than put the Bible through a paper shredder and pretend that Christians used to believe whatever new doctrine gets invented ad hoc in place of Scripture.

-CryptoLutheran

CoreyD said:

That is probably because saved to you, means something other than saved.
I still don't understand what it means to be saved, to the many persons on these forums.
If you explain what saved means, I would be in a better position to respond to your objection.

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To me, "saved" is one of the results of the day of judgement.
On that glorious day the faithful will be raised to eternal life and the unfaithful will be raised to eternal damnation.
I count myself "converted", and my salvation depends on the running of the "race".

What Jesus Says Is Truth.
Most humans never hear Jesus. Most never seek Jesus. Most reject Both God Creator and Messiah Jesus.
What is a disciple ? One day there were disciples following Jesus.
Then Jesus Spoke the Truth , and many of the disciples who had been following Jesus said that Jesus' Word was not possible (or too difficult) to accept and they departed from Jesus. Jesus did not ask them to stay, nor to keep following Him, nor to come back, nor to repent.

Disciples who were His disciples one day, the next day were not His disciples.

When Jesus Says or Declares Something, He Speaks Truth as YHVH Tells Him to Speak. Most men do not listen to Jesus, nor do they decide to follow Jesus to be His disciples. Woe to those ones!

CoreyD said:

This is the aspect of saved, that is most easily understood, especially by Jesus' words at Matthew 24:13.
However, there is another aspect of saved, which isn't so easily understood, and agreed upon.
Scriptures such as Romans 8:24; Ephesians 2:5-8; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5, refer to this condition.

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Sometimes scriptures are written to/for those presently faithful in Christ with no signs of their departure from the faith.
You'll notice that all your citings are Epistles to churches.
The writers don't want to make their audiences feel like they are not trusted, but everyone's salvation can not be assured until the end of time.
There are a few folks that Paul said had left the faith, so they were not saved because they lost their faith.
I hate to be a downer, but we too could be swayed by the devil, if we lapse on our prayer and study.

CoreyD said:

I understand that aspect, as being brought into a relationship with God, through our acceptance of him and his son, and a dedication/commitment to do his will, but I have yet to understand the perspective of others here, on this.

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People's commitments can change with time.

CoreyD said:

Mass baptism tend to leave out this aspect, as many are baptized, who have not even come to know God, and his Christ, nor have dedicated their life to serving God.

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Please define "mass" baptism.