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BAPTISM |
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| What is baptism? In one word, cleansing. John the Baptist baptized with water, symbolizing the cleansing of sins. John told the Pharisees that his baptism wasn't the final answer though. In John 1:26 he said that someone would come (Jesus) that would do more than baptize with water. The verse that non-Catholics like to quote, John 3:3 isn't completed by Jesus until verse 5. Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, who was confused about being born again. Jesus clarifies what He states to Nicodemus by saying, (John 3:3) One cannot be saved, unless they are born again and accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (John 3:5) - "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Jesus isn't talking about anything different here, he's talking about the sacrament of baptism. Here we see that being "born again" means the sacrament of baptism! We believe that our works accompanied by faith and God's grace (through baptism) will get us into Heaven. There are other passages, too, that state quite clearly that entrance into Heaven is accompanied by faith and God's grace through the works of man. Take a look at these; |
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| Phil 2:12 - ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Rom 2:5-6 - ...the righteous judgement of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: James 2:14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? |
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The point is that in order for man to be "saved," to have eternal life, he must be baptized with both water and the Holy Spirit - and that baptism is what secures eternal salvation. The method of baptism is immaterial, the act of baptism is what matters. It's the demonstration of faith on our part. Jesus never baptized, at least the Bible doesn't tell us He did. What it says is, (Matt 28:19) ...and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So, the method doesn't matter, the age of the person being baptised doesn't matter - what matters is the order of our Lord, as shown above. |
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