Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
Acts 8:22 KJV Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
James 5:15 KJV And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
But I still believe baptism is part of salvation.  Just not for the reasons some give.
|
_______
Thank you, Brother Blume.
We (everyone) were all forgiven at calvary:
"Father forgive them...". That was the place where MERCY was manifest for ALL men; and mercy is what withholds the righteous judgment of God: the apostle wrote:
"...Mercy REJOICES against judgment."
In the Old Testament, God showed his mercy for the Israelites and sins were forgiven (covered) by the sacrifice of bulls and goats, etc. But their blood could NOT remit sins: they were covered for a time, but there remained a memory of sins.
The blood of Jesus REMITTED (blotted out) our sins, and there remains no more memory of those sins which were committed before we were
"...born of the water and of the Spirit...". __ Now today,
"...if we CONFESS our sins, he is just and faithful to forgive us (of our sins) and to CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness."
Another way the Lord forgives and cleanses us [after we were baptized], is this way:
"...if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from ALL sin."