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Originally Posted by 1399
I disagree with your assertion that baptism is passive.
Water Baptism, invoking the Name of Jesus, is still something I must do IAW the Bible.
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I think you miss my point and I apologize for not making myself clear.
Who is doing the work in baptism God or me? See this is a deep theological problem as you just placed your response = to God's work and that is not the case. Baptism is essential to remission of sins but it is not your work that does it but your reliance on him "to do" it. Our Faith/proper response meets God's Work. He is the author and finisher of your response. Thus God speaks his Word(author) and completes(finisher) his promise through your response. Though you may be active, you are passive in the realization of being declared loyal/righteouss/friend etc... Thus it's his glory to do so!
My point of passive is that I don't in myself wash the sins away through faith. Faith, repentance, confession, baptism etc.... does not make us righteouss. Christ's declaration make us righteouss. Just as
Romans 8 points out about the Spirit bears witness to our faith/response. It's his witness or declaration that saves but faith/response is the vehicle or element that brings forth evidence for judgment. They are conditions we meet in response to the authoring of salvation by God's Word that Christ might be the finisher in declaring us righteouss/loyal/faithFULL/. Baptism is the appointed time of remission of sins through faith in the working of God. It is not our declaration in baptism but our faith in him that he delcares our response of good conscience, righteouss.
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But realize, there is no "set formula". God did not box Himself in.
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God is logical in all things he is not whimsical. The simple question of did you receive when you believed per Paul in
Acts 19 clearly shows it is based on "faith" what the context of faith is another thing but God will answer those who call on his name thus he is boxed in. God is boxed in on everything as he is a God of law and his nature does not change. Thus he is not contrary to himself. "One must be born of water and Spirit", that is a box.
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He pours out His Spirit on whomever He calls. It is still incumbent on the believer to "do", according to the Bible, demonstrating his faith.
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I agree!
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He pours it out.
God is doing the "do."
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I agree!
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We are receiving His Spirit, on the basis of His Kindness, Mercy and Goodness-- not because we did everything just right, checked all the boxes, completed the list, etc.
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I would disagree "faith" is the "to do" list. What is faith? Proper response to the Gospel/Word....
Acts 2:38
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Question: How do you do baptisms in your church?
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Like most do it.