Quote:
Originally Posted by trialedbyfire
Someone needs to show me explicitly where the scripture says that mere belief and confession alone remits sin.
"If you believe in Christ you shall receive the remission of sins," does not suggest that a sinners prayer, belief in God, or even repentance alone actually IS the remission of sins. We are baptized FOR the remission of sins. When we believe in Christ we'll do what he says do, we will follow his word and will be baptized and that baptism is our remission. "He that believeth and is baptized..."
The belief sets us up for the remission, but it does not remit our sins. It does not wash our sins away on it's own. Baptism truthfully doesn't either because baptism is done based upon our faith. No faith no remission. No baptism no remission.
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"Baptism doth now save us, not the washing of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward the Lord."
If baptism is the answer of a good conscience, then what is the question?
Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Will you verbally affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
Is your conscience clear toward God?
Then you should be baptized.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
If you believe and confess, then to solidify your belief in and heartfelt verbal confession of Jesus Christ, you are baptized.
Does anyone else remember hearing the phrase, "Upon the confession of your faith..." right before they were baptized in water in the Name of Jesus? It's biblical to establish the faith of the person being baptized before they are baptized because "baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward the Lord."
When one hears the Gospel (which repentance is part of), if they are convicted of their sin and surrenders to Christ, then they shall be saved. The proof of their faith is their obedience to the command to be baptized in water.
The proof of their faith is their love for their spiritual brothers and sisters.
The proof of their faith is their walking away from sin to pursue Christ.
These are the works of a person who confesses saving faith in Christ.
The infilling of the Holy Ghost is a Promise and is a supernatural Work of God in the life of the believer.
I can get baptized, but I can't fill myself with the Holy Spirit. God is not capricious, but He is Sovereign and He will pour out His Spirit as He wills.
The whole idea of even implying to a person that you're not saved until we hear you speak in tongues minimizes faith in the Savior and His Gospel and it attempts to put God in a box.
God PROMISES the Holy Spirit to all whomever He calls, but He does not promise that all speak in tongues and there are at least three conversion experiences in the New Testament that leaves no indication or even space for these new converts to speak in tongues. They would still be saved, in accordance to numerous scriptures that indicate is by His Grace and our faith (which still comes from Him).
If ANYONE is saved, it won't be because they understood all mysteries or because they were baptized the "right" way. It will be by Grace, through faith.
When the Spirit comes, you can not see where it comes from or where it goes, but you can feel it, and even hear it.
It is interesting that, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen."
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