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I'd like to hear your thoughts on the question I just posed to Steve:
Are the sins of a man that have been historically imputed to Christ and declared to be historically remitted by the resurrection considered remitted/removed/gone forever, in the eyes of God, before that man is baptized?
Yes or No?
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If the man’s sins were considered remitted/removed/gone at Calvary… man doesn’t even need to believe to experience salvation. So I must say that maybe I’m not understanding your premise.
I see it like this. Christ’s death satisfied the Law’s requirements for salvation. The wages of sin is death, Christ died in the place of all who come to him. Therefore, until one comes to Christ in faith that sacrifice doesn’t apply to them. When one comes to Christ in faith and repents of their sins (turns from their sins) they are “justified” (
Romans 5:1). Justification exists as long as one has faith in Christ Jesus. However, justification doesn’t equal forgiveness (remission). Justified means “to be made just”, this “being made just” is for the express purpose of allowing one to come forward to receive the remission of their sins. This grants us audience with God. God requires that we be baptized if we want our sins remitted. If we resist, we will pay for our sins.
For example,
A wanted criminal cannot just barge into the court of the King and claim pardon. They have to make a formal request for pardon and audience with the King. The King might accept that request and allow them to come forward into the court before him, this justifies them to enter the court. Now, once before the King, the King may issue restitution or an act of service in conjunction with the pardon. Repentance get’s us before our King. Once before him, our King says, “Be water baptized, taking upon yourself the likeness of my burial… then you will receive remission (pardon).”
So I believe that repentance qualifies one for the remission received at baptism. Both are absolutely essential.
Many repent and get God’s attention, and receive his blessings. However, few move into obeying him. At the very best, if a person refuses to be water baptized as Scripture commands they are in rebellion and have backslidden from repentance.