Water Baptism.....Just What Is It For?

[Apprehended]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I think you misunderstood my thoughts, or I did not convey them clear enough. Healing is available to anyone that will believe and receive it. I just believe the context of James chapter 5 is addressing born again believers, and not those that are not in the Church. I could be wrong, but that is my view at present. There are other verses that give room for healing to those outside the church.

Jam 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Jam 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jam 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jam 5:15 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.
Jam 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Thanks for clarifying that...

Now to the bolded portion of your statement. I agree that there are those scriptures. So, if a sinner is healed in his body that is also "sozo." Which is to say "saved." Did not Jesus promise to forgive all who came to him? To forgive sin is to roll away the guilt of sin. That is also (sozo) "saved."

ARe you saying that Jesus will not forgive a sinner of his sins who comes to Him confessing and asking for such a release and burden of guilt until he takes all three steps? If so, here we must agree to disagree. I believe the worst sinner who ever lived can come to Jesus and be "saved," (sozo) from the most wicked sin and cleansed from the deepest stain by the blood of the cross by confessing and asking for that pardon and cleansing.

I do not believe that Jesus refuses any who come to him in faith believing. He will save (sozo/deliver) all who come to Him.