Praxeas & Company (Thief Saved?/Baptism Essential)

[1Corinth2v4]

Praxeas,


My responses are in blue, followed by your comments, but you would have figured that out! LOL

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Is his faithfulness universal towards everyone? Can God see your faithfulness before being baptized or can He only see it AT baptism?

His mercy is for whosoever will, his faithfulness is extended to the believer, and from what the bible shows me, those that are in process of believing the truth.

In regards to the death bed prayer. There's no telling how many times the ill rejected Christ prior. I do believe if a backslidden individual was holyghost filled and Jesus name baptized, and is on his/hers death bed and confesses his/hers sins, God is just to forgive them, and they'll be saved.

If the sinner can repent, get baptized and received the holyghost while near death, praise the Lord.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

What about those that died NOT having heard Acts 2:38 preached yet? What does God's faithfulness do for them?

If you're willing to speculate how God kept the Eunuch from harm or death through the desert to complete the salvation process, I'll speculate to the comment above.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

BTW what about the thief on the cross? What saved Him? Obdience to the Law? Hardly since he was a thief.

If I must, let me school you about the thief on the cross. Many folks claim baptism is optional due to the thief's experience. I respectfully state there's a lack of understanding on their behalf. Please read the following carefully.


The faith required for salvation of the NEW COVENANT believers wasn't required for the thief. Romans 10:9 reads we must believe God raised Jesus from the dead. The thief couldn't have believed this, seeing Jesus hadn't died yet, much less raised from the dead.


If you utilize the thief as an example of salvation with-out baptism, I could easily utilize the thief as an example to proclaim salvation with-out scripture faith.


Even if I was a one-stepper, I would have to admit the thief's salvation is completely different from mine. I must believe God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9), this wasn't a requirement for the thief.


There are many scriptures that teach baptism is essential for salvation (e.g., Acts 22:16, 1Peter 3:21, etc.). The thief's salvation contradicts these scriptures for NEW COVENANT believers. The thief's salvation process is irrelevant to ours.



Praxeas, during the life of Jesus, He forgave various folks of their sins (e.g., Mark 2, John 8). The thief's classification of forgiveness granted is the same forgiveness these other folks were granted. The sins Jesus forgave where not under the terms of the NEW COVENANT, seeing it wasn't effective until Jesus died.



During our life, we have the ability to give our possessions or forgiveness to family members, friends, etc. Yet, after our death, these same family members or friends must comply and meet the terms of our WILL to inherit our possessions, etc.


BY THIS SAME METHOD JESUS FORGAVE THE SINS OF THIS THIEF, WHILE ALIVE ON EARTH. WHILE ALIVE ON EARTH HE FREELY GAVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.


After the crucification and death of Jesus, his forgiveness was given to whosoever will obey the terms and conditions of His Will. Those terms required are listed in Acts 2:38, repentance and baptism in Jesus name, for the REMISSION of sins! Forever oh Lord, thy word is established in Earth as is in heaven.

Class is over and no running in the hallways.