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Originally Posted by mfblume
Good points! I would alter my thoughts then to say Spirit baptism delivers us from a state of death.
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If Spirit reception saves us from spiritual death, what does baptism save us from?
If your answer is "SIN," then how can it be theologically sound to say God grants spiritual life to those who still have the cause of spiritual death imputed to them? Case in point.... Cornelius or anyone else gifted the Spirit of life prior to baptism
(which, btw, I would say includes everyone who believes).
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Romans 10 must be understood in light of its context.
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Agreed.
Agreed. I've been pointing this connection to
Deuteronomy 30 out for years concerning
Romans 10. I stress that Paul inserts Christ as the commandment/word set before us for choosing life or death
(Deuteronomy 30:15). He that believes has life
(John 3:15-16, John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:40; John 6:47; John 11:25,26). He that doesn't shall not see life
(John 3:36).
Paul makes very clear distinction between an internal believing with the heart and an external confession with the mouth. With the heart man believes unto righteousness. I understand this to be a righteousness God alone sees because he alone knows the heart of man. Those who believe are justified of all things and God who knows the heart gives the Spirit to those who believe bearing witness to their faith in the Gospel
(Acts 13:38-39; Acts 15:7-9).
Those who have faith in the Gospel preached confess with their mouth their faith and are to be considered as saved by the Church community at large.
Again, if Spirit reception saves us from spiritual death, what does baptism save us from?
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