Quote:
Originally Posted by shazeep
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
i suggest that "water" here represents other people, and "word" represents the hearing (not the faith) that comes by the word. Or might come; we are all aware that one might memorize the Bible and still be lost, yes?
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I actually saw it your way first, but that's where the holes were as I looked at it some more. Again, we're not saved by our works, and we're born crucified. He died. Baptism is not a work. It's putting us into his death which slays all chances of thinking our works will save us. It's humble to be baptized in that light. Funny how people look at it as a work. But it can be work without that faith in legalism. It's the faith that God needs. I guess that's why Paul was always trying to reassert the true position in Romans by repeatedly asking if people knew what he said.
So the washing of water is baptism, but it's by the word because it's faith in being put into his death. That's why Jesus said we must believe and be baptized to be saved. That single verse there kills the idea baptism is not essential. The word is something we believe. And Paul ensures we don't take baptism any other way than the furthest thing from a work by saying "by the word".
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