Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey
Pel, Mike is saying Baptism saves us, so long as in view of the resurrection and done in faith. It's not a direct link, or an exclusive device. That's the way I'm understanding him.
Of course, I believe the Bible that we are saved by faith -- those things which follow are "because of" faith, and not "for faith" or "for salvation." Nor are they to "prove something to God."
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Mike appears to inhabit a "middle ground" on this. Much of his rhetoric however appears to have been devoted to almost aligning himself with baptismal regenerationalism - but at least one of his examples and several caveats do appear to exclude him from that category.
What would happen if "our side" were to develop a hypothetical situation like Mike's "Guy Who Dies in the Car on the Way to be Baptized?" What would we have? A "Guy Who Sincerely Repents and Believes in Christ with Saving Faith But Refuses to be Baptized?" That stretches credulity.
Clearly, saving faith will involve the individual "Leaving the Land of Haran," so to speak. Saving faith is the start of a life long journey of trials, test, triumphs and if we were to be completely honest - even some failures. But this is a journey. Saving faith enables us to make that journey.
We must never forget that at the start of the journey something took place that we simply could not do for ourselves. And, we continue on this journey - NOT as a payment for some debt - but because the journey itself is also a free gift.
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