Quote:
Originally Posted by KWSS1976
My thing is whan you repent is that not a sinners prayer... Mine was I prayed to god to forgive me so I had a sinners prayer...
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Repentance can include the sinners prayer. We are to repent and confess. There are so many aspects to Salvation.
And I have said this before but, in the bible nobody questioned why. Nobody said "but why do I need to be baptized"...nobody was seen or heard of putting it off for a month or so or until the do a bible study. It was always an instantaneous reaction to hearing the gospel. So while some want to quibble over what baptism does or does not do, it's biblical. It's Apostolic to include water baptism in Jesus name.
So put aside for a moment what happens, if anything, spiritually. It's biblical. It's Apostolic. It's a command. It's in the word of God. Why do it or seek to do it any other way? Or why not even care about what the bible says on it or seek to find what the bible says? Why minimalize or reduce baptism to "it doesn't matter what or how" when we have it contained in the word of God? Can we really say to God that what His word says is not that important or even to Jesus what His Apostles taught was not that important...important enough to be obeyed or be done the way they expected it to be done?
I don't need to condemn or point fingers or use pejorative language when I discuss this. I don't discuss this because I want someone in the world to NOT be saved. I discuss this because I love the one who gave Himself and gave His word.
One last thing on baptism. It is said baptism was a public witness that you have accepted Christ. I can agree to a degree, however if that is the case why then argue against baptism in Jesus name being done by someone verbally speaking in WHOSE name you are being baptized?
When we pray, in Jesus name, we are making a public confession that we can do these things in His authority. We give witness and we glorify God that way. Why would anyone then, especially claiming to be Apostolic, deride someone saying "I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ"?
The command was two fold. You are to repent and be baptized and WE are to go out and make disciples BY baptizing. Baptism is in the name. The candidate is baptized in the name by willingly accepting that Jesus is the savior, he submits to this baptism. It was the churches duty, the command to the church to MAKE them disciples. John made disciples of those he baptized. Baptism was connected to discipleship.
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