Scare Bear

Tonight's the last night! Hope you guys can tune in via the internet! It starts at 7pm central time.

Jesus is speaking of baptizing in water here, not in the Holy Spirit. Only God can baptize us with His Spirit, we can not. The blood of Christ comes far before any water baptism does, not because of water baptism. It seems you have taken it hook, line and sinker that water baptism is necessary for salvation, which in fact, it is obedience to God. What do you thing is meant by these scriptures? Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Interesting. You say that one either believes the Word of God or man's yet in almost the same breath state that His Word disproves young-earth theory. So which is it? God's Word or man's word?

One accesses that blood by being baptized Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Let me ask you, how could Jesus command us to go and baptize people in the Holy Spirit if that's something no human can do?

It's still going on right now for those who want to check it out: Worldwide Gospel Meeting Click on the "view live stream here" Every night through Friday night at 7pm central time.

What Baptism does: Washes away sin Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

They were born under the old laws... baptism is a symbol that represents Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus was not born to this earth yet.

Let me ask you something, what does 1 Peter 3:21 say? What does John 3:5 say? I think those verses indicate it is scripture.

For those interested there is a worldwide gospel meeting going on right now. You can view it streaming live on the internet right now and for the rest of the week starting at 7pm central standard time. Go here and click on "view live stream" Gospel Broadcasting Network Go unto all the world and preach the word!

No one is saying you are saved because you visit the sick, or feed the hungry (or trying to obtain salvation by doing those things)... you are saved because you are obeying what God commanded you to do. If God told you to be baptized, you wouldn't be saved until you did it right? After that we are to live righteously, we are commanded to help others, not for us but because we love God and we want others to come to know and love God too. There is no set number. You just go and do. If you can make people laugh then go and do it, bring laughter to others. If you have time to visit the sick or feed the hungry then when the opportunity comes take it. There is nowhere in the Bible it states that your good deeds counter your bad ones. When you ask forgiveness for the wrong you've done God forgives and then you go on your way to continue to do good. And you are right "I will show you my faith by my works" but simply having it does not make one saved. Simply believing does not make one saved, you still have to obey.

But you keep saying nothing we do will save us. I'm just using the arguments you're giving me. First you say we have nothing to do with our salvation then you say we do? Which is it? Ok, but is not believing something you DO? Does it not take a mental effort? Technically it could be a physical process because if your brain is not working (you know, the pulses and reactions that take place in the mind that allows us to think and move) then you can't believe (or do much anything else). Maybe we should read the verses one more time and let me point out something to you... Matt. 7:21

So Noah didn't show his faith by building an ark? There have been people who had gotten on drugs and lived a rough lifestyle... are you saying they're not qualified (after they've cleaned themselves up) to offer advice and tell people that the road they took should not be the same one others take? Exactly, if one is doing those things and professes to be of Christ it's the same as those "false prophets" mentioned. "Works always demonstrate faith." Agreed. James 2 ...I will show you my faith by my works. You're thinking is that there must be a set number of deeds. That's not the case. We are just told to do. If the opportunity arrives we must take it. Jesus said in Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand,

Again if you play no part in your salvation then what's this "believing and having faith" stuff all about? Is it not your decision that could ultimately save you or condemn you? If an atheist came to the light and said "I believe now" would he be saved by his admission + God's grace? Or was God simply gonna save the atheist all along? For the record, if you want to discuss with others you might want to stop with the ad homs. Calling someone mentally dull is not a good way to win them over. So believing and receiving is something you must do. A work. A work is defined as something one does, whether it be physical or mental. Ok but an "average Christian" or someone who claims to be Christian can say, well, we'll all get to heaven no matter what we do, we just need to be good. Would that not be a false doctrine? A false Prophet? Not everyone that says to Him Lord, Lord will see heaven. They said "Haven't we prophesied in YOUR NAME?" That verse indicates to me that there will be people who claim to be Christians and who earnestly think they're doing right but won't get that crown. So Believing is not something you do? It's not a verb? But you still need to have that faith... that's your part. Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men,

And go on your way rejoicing as the Ethiopian Eunuch did AFTER he was baptized in water. Ummm, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul said "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel." That's a strange thing to say if baptism was included in the Gospel. And if you look in the Bible there were many people who were saved apart from baptism: The penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50) The paralytic man (Matthew 9:2) The publican (Luke 18:13-14) The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) They all experienced forgiveness of sins apart from baptism. For that matter, we have no record of the Apostles being baptised, yet Jesus pronounced them clean of their sins. (John 15:3) And in Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius and those with him were saved before baptism. Hi wyguy, Here again, is an opportunity to use others' debate tactics. Their sins were forgiven when, as of then? How about any future sin? How is it that Cornelius was saved before baptism? He had the Holy Spirit upon him and his household? How about all those in Samaria who had been baptized, but the Holy Spirit had not come upon them? Peter and John had to go up and lay their hands on them? What gives about that? The gift of the Holy Spirit that we receive today isn't even manifest as it was in Cornelius' situation, so how can it be argued that the manifest seal on Cornelius is the same as it is on us today? e.g. speaking in tongues. As far as the first point goes, Paul was sent to preach the gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) and you are correct baptism isn't a part of that. Yet that doesn't nullify the need to be baptized. Paul had to sow the seed and water before the increase would come. The only way baptism would have been of any affect would have been for the hearers to have faith to be obedient. It should also be noted that if you look at the verses before verse 17 in 1 Corinthians 1 you'll notice something 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. He didn't baptize people because he knew it would cause division. He didn't want people to feel more important than others because they were baptized by him or others. Besides, it's not who does the baptizing that's important it's the person getting baptized that is.