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Infants can do neither as they have no choice to do either one.
They can BE Baptized; you are correct they cannot repent - we MUST also do that. You are taking the AND to mean a sequential relationship between the two.
Maybe that is my point. We do not Baptize ourselves. It says BE baptized. We are Baptized by the Holy Spirt through water and the word. We RECEIVE the Holy Spirit as surely as we recieve food and drink as infants. We are still accountable to repent and follow Christ. Baptism alone does not save us.
You see it is much more powerful than a simple affirmation. I have truly felt the presence of the spirit of God at Baptisms - just as I have when a group prayes together - it pervades the sanctuary and penetrates my body through the core. I know the Holy Spirt is truly present at that moment. The child will have to choose what to do with that gift as he grows closer to or away from God, but he is brought into the community of God's people from the very beginning.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
You have to born of water AND of the Spirit.
Please tell me where it says that the Holy Spirit is doing this cleansing action
Quote:
Originally Posted by I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA
No where does God's Word say if you're not baptized you will not enter Heaven. Being born of water and spirit in John 3:5 is referring to the cleansing action of God's Holy Spirit.
16 He that believeth and is baptizedshall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
While I agree with this, one must also use the reasoning laid out for us in the scriptures. That heart condition, not actual water baptism,, is what determines salvation. If a person is developing a relationship w/ God when he dies, and he simply hasnt reached the point of water baptism, should we assume that person is not going to receive life?
Jesus promised the evildoer beside him that he would receive salvation,no doubt due to the repentance he showed at the last. This man did not get baptized in water before he died, yet Christ gave him the promise of paradise.
This is after Jesus
in Acts
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was not speaking of the Holy Spirit but of the water baptism.
Most people say that you are not saved 'by works' but repenting is not a work it is a fruit.
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance
Confession is repentance
Baptism is repentance and not a dedication.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alicenavada
While I agree with this, one must also use the reasoning laid out for us in the scriptures. That heart condition, not actual water baptism,, is what determines salvation. If a person is developing a relationship w/ God when he dies, and he simply hasnt reached the point of water baptism, should we assume that person is not going to receive life?
Jesus promised the evildoer beside him that he would receive salvation,no doubt due to the repentance he showed at the last. This man did not get baptized in water before he died, yet Christ gave him the promise of paradise.
This is after Jesus
in Acts
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was not speaking of the Holy Spirit but of the water baptism.
Most people say that you are not saved 'by works' but repenting is not a work it is a fruit.
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance
Confession is repentance
Baptism is repentance and not a dedication.
Baptism existed well before the death of Christ. Jesus himself was baptized and we are to follow in his steps. Therefore, baptism was definitely a part of being a follower of Christ before his death. My point was that if a person dies before he reaches the point of water baptism, we cannot assume he does not qualify for everlasting life.
Baptism existed well before the death of Christ. Jesus himself was baptized and we are to follow in his steps. Therefore, baptism was definitely a part of being a follower of Christ before his death. My point was that if a person dies before he reaches the point of water baptism, we cannot assume he does not qualify for everlasting life.
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