tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.comments2023-03-19T04:23:53.842-04:00Saint and SinnerZachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559715613833694598noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-75383740760091971962019-06-30T07:14:18.780-04:002019-06-30T07:14:18.780-04:00Thanks for the blog filled with so many informatio...Thanks for the blog filled with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. Now my task has become as easy as ABC. <a href="https://bongdaf.net/highlight.html" rel="nofollow">highlight champions league 2019</a><br />DFC SEOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09891017095423817308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-85327006278978440672018-05-10T22:21:17.574-04:002018-05-10T22:21:17.574-04:00I had this hymn in mind tonight as we were singing...I had this hymn in mind tonight as we were singing to our 4 and 2 year old at bedtime. I googled some of the words to remember the name so I could find it in the hymnal.<br />Thanks for posting...seven years ago!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523507555859391185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-41774578979781842072018-05-10T22:19:21.370-04:002018-05-10T22:19:21.370-04:00He wrote this to for his congregation during the 3...He wrote this to for his congregation during the 30 years war, which was a truly awful war. Nearly 2/3rds of the people died during the course of the war from its effects.<br />How comforting these words are!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523507555859391185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-1953967566105897902017-05-17T19:07:14.114-04:002017-05-17T19:07:14.114-04:00 Seeing a cross with our Lord Jesus Christ,asking ... Seeing a cross with our Lord Jesus Christ,asking us to Live for Him,�� is for everyone to Remember! And those who do not,or refuse... We are to Evangelize and use words if necessary.��lmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236054098476850498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-89896838880570738562017-05-17T19:06:24.383-04:002017-05-17T19:06:24.383-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.lmthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236054098476850498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-77452800854799911292016-06-16T00:09:40.288-04:002016-06-16T00:09:40.288-04:00Are our pastors telling us the truth?
Are Christi...Are our pastors telling us the truth?<br /><br />Are Christian pastors honest with their congregations regarding the evidence for the Resurrection? Is there really a "mountain of evidence" for the Resurrection as our pastors claim or is the belief in the Resurrection based on nothing more than assumptions, second century hearsay, superstitions, and giant leaps of faith?<br /><br />Check out this Lutheran pastor's defense of the Resurrection and a review by one of his former parishioners who lost his faith and is now an nonbeliever primarily due to the lack of good evidence for the Resurrection:<br /><br />http://www.lutherwasnotbornagain.com/2016/06/a-review-of-lcms-pastor-john-bombaros.html<br />Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519721717265344702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-33803861038418640882015-07-31T23:51:23.563-04:002015-07-31T23:51:23.563-04:00Frankly, I don't know why baptism was even rai...Frankly, I don't know why baptism was even raised as an issue because of this essay.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07667225662539888810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-1511852675235828252015-07-31T23:48:22.526-04:002015-07-31T23:48:22.526-04:00Steve, you seem to think that baptism is some sor...Steve, you seem to think that baptism is some sort of requirement rather than the grace of God in Christ. It's too bad.<br /><br />You also seem to have forgotten the next verse in Acts 2, where Peter says: "This promise is to you and to your children."<br /><br />You seem not to have read much scripture, such as when Jesus speaks of 'these little ones who believe in me' or when David said that he learned to trust 'upon his mother's breasts.'<br /><br />If you are going to oppose babies being baptized because scripture is just a little bit silent on the matter, then you are going to have to be honest and admit that there are no verses that say that infants cannot or should not be baptized, or that infants were not baptized. If you have verses that say that they were not baptized or should not be baptized, quote them, please.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07667225662539888810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-32979874154129715782015-07-31T19:39:19.828-04:002015-07-31T19:39:19.828-04:00Steve. You really must make a better effort than t...Steve. You really must make a better effort than this to disprove household Baptism.David Cochranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14742711339125752906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-49795528544575700202015-07-31T19:38:21.880-04:002015-07-31T19:38:21.880-04:00Good blog post on this subject Pr. Martin. It real...Good blog post on this subject Pr. Martin. It really bothers me to read Lutherans who write as if they are Reformed. I have been there and I am glad I am free of it. If I had run into these guys 16 years ago I would have kept walking instead of sticking around Lutheran congregations.<br /><br />God's peace. David Cochranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14742711339125752906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-7541923551980678462014-12-07T23:35:13.971-05:002014-12-07T23:35:13.971-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519721717265344702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-4580848314927768962014-05-08T14:34:01.502-04:002014-05-08T14:34:01.502-04:00Reply to first paragraph: the reason why God had t...Reply to first paragraph: the reason why God had to "walk in our skin" (as in the saying - walk in my shoes.)<br /><br />Reply to second paragraph: #1 We (the human race) are too impure to fulfill our own redemption. Only God incarnate has the power to fulfill redemption for this. #2 Yes sometimes it is an empty sound - it can be another sense: a feeling, a sight, etc. But maybe a sound. It is foolish to try to prove this just to yourself - in comparison to every other person on the planet - of what they might hear, see, feel, etc. as a proof that God is definitely there. Do you see? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12511290817277154300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-57888857928195704522014-05-05T13:19:08.399-04:002014-05-05T13:19:08.399-04:00And he died for all, that those who live might liv...And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised. -- 2 Cor 5:15<br /><br />Commentary on 2 Cor 5:15 by the Faculty of the University of Navarre:<br /><br />Christ's death is the price paid for men -- their ransom which sets them free from the slavery of sin, death, and the devil. As a result of it, we belong no longer to ourselves, but to Christ and the new life -- in grace and freedom -- which he has won for us we must live for his sake...<br /><br />"What follows from this?", St Frances de Sales asks. "I seem to hear the voice of the Apostle like a peal of thunder startling our heart: It is easy to see, Christians, what Christ desired by dying for us. What did he desire but that we should become like him? 'that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised.' How powerful a consequence is this in the matter of love! Jesus Christ died for us; by his death he has given us life; we only live because he died; he died for us, by us, and in us; our life then is no longer ours, but belongs to him who has purchased it for us by his death: we are therefore no more to live to ourselves but to him; not in ourselves but in him; not for ourselves but for him" (Treatise on the Love of God).<br /><br />"We are urged on by the charity of Christ to take upon our shoulders a part of this task of saving souls. ... As a result, we will foster in ourselves a vehement desire to live as co-redeemers with Christ, to save all souls with him" (Christ is passing by, Saint Josemaría Escrivá).John Coverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152565421443271500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-2755537702709273082014-03-22T14:50:51.531-04:002014-03-22T14:50:51.531-04:00Thanks, I had a hard time finding a recording.Thanks, I had a hard time finding a recording.paperglyphshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04257358090207134366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-44366860959595446832014-02-28T07:56:06.749-05:002014-02-28T07:56:06.749-05:00Grace is actually the outworking of Karma.Grace is actually the outworking of Karma.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00504062156735528786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-49152927172904858192014-02-28T07:54:44.280-05:002014-02-28T07:54:44.280-05:00The Cosmic Law of Karma
"For whatsoever a ma...The Cosmic Law of Karma<br />"For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." <br />- Jesus Christ<br /><br /><br />The sacrificial death (Jesus) atoning for other peoples sins/karma is an impossible illogical doctrine created by the churches to remove the idea of personal responsibility for ones actions. This came about so the churches could control the masses by promising them a place in heaven if they followed the mundane rules of the earthly churches.<br /><br />"Through an Eternal Law you are burdened with an irrevocable obligation to make atonement, which you can never cast upon others. What you burden yourselves with through your thoughts, words or deeds can be redeemed by no one but yourselves! Consider, were it otherwise Divine Justice would be but an empty sound, in which case everything else would also crumble into ruins." - http://grailmessage.com/en/volume-one/ascentAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00504062156735528786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-28866735249396055862013-08-15T20:54:50.731-04:002013-08-15T20:54:50.731-04:00I disagree. Confusing or erroneous statements abou...I disagree. Confusing or erroneous statements about Christ do not save. Instead, they obscure the Gospel. In many ways it is harder to reach a misinformed sinner who think's he's right with God than an abject pagan.<br /><br />In Christ's own parable, the seed that fell in shallow ground, among weeds, and was plucked from the ground did not result in living faith.Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-76719268870346919112013-01-20T10:40:08.531-05:002013-01-20T10:40:08.531-05:00Anytime you can get people to think about Christ i...Anytime you can get people to think about Christ is a good thing. He did die, so that people can live forever, and yes they should live for Him. Millions of people if not billions have seen this billboard and if God uses it to speak to just one person it was worth it.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722342033408897472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-50748377219409520012012-08-28T06:45:15.907-04:002012-08-28T06:45:15.907-04:00“No, pastors do not have the authority to forgive ...“No, pastors do not have the authority to forgive sins; the apostles commissioned by Christ on earth did. And they exercised that authority by preaching a "baptism of repentance for the remission of sin"” <br /><br />If baptism has no part in our salvation why did Jesus tell the apostles in the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He had commanded in Matt 28? Shouldn't we believe the words of Christ when He says do this? Yes! By the way, we should also believe the words of the Eucharist when our Lord says this is My blood given for you for the remission of sins! <br /><br /><br />If “Paul was simply not sent, as the other apostles were, to baptize. He was sent to preach the gospel, the cross of Christ.” why did Jesus send out send out the apostles to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Luke 24?<br /><br />“I say "Baptistic" not because I'm a Baptist, but because that is the mainstream denomination usually associated with promoting salvation by faith in the cross alone, without doing anything.” <br /><br />Your understanding of Reformed and Baptist theology is deficient, plain and simple. I think you would be wise read up on the various manifestations of Reformed theology before you exercise that lack of knowledge any further. <br /> <br />Finally, “You are all so convinced that the works of water baptism and the Eucharist are the works of God, so that you feel safe quoting, "Not by righteous works which we have done...". But, according to Paul, neither of those are worked by God for our benefit.” Tyler, please show me from Scripture where Saint Paul says this. The Greek verbs are very clear if you are not able to understand the English; the works that our Lord does requires a passivity on our part because that is what the text says. We can no more perform works to the benefit of our salvation than a dead man get get up and walk on his own. <br /><br />“By being water baptized and receiving the Eucharist for the remission of sins, you are not believing that Christ died for your sins.” That is a damnable lie and there is not a single person here who has said any such drivel. No orthodox Christian believes this or says this. Please show me one place where any of the commentators have said this or retract this lie! It would seem that your spiritual gift is not being able to accurately articulate or maybe even understand anyone's theological position save the one you have crafted on your own... I may not agree with a Reformed, Roman Catholics, or Eastern Orthodox Christians on a variety of issues but at least I show enough respect to represent their positions with accuracy even if I disagree with them; you would do well to make an effort to do the same and show a similar maturity. Frank Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10606601821325532724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-36672061372930602252012-08-25T00:09:33.987-04:002012-08-25T00:09:33.987-04:00You all may think that I came on here to promote &...You all may think that I came on here to promote "Baptistic Theology vs. Reformed Theology" or something like that. (I say "Baptistic" not because I'm a Baptist, but because that is the mainstream denomination usually associated with promoting salvation by faith in the cross alone, without doing anything.) I'm not trying to win an argument. I'm trying to win salvation. The concrete promise that is for us, is that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. And through his death and resurrection, all that is necessary to be saved was provided. His death was for our sins, he paid for them by it; and his life was for our righteousness. And he gives that righteousness when we trust his death for our sins!<br /><br />The "simplicity" (2 Corinthians 11:3) which is in Christ couldn't be any more simple! You may believe something in God's word and apply it to yourself as a salvation promises, but if it isn't the salvation promise God gave you, it isn't the assurance of the gospel of Christ. The baptism that makes us righteous is not water combined with the word. When we believe, we are baptized by the "faith of the operation of God" into all that Christ did and is, so that God is just in freely giving us, with him, all things. If faith is counted to us for righteousness, and being baptized into Christ is counted for righteousness, how much simpler could it be? Believing the gospel accomplishes righteousness; and being placed into Christ accomplishes righteousness.<br /><br />We are SEALED, kept safe, confirmed, secure by trusting "the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Ephesians 1:13).<br /><br />You are all so convinced that the works of water baptism and the Eucharist are the works of God, so that you feel safe quoting, "Not by righteous works which we have done...". But, according to Paul, neither of those are worked by God for our benefit. By being water baptized and receiving the Eucharist for the remission of sins, you are not believing that Christ died for your sins. He already did it. The remission of sins is complete. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" in "due time". At the right time, God sent Christ forth to die for us. That is automatically applied to everyone who is born into the world.<br /><br />And by the way, Christ did not win righteousness for you at the cross. He won forgiveness for you at the cross. He won righteousness for you at the resurrection. And you enter into that resurrection life by "believing on him to life everlasting" (1 Timothy 1:16).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145159990420890329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-35861331363553564552012-08-24T23:54:15.160-04:002012-08-24T23:54:15.160-04:00No, pastors do not have the authority to forgive s...No, pastors do not have the authority to forgive sins; the apostles commissioned by Christ on earth did. And they exercised that authority by preaching a "baptism of repentance for the remission of sin". Just as 1 Peter 3:21 attests to, the hearer would hear the message ("Repent"), be cut to the heart by it, and enter into the waters of baptism with the "answer of a good conscience toward God". By changing his mind about his sins, acknowledging he was sinful, his conscience was converted from bad to good. And he expressed this change of mind by the outward token: water baptism. Just as circumcision proved Abraham believed God, water baptism proved the Jews believed the message of the kingdom ministered to them. The "for (unto, towards) the remission of sins", did not refer to the baptism of water remitting sins, but to the remission of sins promised in the New Testament, earthly, literal, millennial kingdom (promised land) that the Jews will one day occupy. For when Jesus said, "I will not drink of the fruit of this vine, til I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom", he was not referring to not drinking wine particularly, but rather to the application of the remission of sins given at the advent of the Father's kingdom. Just as Jesus said, "Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God".<br /><br />The kingdom was preached as "at hand" (so close you could almost touch it) while Jesus was on earth, and it was necessary to be born of "water and the Spirit" to enter into it. So, Acts 2:38 was the promise given. If the Jews would repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (future, in the kingdom), they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". Combining the kingdom scriptures pertaining to water baptism, we can see that the one who believed the gospel of the kingdom (conscience change) and responded by being baptized, was saved and would enter the kingdom of God on earth.<br /><br />I realize that anyone can study for themselves and come to the wrong conclusions. "Dispensation" however, is not an idea. It's a word in the bible used to express how household affairs are conducted. Israel had her household and the body of Christ has hers; and, in accordance with the "preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery", the body of Christ received some distinct wisdom hidden and reserved for her, one part of which was: a different baptism.<br /><br />Paul was simply not sent, as the other apostles were, to baptize. He was sent to preach the gospel, the cross of Christ. Peter was obedient to his commission, and Paul was obedient to his. And it pleased God through the "foolishness" (as far as the world sees it) of preaching so save those who would believe the message. Peter's message pertained to the "grace that shall be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ", the salvation Israel would receive when Christ returned to establish his earthly rule (cf. Romans 11:26, 27). But Paul's message pertained to the "grace wherein ye stand", the present reception of grace to the believer of his message.<br /><br />I understand the idea of believing in a work which is active personally in your own life, as a means of receiving God's grace. But it is simply not the case with salvation today! It most certainly IS a mental assent to what happened at the cross! Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The Corinthians received, stood and were saved by simply believing the gospel! Hearing the preaching of the gospel and responding in faith saves! Faith is counted for righteousness. If you believe the message God has for you, it (your belief) is counted for righteousness. Abraham believed that his seed would be as numerous as the sand on the shore, and it (his faith) was counted for righteousness. He didn't do anything. The second he believed, he was counted righteous.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145159990420890329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-77859805893617810682012-08-23T14:36:58.823-04:002012-08-23T14:36:58.823-04:00For the love of Cthulhu… dispensationalism too?
...For the love of Cthulhu… dispensationalism too? <br /><br />I have GOT to let you go for the hat trick here; Do pastors have the authority to forgive sins through their office as pastor? I mean, Jesus did tell them to forgive and retain sins didn’t he? Frank Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10606601821325532724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-78510036878420423172012-08-23T12:23:58.683-04:002012-08-23T12:23:58.683-04:00Okay, Means of Grace 101...
Baptism and the Lord&...Okay, Means of Grace 101...<br /><br />Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not extra works, separate from and in addition to the cross-- no more than preaching or reading the Bible are extra works, separate from the cross, that do not save. The reason that Baptism and the Lord's Supper save us is because through the promise of the Word, they give us Jesus and all his benefits; they deliver to us the cross in the here and now. We cannot go back in time to embrace the cross. Salvation is not a mere mental exercise where we think of something that happened a long time ago. It is faith, trust, in a concrete promise that is for us, and is applied to us individually. How do I know I am saved? Christ has baptized me into himself and clothed me with his righteousness, won for me on the cross. No one can say that without faith. FAITH is not a "means of grace." Faith receives the means through with the Gospel comes to us. Faith does not cause salvation, but receives it.<br /><br />And those who read verses about Baptism and conclude that they are "waterless" have no other justification for doing so except that those verses to not fit into their preconceived assumptions that "Baptism saves" must be wrong.<br /><br />What is a Lutheran? Contrary to popular belief, a Lutheran is not someone who agrees with everything Luther ever said. A Lutheran is someone who believes that the confessions of the Lutheran church-- many of them not written by Luther at all-- are a correct explanation of what the Scriptures teach.<br /><br />I find that very few people who claim to not "follow men, but just read the Bible for myself" actually do so. Are you suggesting, Tyler, that you came up with the idea of "dispensations" all by yourself? There is an interpretive tradition behind that (albeit a pretty flimsy one). There is an interpretive tradition behind taking "This is my body" in a purely symbolic way (albeit a tradition that cannot be consistently found at all until the 16th century). I think the real problem is that you are quick to believe that those who disagree with you are doing so mindlessly, without reading and studying the Scriptures, simply because they agree with other Christians throughout history who have also read and studied the Scriptures.Kelly Klageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05183748589797441794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-53702992773366793212012-08-22T15:56:57.349-04:002012-08-22T15:56:57.349-04:00And Zach, if you're still reading these, pleas...And Zach, if you're still reading these, please, please reconsider your conversion to Lutheranism! What assurance do you have in the remission of sins you supposedly obtain from Sunday to Sunday by the "Holy Communion"? What is your covering if you do not eat the Lord's body and blood? And if you received justification through baptism, and most of the members of your church received it through baptism as infants, does God then rescind the justification he gives and require your continual observance of a ritual for the remission of your sins?<br /><br />The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish (1 Corinthians 1:18) and an offence to man's thinking (Galatians 5:11). They say, "It is not enough". But the gospel of Christ, the preaching of the cross, is the power of God to salvation. This is because, "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145159990420890329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741764351662584760.post-38213123902424262912012-08-22T15:56:17.493-04:002012-08-22T15:56:17.493-04:00What, don't you know that there are many diffe...What, don't you know that there are many different baptisms in the Bible? One of water, one of fire, one of Christ's death, one of our death with Christ, one of the children of Israel unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea? And I'm afraid the Apostle Paul never uses the term "drowning" when he speaks of baptism.<br /><br />You have no recognition of the dispensational changes that have occurred from times past to the present, do you? I suppose that you believe God never had any changes in his purpose from then to now. Or have you never considered that the apostle Paul preached something different than the other apostles? Or have you contemplated when the body of Christ began?<br /><br />You believe Luther and the reformers, and the church fathers! That question has an easy answer!<br /><br />Don't you know that Christ was delivered for our offences? His offering of himself put away sin. You, as well as so many others, attach another means to God's grace beyond faith. <br /><br />Now, let's see: Paul says that we're saved by grace through faith and no other thing. Passive or active, I don't care. He did not say "grace through the Eucharist", or "grace through baptism". And that faith is not just in anything in God's word. You can believe a great many things in the bible and go to hell when you die. There has to be "one faith" as the apostle says. Faith in the finished work of Christ. That is a solid foundation upon which we can stand: that the minute we trust the gospel of Christ, we're saved and sealed.<br /><br />Being "forgiven" is a past-tense statement. The issue of our sin is settled before God, and has been since 2,000 years ago at the cross. God set Christ forth as a "propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD". Once he was set forth as the man through whom forgiveness came, we need only look upon the cross by faith, believing what was accomplished there, and we are saved from wrath through him!<br /><br />If it says that Christ died FOR our sins, what else was FOR our sins? Didn't his death accomplish it all? What about the words "It is finished"? Now if his death did accomplish the remission of sins, then why do we seek it anywhere else? "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Romans 4:8). 2 Corinthians 5:19 states that this is everyone! God will not impute sin unto mankind today. God stands ready, therefore, to impute his righteousness to whoever believes the gospel, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith" (Romans 1:17).<br /><br />And the baptism, then, is in accordance with faith. Believing the gospel IS being baptized. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26, 27). For the baptism Paul speaks of is "by one Spirit". It is not performed by God THROUGH a man (as of water baptism). It is performed by God TO a man (as of spirit baptism). Trusting the gospel causes us to be baptized in spirit into the body of Christ. There is not one drop of water involved.<br /><br />This began as a debate of Sacraments, but as I feared, it has become an issue of salvation. Frank, judging by what you have said, I am certain that you do not believe the gospel of Christ. Say against me what you will, but your issue is not with me but with God. If only you would see that you never need stand guilty before God as long as you live because Jesus' death was sufficient to cover all your sins, regardless of what you do or do not do.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145159990420890329noreply@blogger.com