Baptism With or Without Water
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaggedRobin (webmaster of the largest Christendom forum)
At least try to observe God's command for water baptism. When does one say to someone that water batism is simply a ritual when obviously Our own Lord did not think it was?
My first issue is your first accusation when you began talking to me which you still don't address. I am not interested in reading your works, but to address first why the accusation which is no way for you to behave.
Where did I say it is merely a ritual and not spiritual reality? Why ask the question if I never indicated as such, and you had no basis for asking me then? Why not just accept your misjudgment?
Your evasion, many times now, of this point is telling is it not? When I do wrong, I accept correction, even say I am sorry, and not begrudgingly. It is hard thing for you isn't it? You have to put up a front at your religious Roman Church so this is why you could not be humble to your mistake.
Water baptism is not a demand of God, but Baptism is. Your focus is on the water, God sees the Baptism with or without water. Now again, see that baptism is with or without water in burial and resurrection with Christ. It is very dangerous to only see the water as much as you do to legalize by some letter you have created for yourself for the physical.
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3.5). This is the word of our Lord to Nicodemus and was because it was Nicodemus' way of understanding since he know John baptized with water. But Paul mentions no water in these passages. Now see the water or without water...
When Paul wrote to the saints in Rome he inquired, “Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Paul then continued with these words: “We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6.3-5). Both the Lord Jesus and Paul speak of the reality of baptism.
Don't look at this matter of baptism from the physical point of view with eyes that see only the water. Hence, you sinsist on baptismal regeneration.
The baptism of which the Lord told Nicodemus is a reality. Paul also sees reality in baptism: burial with the Lord for newness of life. He told the saints in Colossae, “Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him” (Col. 2.12). To him baptism and burial are one and the same thing; so too are baptism and resurrection. He knows what is meant by being buried with the Lord and also what is meant by being raised with the Lord. He does not see the water of baptism only. He communicates to others the reality of that baptism which he has touched.
If you have seen baptism as a reality you naturally know what it is. The question of its being true or false, inward or outward, simply does not exist, because you see that to be baptized is to be buried and raised up together with Christ.
It is wrong to say try to keep this kind of baptism or that kind of baptism, for they are the same baptism. Then it becomes an idol. In effect, such a person is not keeping God's command for baptism.
The Lord does not demand that you keep water baptism, but a baptism that is with or without water in burial and resurrection with Christ. God's command is the reality, not this water, but what the water represents-a dying to the world and coming out of it. Have this water baptism or other kind, but don't hold over others a guillotine your baptismal regeneration of water.
Lots of Christians are fully aware this is wrong.
