Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie62  Yes, we need to be baptized. Can only relate my own experience. Was born again in 1976. Baptized by immersion in water in 1984 - before then I thought infant sprinkling was baptism.
Point I want to made is that I believe I was in Christ as much before as after my baptism. The day I accepted Him as my Lord & Saviour, that day I started being "in Him". What about the boy (real story) who accepted Jesus as Saviour at 11 am and died at 3 pm? He did not have a chance to be baptized.
My penny's worth. |
Hi Charlie,
As we have shown with scripture, baptism is how and when a person is placed in Christ. The importance of this is seen in the fact that all spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). The Bible does not teach that one accepts Christ is then saved and is baptized at a later date. Baptism is for those who are sinners not for those who have already been saved (Acts 22:16).
As for the 11 AM and 3 PM scenario you cite, I would give the same answer regardless of "where the person was" in the salvation process- Forgiveness of sins occurs at the moment of baptism- not before- not after. The same argument could be made about the person that hears about Jesus for the first time and then 10 min. later dies- was he saved? This I do know with certainty- God through his word is calling upon you and men to be obedient to the gospel plan of salvation:
Hear: Romans 10:17
Believe: Mark 16:16
Confess: Matthew 10:32-33
Repent: Luke 13:3
Be Baptized: Acts 2:38
If any person has yet to do this, I implore them to do it "while they can" and before it is "to late".
Kindly,
Don