|
Hi Terry. Be careful about commentaries because they sometimes do a
good job of getting you not to read what the Bible says. Nothing wrong
with reading what they have to say, but be careful to look at the Bible
and see whether the commentary holds up next to it. In this particular
case, I think these commentaries are leading you astray.
I am very careful when considering any information outside the Bible, and do not always agree with the commentaries, but in this case I cannot see it any other way
(Verse 20 speaks of water and how it saved Noah. Verse 21 speaks of C'mon David. The water did not save Noah. Noah was saved FROM the water, by the same God that saved us. It is God, not the water, in every case.
baptism saving us. Clearly he is speaking of water baptism. This is
especially clear because he says, "not the putting away of the filth ." This is what water does. It cleanses the flesh. That is what I am trying to point out To you. Water washes away dirt, not sin. Only blood can do that
Therefore, it seems irrefutable to me that he is speaking very clearly. I take irrefutable to mean that I cannot change your mind, but I do humbly ask that you study it again.
of water baptism. Of course, he emphasizes not what happens physically
by water cleansing the flesh, but what happens internally in water
baptism as our hearts are purified and we are baptized spiritually into
the body of Christ.
The problem for most Protestants is that they do not practice water
baptism the way it was practiced in Scripture. In Scripture, water
baptism is entered into by FAITH, calling upon the Lord, and washing
away your sins, thereby having your conscience purified and cleansed.
Most Protestants, however, out of a knee jerk reaction to Roman
Catholicism, relegate water baptism to a mere symbolic religious
ceremony with no power whatsoever. Most Protestants do not enter into
baptism with FAITH, but as a mere religious ceremony that is only
symbolic of something they believe has already taken place in their
hearts. Therefore, while the Bible teaches us to use water baptism as
that which brings members into Christ and into the body of Christ, most
Protestants substitute saying the sinner's prayer, something which the
Bible does not teach as the way believers make their initial profession
of faith in Christ. Many Protestants have mistakenly substituted a
prayer for baptism. God will work around it best he can, but it would be
much more effective if those harvesting souls would lead the repentant
to the waters of baptism rather than into saying a prayer. They won't
have as many "converts" doing it the Biblical way, but the converts they
do have will have better counted the cost and will experience greater
power and deliverance in their conversion experience. They will get on
the fast track to serving God much better in that water baptism is a
much better vehicle for expressing saving faith than reciting a prayer.
Peace be with you.
David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida.
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
. | 
IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here
