“I hope that those who disagree understand I am not arguing against Baptism or the Lord’s Supper. I am saying they do not confer the Grace of God. They do not trigger the Holy Spirit indwelling a believer and they are not absolute requirements to be saved.”
Respectfully, I will have to agree to disagree.
Romans 6:1-4 seems to point out this well:
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
This short but powerful set of four verses so well points out the grace of baptism! If baptism does not confer the Grace of God then I don’t know what does. After all, isn’t dying with Christ only to be raised with Him again what we are all hoping for in the end?
Blessings to all in Christ.
PM:Respectfully, I will have to agree to disagree.
Romans 6:1-4 seems to point out this well:
Thanks for taking the time to try and understand the distinction and to make your point.
I think if you look at Acts 10:44-47 and especially Acts 11:15-17 you will see the Holy Spirit descend upon believers prior to baptism and in Acts 15:7-11 that God gave the Holy Spirit because they believed The Gospel not being baptized.
Acts 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, "John indeed baptized with water, but you shall baptize with the Holy Spirit."
Do we believe The Gospel, or do we believe that the sacrifice at Calvary only opened the possibility of salvation and there are a lot of works and practices that must be performed in order to get the Grace of God that saves our souls? If its the latter a sacramental system that imparts Grace makes sense. I don't believe that is what Scripture tells us.
Roms.10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.