Then you (a) do not believe original sin prevents children from reaching heaven, or (b) you don't believe in original sin? In which case, why did Christ come?
Water does not mean Baptism...Baptism does not mean water...Water in John 3 has nothing to do with Baptism in water...
Well, that would be your interpretation of Scripture. Clearly mine is different. What makes yours the more valid one other than your own pride? It sure would be easier if Christ had left some authority to explain these things to us, wouldn't it, instead of having to bicker endlessly over the meaning of words.
This is one of the many proofs that baptize does not mean water...And water does not mean baptize...
"Baptizo" means immerse, wash, cleanse. You immerse in water. Water cleanses, giving the appropriate symbolism of cleansing the person of sin.
If baptize means water, then Jesus waters with the Holy Ghost
Precisely. Christ, acting through the person of the priest who is baptizing, infuses the Holy Ghost into the soul of him who is washed in the water. Jesus waters the soul with the Holy Ghost at the same time the body is watered with the waters of the baptismal font. Thus:
"I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness" (Ezekiel 36.25)
And that's one of the reasons there is no baptism given to babies in the scriptures.
And yet, circumcision was "a sign of the covenant between me and you" (Genesis 14.11) and a "a seal of the justice of the faith" (Romans 4.11), and was given to babies. So according to you, its no longer necessary to have such a sign of the covenant between God and man by way of, say, Baptism?
You can't be serious...'Baptize with water' in the same sentence and you want to believe they both mean water??? You need an 'authority' to tell you that they both mean water???
If an 'authority' told me they both mean water, I'd dump the authority...
Precisely. Christ, acting through the person of the priest who is baptizing, infuses the Holy Ghost into the soul of him who is washed in the water.
Surely you must realize this statement is totally non biblical...There is not a single incident in the scriptures of any man infusing another man with the Holy Ghost...
Is that one of those 'traditions' that Paul handed down that he didn't bother to write about??? Who did he tell that to???
Jesus waters the soul with the Holy Ghost at the same time the body is watered with the waters of the baptismal font.
Jesus has NEVER watered anyone's soul with the Holy Ghost...Your whole premise is un-scriptural...
Thus:
"I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness" (Ezekiel 36.25)
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Did God bring you Catholics out from among the heathen and gather you into your own land??? Of course not...
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God
Do you live in the land that God gave your Fathers??? Perhaps we should listen to what Peter has to say about it...
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
A like figure...NOT getting wet, but a clear conscience...Water baptism preceded Spiritual baptism...John baptized with water BUT Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit...
And yet, circumcision was "a sign of the covenant between me and you" (Genesis 14.11) and a "a seal of the justice of the faith" (Romans 4.11), and was given to babies. So according to you, its no longer necessary to have such a sign of the covenant between God and man by way of, say, Baptism?
No, not according to me...According to God...
Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
There will be no sign given...Not circumcision, not baptism...No sign...
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
The scripture will trump and correct your catechism every time...Your catechism is nothing more than a commentary on what the scriptures say, and a poor commentary at that...