Ad Hominem. Yawn.
Not allowed at FR, as it clearly says no personal attacks.
I’ll take Jesus’ own words.
But, I guess then and now I guessguess that I will need a scribal Oral Tradition given to me by the Elders.
Jesus, why do you not wash your hands or carry on the tradition of the Elders?
Jesus: by your traditions, you usurp the Word of God.
That is preety much what was said to Jesus and how He retorted.
God can transcend all, is transcendent,, and lead all to heaven those who truly seek Him with all their heart.”
“You shall seek Me and shall find me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
That seems misplaced, considering that the majority of Protestants (Luther and Calvin included) baptize infants. Anabaptists, Southern Baptists and other descendants of the Radical Reformation do not speak for us.
I would point out that Luther stood with the Catholic and Orthodox, that infants can and should be baptized, as a sacramental act.
The question of baptism hinges upon the question of the sacrament: is baptism something we do for God, a sacrificial act demonstrating our entry into His Kingdom, or is it something God does for us, a sacramental act where He intervenes against the power of sin? If it is the former, then baptizing infants is a waste of time and water; if it is the latter, however, then not baptizing infants is an injustice against the infant. The risk of loss is therefore greater by not baptizing, than by baptizing, unless it can be proven that baptism is not an act where God intervenes—except that all acts commanded by God (cf. Matthew 28:19) are acts which lead to intervention by God, so baptism is certainly a sacramental rather than a sacrificial act.
Is salvation possible without baptism? God, who is capable of all things, is capable of saving by the blood of Jesus alone—but that evidently is not God’s “Plan A,” since baptism is commanded in numerous places in Scripture.
Oh Look, a Catholic attacking the bible again.