The Mormons use the same verse to defend their being baptized for the dead. Do you even know why and what this refers to? Have you stumbled into 'judaizing' the Gospel of God's Grace in Christ?
Think upon the reason Jesus said that those who will not acknowledge Him before men He will not acknowledge before the Father in Heaven. You have 'almost' lifted baptism to the level of something to be proud of. Applying God's Grace is God's work, not in any way your work, lest you boast ...
**The Mormons use the same verse to defend their being baptized for the dead. Do you even know why and what this refers to? Have you stumbled into ‘judaizing’ the Gospel of God’s Grace in Christ?**
It most certainly refers to what I said: “...which was just Paul explaining that it all is nothing but vanity if Christ isn’t risen from the dead. But, he knew it was not vain, for Christ is risen. That’s the good conscience Peter was referring to. It is not a vain thing, and it is not a bath. It’s burial with HIM.”
What I apparently didn’t make clear, is that the verse is not about being baptized in place of someone deceased, that hadn’t been baptized. It’s saying that being baptized into the body of Christ is vain if Christ, and his since deceased believers are still dead. Why keep baptizing souls into the body if the body of Christ is dead, and rises not?
**You have ‘almost’ lifted baptism to the level of something to be proud of.**
Jesus Christ, in his commissions, is the one that first emphasized water baptism be performed. He’s is found telling his disciples that THEY must baptize. That’s not Holy Ghost baptism, since the disciples were NOT the ones giving the Spirit. Jesus commanded that repentance and remission of sins be preached IN HIS NAME, beginning at Jerusalem. Acts 2:38 is the beginning of fulfilling that command. Is it from heaven, or of men?
I think that you need to read post #81 slowly, and see if I’m ‘lifting baptism’ higher than the scriptures present it.