Conversion-Immersion

You can be convinced of something and go straight to hell as well.

 

How about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit....how do you weigh in on that subject matter?

 

There isolated instances among "Baptists" that are embracing this point of view but even among them they do not embrace your soteriology. It is one thing to admit that conversion to the gospel is accompanied by baptism in the New Testament pages but it is quite another thing to interpret baptism as essential to gospel conversion IN ORDER TO BE saved. That is precisely your soteriological interpretation and position.

 

Once a person ceases to believe in Baptism as anything other than an ordinance, they cease to be baptists.

But I do think you have taken the phrase "baptists all over the world" and made it to mean that the small group of people I've talked into this.

 

When you say "Baptists all over the world" you are giving the impression of a MAJORITY and that is completely false. You are really talking about a very very very few isolated Theologues in comparison to the VAST amount of Baptists. Let's keep things honest.

 

Thank you! As you are well aware, there are and have been those considered to be "heretics" among Baptists. The SBC for a long time embraced such professors within their institutions before cleansing the convention of those they regarded as heretical before that cleansing took place (some still remain). There were those like Professor Toy in Southern Seminary in the late 19th century that was cuddled for some time before expelling him. Toy claimed that modern scientific scholarship around the world was behind his views but the vast majority of Baptists were not. Likewise, with your soteriological heresy.

 

>Originally Posted by adisciplinedlearner
>Baptists all over the world are coming to the realization that in New Testament times, initial conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ included repentance, faith, and the confession of Christ in baptism. I call this New Testament practice conversion-immersion, and I am convinced that this is how people became Christians during the New Testament era. I am further convinced that this is how people become Christians today.

Meaningless because "become Christians" is to general a term for this thread. What this defines is how people become members of a local congregation, NOT how they become regenerate. Further, In their conformation ritual, non-paedo-baptists confirm their baptism by confessing Christ.

 

This passage does not refer to water baptism. There are two possible better interpretations:
1. That water refers to natural childbirth.
2. That water refers to the word of God, as in "washing of water with the word." (Eph 5:26)

 

That is not his biggest problem with this text. He doesn't even believe there was New Testament salvation until Pentecost. If he tries to justify this Pre-pentecost exhortation for Nicodemus to be regenerated by baptism then he has to deal with the theif on the cross without baptism.

 

Yes, the VAST amount of Baptists regard baptism as a public statement, no more or no less. Only the few who have not been brainwashed by Baptist tradition, and are willing to believe what the Bible really says, are rethinking this concept. Disciplinedlearner, I commend you for discerning the truth. I'm sure it was difficult to let go of some of your long held but wrong beliefs. You are 100% correct in your view of John 3:5.

 

Good...we're back on schedule. We can check off the Church of Christ Baptism doctrine.

Next week, we'll deal with the scandalous evil of the apostate church: Pianos in the sanctuary.