1. Other may beg to differ with me, but when I read the book of Acts, immediately every believer was baptized.
2. Water baptism was commanded by Jesus as the first step of discipleship (Matt. 28:18-20).
How can we demonstrate our total commitment to Him and not be baptized in obedience to Him?
I see what you mean.
I was baptized a few months after I was saved and I don't remember doing it out of a sense of obedience, but I felt compelled to do it.
I suppose it was obedience though.
I just may not have understood that at the time.
I had a rough time after I was saved.
I had no one to disciple me and I was attending a charasmatic church that "messed with my head".
I changed to the Baptist church and that's where I was baptized.
I've been a Baptist ever since.
I believe that water baptism is a symbol of our committment to Christ, but the real baptism is of the Holy Spirit.
(not in the charasmatic way)
1. If you're in for a meaningful debate, then I'll oblige you.
2. Acts 18:27 says, "When he arrived,
he greatly helped those who through grace had believed" Acts 18:27 (ESV, emphasis mine).
A perfect example of grace preceding faith.
"Through grace" is instrumental to their faith.
That is ridicules! The passage not suggesting that they were given grace before they were saved or before they came too faith.
Look at scripture.
Eph 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
The faith must come first, not after.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
A condition for grace Repent.
Grace has conditions. They are repentance and faith. No repentance and faith and no grace