Saturday, July 28, 2012

* BEST OF DTB #201* Is Baptism necessary for Salvation? ABSOLUTELY

In one of the most convoluted contortions of logic you will ever see, Debra JM Smith argues against the clear words of 1 Peter chapter 3. Once again, refuting her is so easy it is embarrassing.
First, Peter's clear and unambiguous words;

20 Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God
 in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls,
 were saved by water. 
21 Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not
 the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of
 a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


Now, a summation of her convoluted interpretation;

  1. We are saved by grace, not our own work. (On this point we agree. We are not saved BY works, we are saved BY Grace, received THROUGH faith, FOR works as it's completion and perfection. (Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:21-22). In the end, our works are what Justify us and save us, as they are the proof, perfection and completion of our alleged faith.)
  2. If we are saved by Grace then the requirement for works are excluded. (a complete non-sequiter. The Bible says no such thing. In fact is says just the opposite- Romans 2:5-6)
  3. Since Mark 16 says that He believeth and is baptized will be saved and he that doesn't believe will be condemned, therefore, baptism is not necessary for salvation. (One of the most perverse contortions of logic I have ever seen)
  4. John's Baptism was of water only and Jesus' baptism brings the Holy Spirit. Therefore, there is no water involved in Jesus baptism. (not only completely against Scripture but a complete non sequiter as well)
  5. Peter is not saying that Baptism (Debra adds 'water' to the text, violating God's commandment) saves us.
  6. of like type does not draw an inference to baptism.
Debra's incoherent explanation, like everything in her heretical theology, runs smack into the brick wall that is God's word.

Let's start with Mark 16.

          16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

Mark is clearly linking belief with the action of baptism. The exegesis of the passage makes this fact inescapable.

ho pisteusas kai baptistheis sothesetai is literally translated the he having believed and having been baptized will be saved. This confirms both the past action of baptism and the past, current and continued action of belief as requirements for eventual salvation.

By comparing the Baptism of Mark 16 with that of the Eunuch in Acts 8, Debra is conceding that this is referring to what she dishonestly labels water baptism.

Mark 16b is simply stating that salvation is impossible for one who does not believe- that faith is necessary for salvation, not that it is sufficient. To say that necessity equals sufficiency is a complete non sequiter. Air is necessary for life but it is not sufficient. You must have food and water and shelter as well.

Mark 16:16a shows that Baptism is a precondition of salvation and explicitly refutes the  fallacy of once saved, always saved.

Finally, what Peter refers to in being of like form is that the few were saved by water. He is showing that Noah and the ark are a clear typology of Baptism. When Jesus referred to being Born of Water and the Spirit, he was not contrasting vaginal birth with spiritual birth as Debra perversely suggests. He was referring to how the visible sign of water is infused with the invisible charism of grace and the reception of the Holy Spirit in the one, absolutely necessary Sacrament of Baptism.

On this point, Scripture simply could not be more clear.

Acts 2
38 But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name
 of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of
 the Holy Ghost.  
39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off,
 whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.  
40 And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them,
saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.  
41 They therefore that received his word, were baptized; and there
 were added in that day about three thousand souls.


Debra stands refuted.





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