mailmandan
Well-Known Member
Whoever does not believe is condemned. (John 3:18) *Nowhere does the Bible say that whoever is not water baptized will be condemned. In regards to the Scribes and Pharisees, in Luke 7:29, we read - When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they justified God/acknowledged God's justice, (signified by) having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, (signified by) not having been baptized by John. Baptism did not magically make them become disciples, but their decision to become disciples was signified in baptism. Becoming a disciple is a heart decision which is made prior to becoming water baptized.Yes, For a nano-second long billions of nano-seconds in the past,
I wondered about that until the Father revealed this:
Whoever does not believe is condemned.
Whoever does not believe does not get immersed in Jesus' Name.
The Scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus, and were not immersed.
Are you really so naive to believe that EVERYONE throughout history who has been water baptized is a genuine believer? So EVERYONE in every false religion and cult that "claims" to be Christian and has received water baptism is a genuine believer? I know multiple people over the years (including myself) who have been water baptized (but did not truly believe at that time when they were water baptized). Now these people may have believed "mental assent" in the existence and in historical facts about Christ, but they did not believe in/have faith in/trust in/reliance in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation.
Later, after receiving Christ through faith, I was re-baptized as a believer this time. What about infants who have been water baptized (well sprinkled in their case) in the Roman Catholic church or other churches that merely sprinkle infants? Are these infants believers? Are they mature enough to even know what it means to believe in/have faith in/trust in/reliance in Jesus Christ for salvation? Please tell me you are not that naive!