What does being born again mean?

[heartwashed]

No; I'm saying that in Romans 8:30, if you have not been called, you will not be justified, neither glorified; and certainly have not been predestinated however you view that doctrine.

And the conditional promise of the Holy Ghost, given to as many as the Lord our God shall call, is given only to those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name.

 

[heartwashed]

Yes, it was an OT ritual that symbolized this. But Paul says now that he came not to baptize but to preach the gospel. Nowhere does Scripture say that he had others do the duty of baptism for him while he preached the gospel. Paul in fact thanked God that he baptized none of the Corinthians except two of them (1 Corinthians 1:14). So if baptism was salvific, why would Paul be thankful that an act that is a part of our salvation was something that he was thankful to God that he did not do? This is why baptismal Salvationism does not make a whole lot of sense.

How were the many Corinthians baptized in Acts of the Apostles 18:8?

Paul only baptized three of them (1 Corinthians 1:14-16).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

No; I'm saying that in Romans 8:30, if you have not been called, you will not be justified, neither glorified; and certainly have not been predestinated however you view that doctrine.

And the conditional promise of the Holy Ghost, given to as many as the Lord our God shall call, is given only to those who receive baptism in Jesus' Name.

There are Calvinists who believe that they are the called or elected, and thus they will be justified and glorified. They don’t believe a Christian can fall away from the faith even though the Bible does teach that in many places. Only Protestantism has blinded the minds of men to see otherwise.

 

[heartwashed]

There are Calvinists who believe that they are the called or elected, and thus they will be justified and glorified. They don’t believe a Christian can fall away from the faith even though the Bible does teach that in many places. Only Protestantism has blinded the minds of men to see otherwise.

Again, that has nothing to do with my point.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what I am trying to say to you.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

How were the many Corinthians baptized in Acts of the Apostles 18:8?

Paul only baptized three of them (1 Corinthians 1:14-16).

It does not say Paul baptized three people.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:14-17. It says he only baptized two and one household.
It does not mean many Corinthians were not baptized by some other means. I am not discounting that many believers were water baptized in the early church. The tradition of John the Baptist was very strong upon people’s minds. Luke 16:16 says, “law and the prophets were until John.” We are not under the Old Law (Romans 6:14). But we are under the Law(s) of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).

 

[heartwashed]

It does not say Paul baptized three people.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:14-17. It says he only baptized two and one household.
It does not mean many Corinthians were not baptized by some other means. I am not discounting that many believers were water baptized in the early church. The tradition of John the Baptist was very strong upon people’s minds. Luke 16:16 says, “law and the prophets were until John:}. We are not under the Old Law (Romans 6:14). But we are under the Law(s) of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).

So, more than three people.

Three of them mentioned by name.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Again, that has nothing to do with my point.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what I am trying to say to you.

I can say the same for you. Listen to Paul (or the writer of Acts) in Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7. Paul asks the Ephesian believers which baptism they had. They knew only of John’s baptism. So they were water baptized. It’s silly that they had to be re-baptized into water again a second time in the name of Jesus when no water is mentioned in that passage. Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Spirit. Why didn’t they receive the Spirit by being water baptized again?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So, more than three people.

Three of them mentioned by name.

No. Two people, and one household.
A household is not one person.
A household is a family.

 

[heartwashed]

They were water-baptized again; in the name of the Lord Jesus; just like the passage says.

re #107.

 

[heartwashed]

No. Two people, and one household.
A household is not a person.

It is silly to argue.

But there were three that Paul mentioned by name.

Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas.

Stephanas would have been baptized along with his household.

 

[heartwashed]

You are also assuming that Paul, a mere human being, had the power to baptize people in the Holy Ghost. Only God can do that.

When we are baptized by another human being, it is definitely in water.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

It is silly to argue.

But there were three that Paul mentioned by name.

Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas.

Stephanas would have been baptized along with his household.

Stephanas would be included in that household.

 

[theefaith]

To be born again means to be washed with regeneration and renewing in the Holy Ghost.

This happens "not through works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5).

However, being regenerated and renewed means that we are now inclined towards doing good works; in fact, now that we are born again we ought to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).

However, to him that worketh not, but believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:5).

This indicates that salvation is a free gift.

The gift itself is righteousness (Romans 5:17).

And righteousness is a practical thing (1 John 3:7, Matthew 5:6, Romans 5:19).

So, while we are not born again through any works that we might do, once we are born again it should be true of us that we will begin to walk in good works.

For the love of the Lord is shed abroad in our hearts through the infilling of the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).

And the genuine love being spoken of there is not impractical (1 John 3:17-18).

Jn 3:5 what’s the water for?

A sacrament is an oath! A sacred promise from God! Ez 36:25-27

Jesus says: I remind you you’re still under oath!

A sacrament is an outward sign for all men including infants And a gift from God to help us see what he does inwardly and invisibly by his grace!

As grace Washes our souls in the merits of Jesus blood from original and personal sin, so the outward action of washing is visible!

without the outward action the inward action cannot take place!

Jn 3:5 Titus 3:5 water and washing
acts 22:16 wash away your sin!

Jn 3:5 Born again BY water and the spirit! Not by “faith alone”!

They did not go to Jerusalem and preach “accept Christ as you’re personal Lord and savior “

They went to the river (water) and they baptized! Jn 3:22

A covenant requires an outward sign of the inward action of grace!

Ez 36:25 I will sprinkle you with clean water and you shall be made white as snow.

Acts 22:16 washing away your sins.

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 pet 3:21 baptism saves you.


Baptism!

God breathed life into Adam, gen 2:7 and we received this life from our fathers!

Christ breathed on the apostles our spiritual fathers, we receive the new covenant life of God’s grace from them thru faith & baptism! Jn 20:21-23 Mk 16:16 acts 8:36-38 eph 2

Born again! Born from above!

'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism,

Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." 87 The faithful Christian who I has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," 88 with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

St. Paul tells the faithful at Ephesus that they have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This is in terms of an indelible character imprinted on the soul in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It is not as if this invisible mark is simply decorative. Rather, through it, we are enabled to participate in Christ’s mission and in his offices of priest, prophet, and king. Eph 1:13

Sealed by God eph 1:13 sealed by God (ez 36:25-27) in the ark of salvation by baptism just as Noah was sealed by God in the ark of the flood gen 7:16

1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!
(Ark of Noah a type of the church, member of Christ and his church and salvation by baptism!)
(Outside the ark of Noah none were saved, outside the church (the ark of salvation) none are saved!)

Sealed in the ark, sealed in the church the ark of salvation by God thru baptism!



Effects of faith & baptism!

Ez 36:25-27 washed in baptism, with a new heart and the Spirit
Jn 3:5 born again in baptism
Mk 16:16 faith & baptist
Acts 2:38 repentance & baptism
Acts 8:36-38 faith & baptism
Acts 22:16 baptism washes away sin
Rom 6:3 died with Christ
Col 2:12 risen with Christ
1 cor 12:13 baptized into the church
Gal 3:27 by baptism put on Christ
2 Tim 1:10 brought to life
2 cor 5:17 new creation
Eph 1:13 sealed by the Holy Spirit
Eph 2:1&5 brought to life in baptism
Eph 4:5 one baptism
Eph 5:26 faith and baptism
Titus 3:5 baptismal regeneration
1 pet 1:2 washed in Christ’s blood
1 pet 2:9 and not the kingdom of light
1 pet 3:20-21 baptism saves us!

“Faith alone” accomplishes nothing!
1 cor 13:2 even all faith (alone) without charity avails NOTHING!!!

Faith and baptism!

Scripture says none of the things about “Faith alone”!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You are also assuming that Paul, a mere human being, had the power to baptize people in the Holy Ghost. Only God can do that.

When we are baptized by another human being, it is definitely in water.

The receiving of the Spirit by the laying on of hands happened not only in Acts 19, but also in Acts 8, too.

In Acts 19:6, we learn that when Paul laid his hands on the Ephesian believers, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts of the Apostles 19:6
“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

This means water baptism did not give them the Holy Ghost.

Acts of the Apostles 8:17
“Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

The Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household BEFORE they were water baptized (Therefore showing that water baptism is not the prerequisite for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit) (See: Acts of the Apostles 10:34-44).

Therefore, if this is the case, then we must re-examine what Acts of the Apostles 2:38 is really saying. For Acts of the Apostles 2:38 is following John’s baptism, and this instruction was given to the Jews, and not the Gentiles. The law and the prophets was until John the baptist (Luke 16:16). John the baptist said that he baptizes with water, but there is one mightier than Him who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This shows the difference between what John did (water baptism) vs. what Jesus will do (under the New Covenant).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

First, logic dictates that if Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7 refers to water baptism, then why did Paul have to lay hands on them for the Spirit to come upon the Ephesian believers? If they were water baptized, they should have automatically received the Spirit if we are to take Acts of the Apostles 2:38 as some kind of unbreakable command that applied to all people.

Second, no water is mentioned in Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7. So to automatically assume water baptism is just showing one’s own bias. For it makes more logical sense by the context that Paul is talking about a Spirit baptism here. Why would Paul re-baptize a group of believers in water again? It makes no sense. They had already been water baptized.

 

[theefaith]

John’s baptism is only prefigures Christian baptism according to Matt 28:19

Context of Jn 3:5 “born again”

John1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; (John prepared the way by baptism)

John 2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. (Old covenant prefiguring of baptism, purification from sin)(His disciples believed because the ever Virgin mother of God interceded Jn 2:11)

John3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Baptism)

John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.(Baptism / water)

John 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.

Born again means Baptismal regeneration!


baptismal regeneration!
A new creation in Christ! 2 cor 5:17
Jn 1 JTB prepared the way by baptism!
Jn 2 the waters of purification are OT prefigurement of baptism!
Jn 3:5 born again means baptism
Jn 3:22 they immediately went to the river! Not to preach “accept Christ as personal lord and savior”
But to BAPTIZE!!!

 

[theefaith]

A sacrament is an oath! A sacred promise from God! Ez 36:25-27

Jesus says: I remind you you’re still under oath!


A sacrament is an outward sign for all men including infants And a gift from God to help us see what he does inwardly and invisibly by his grace!

As grace Washes our souls in the merits of Jesus blood from original and personal sin, so the outward action of washing is visible!

without the outward action the inward action cannot take place!

Jn 3:5 Titus 3:5 water and washing
acts 22:16 wash away your sin!

Jn 3:5 Born again BY water and the spirit! Not by “faith alone”!

They did not go to Jerusalem and preach “accept Christ as you’re personal Lord and savior “

They went to the river (water) and they baptized! Jn 3:22

A covenant requires an outward sign of the inward action of grace!

Ez 36:25 I will sprinkle you with clean water and you shall be made white as snow.

Acts 22:16 washing away your sins.

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 pet 3:21 baptism saves you.


Baptism!

God breathed life into Adam, gen 2:7 and we received this life from our fathers!

Christ breathed on the apostles our spiritual fathers, we receive the new covenant life of God’s grace from them thru faith & baptism! Jn 20:21-23 Mk 16:16 acts 8:36-38 eph 2

Born again! Born from above!

'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism,

Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." 87 The faithful Christian who I has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," 88 with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

St. Paul tells the faithful at Ephesus that they have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This is in terms of an indelible character imprinted on the soul in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It is not as if this invisible mark is simply decorative. Rather, through it, we are enabled to participate in Christ’s mission and in his offices of priest, prophet, and king. Eph 1:13

Sealed by God eph 1:13 sealed by God (ez 36:25-27) in the ark of salvation by baptism just as Noah was sealed by God in the ark of the flood gen 7:16

1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!
(Ark of Noah a type of the church, member of Christ and his church and salvation by baptism!)
(Outside the ark of Noah none were saved, outside the church (the ark of salvation) none are saved!)

Sealed in the ark, sealed in the church the ark of salvation by God thru baptism!



Effects of faith & baptism!

Ez 36:25-27 washed in baptism, with a new heart and the Spirit
Jn 3:5 born again in baptism
Mk 16:16 faith & baptist
Acts 2:38 repentance & baptism
Acts 8:36-38 faith & baptism
Acts 22:16 baptism washes away sin
Rom 6:3 died with Christ
Col 2:12 risen with Christ
1 cor 12:13 baptized into the church
Gal 3:27 by baptism put on Christ
2 Tim 1:10 brought to life
2 cor 5:17 new creation
Eph 1:13 sealed by the Holy Spirit
Eph 2:1&5 brought to life in baptism
Eph 4:5 one baptism
Eph 5:26 faith and baptism
Titus 3:5 baptismal regeneration
1 pet 1:2 washed in Christ’s blood
1 pet 2:9 and not the kingdom of light
1 pet 3:20-21 baptism saves us!

“Faith alone” accomplishes nothing!
1 cor 13:2 even all faith (alone) without charity avails NOTHING!!!

Faith and baptism!

Scripture says none of the things about “Faith alone”!






“Faith alone”

Questions

where does scripture says we have died with Christ by “faith alone”?

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

where does scripture say we are members of Christ and his church by “faith alone”?

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

where does scripture says we put on Christ by “faith alone”?

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Where does scripture say our sins are washed away by “faith alone”?

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

where does scripture say we are saved or justified by “faith alone”?

1 pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!

The only reference in scripture to “faith alone” is James 2:24 NOT BY “FAITH ALONE”?

2 pet 1: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

How can you enter by your own if it must be ministered to you? Baptism is done unto you, “not do it yourself by faith alone”

Jn 3:5 born again by faith alone?

Where is “Accept Christ as your personal lord & savior” is found in scripture?

They did not go preaching this line but went immediately to the river and baptized Jn 3:22

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Eph 4:5 one baptism

Why don’t it say one teeny tiny little act of “faith alone”???

When we first believed we are saved?

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

How can salvation be nearer than when we first believed if you’re saved by believing?

1 pet 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Matt 24:13 endures to the end Shall be saved.

How can salvation happen when we first believed if it’s the end?

If salvation is by “faith alone” then faith would be the greatest!
1 cor 13:13 charity is the greatest!

Even all faith much less “faith alone” without charity avails nothing!
1 cor 13:2

 

[heartwashed]

The receiving of the Spirit by the laying on of hands happened not only in Acts 19, but also in Acts 8, too.

In Acts 19:6, we learn that when Paul laid his hands on the Ephesian believers, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts of the Apostles 19:6
“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

This means water baptism did not give them the Holy Ghost.

Acts of the Apostles 8:17
“Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

The Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household BEFORE they were water baptized (Therefore showing that water baptism is not the prerequisite for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit) (See: Acts of the Apostles 10:34-44).

Therefore, if this is the case, then we must re-examine what Acts of the Apostles 2:38 is really saying. For Acts of the Apostles 2:38 is following John’s baptism, and this instruction was given to the Jews, and not the Gentiles. The law and the prophets was until John the baptist (Luke 16:16). John the baptist said that he baptizes with water, but there is one mightier than Him who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This shows the difference between what John did (water baptism) vs. what Jesus will do (under the New Covenant).

In both passages, the people were water-baptized in Jesus' Name before the apostles laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost.

So, they did not pray for them to receive the Holy Ghost apart from water-baptism in Jesus' Name as a point of contact for faith.

Notice that in Acts 2:38, it does not say that baptism in Jesus' Name will always immediately result in the person receiving the Holy Ghost.

Also, your contention that water-baptism is a thing of the Old Testament law is refuted by Matthew 28:19...water baptism is clearly something that was mandated by our Lord Jesus in the New Testament.

First, logic dictates that if Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7 refers to water baptism, then why did Paul have to lay hands on them for the Spirit to come upon the Ephesian believers? If they were water baptized, they should have automatically received the Spirit if we are to take Acts of the Apostles 2:38 as some kind of unbreakable command that applied to all people.

Second, no water is mentioned in Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7. So to automatically assume water baptism is just showing one’s own bias. For it makes more logical sense by the context that Paul is talking about a Spirit baptism here. Why would Paul re-baptize a group of believers in water again? It makes no sense. They had already been water baptized.

Since the first mention of baptism in the New Testament is John the Baptist baptizing people in the river Jordan (thus in water) we can conclude that when baptism is referred to as something that is visibly happening, it is referring to water baptism.

One has to enter into the conversation with a "bias" against water baptism in order to conclude that when baptism is mentioned it must be referring to baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Again, in Acts 19:1-7, there is the issue of redundancy.

Act 19:1, And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3, And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4, Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5, When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6, And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7, And all the men were about twelve.

If "baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus" here, is baptism in the Holy Spirit, how then did the Holy Ghost come upon them one verse later since, if your contention is valid, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit only a moment before? Were there two baptisms in the Holy Spirit? Why were two baptisms necessary?

 

[heartwashed]

Jn 3:5 Born again BY water and the spirit! Not by “faith alone”!

Yes, by faith alone.

Faith in the operation of God that takes place in the ordinance of baptism.

Col 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

[theefaith]

Yes, by faith alone.

Faith in the operation of God that takes place in the ordinance of baptism.

Col 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

what’s the water for?
Jn 3:5

why did they immediately go to the city and preach “accept Christ by faith alone as personal savior “ oh ya sorry they went to the river and baptized!