canpakes wrote:subgenius wrote:
so, what then of Mark 16:16? Baptism is not offered as an option in that verse. John 3:5 also reinforces this notion. It can not be easily be discarded because we see that water used similarly in Eph 5:26 and Titus 3:5. One can not attribute its use as being similar in meaning to John 7:37, because the word "water" is used in a completely, and clearly, different manner.
James Chapter 2 is a stark testimony of that. One can not simply have "faith", God commands that we act upon it, and Christ has commanded a specific action, the act of being baptized...i agree, its not the water in-and-of-itself, but our willingness to go into the water, and God is only satisfied with the sincerity of our willingness when we come up out of the water.
Reference also the parable of the vineyard, only those that are working receive the penny wage.
1 Peter 1:10, 20-23
John 3:3-5
Acts 19:1-7
1 Peter 3:21
Again, continue reading Hebrews 11 and you will see that faith is inextricably linked to work, to action, by obedience to what has been commanded. I have not seen where faith has provided salvation for any who believed but did nothing.
John 6:44-45, you can not even come unto Him without working.
Many have believed in Christ but were not saved
James 2:19
John 12:42-43
Acts 22:1-16
Matt. 7:21-27
To contend that Faith is all that is required contradicts the teachings for confession, repentance, baptism, endurance, etc...
There is no magic ingredient, the recipe must be followed
Acts 3:22-23
Additionally, there is evidence, outside of the scriptures as well, that early Christians baptized the dead. There is precedence for both the spiritual notion and the continued revelation that has brought about baptism by proxy today.
These are great references, but they do not explain how a proxy baptism would be valid or required for someone who has died. Nor do they explain anything about the sealing concept (mortal-to-mortal, especially as regards parents to children).
He certainly did not address the issue.