tcmc,
u posted the below, nw i shall try to reply u...
Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
John 3:5 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.
Acts 2:37-8 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in
their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.
For Mark 16:15-16...it says ;;he tat believeth not shall be
damned...it doesnt say he tat believeth not AND BAPTISED NOT shall
be damned...''
John 3:5...the ''see the kingdom of God'' in this case is
not referring to going to heaven...if u read the verse before it,
the pharisee was asking jesus tat no man can do these miracles
except God be with him. Then Jesus replied him with John 3:5...in
other words, one had to be born again in order to do these miracles
or know that these miracles are from God...Jesus was indirectly
telling the pharisee tat the pharisee did not know
God...
Acts 2:37-38...look at the sequence...''repent, and be
baptised..., and receive the gift of the holy spirit...the verse
suggests tat repentance is a pre-requisite of baptism followed by
the gift of the spirit...if baptism was needed for salvaion, the
verse would have said sth like repent BY BEING BAPTISED/BY GETTING
BAPTISED...
I hope i have provided adequate explanation for the above
verses and tat u are able to see why there are no
contradictions...
despondent,
the way you explained away the verses are very funny. You are
just finding excuses for yourself not to believe in those
verses!
Some verses you like, you believe they are literal.
Some verses you dont like, you jus say "theres a deeper
meaning".
Seriously, why do you pick and choose?Buffet ah?
No your answers are not adequate. Because those christians who
believe that baptism is needed for salvation also do the same thing
you do.
They explain AWAY those verses that say that "baptism is not
needed". They do the same thing as you, but opposite.
So how am I supposed to know if you are speaking the truth or
them?