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Mr. Finnell persists in his claim that one needs to be baptized in water to be saved:
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THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THERE IS ONE BAPTISM. WHAT IS THAT BAPTISM? (EPHESIANS 4:5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM,) WHAT IS THAT ONE BAPTISM?
There is one baptism. Is it water baptism or baptism with the Holy Spirit? (Granting for a moment that there is only a singular baptism, which I would dispute, then what does Mr. Finnell do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit? I'm going to surmise that Mr. Finnell believes the baptism of the Holy Spirit has ceased. This would conveniently allow him to claim there is only one baptism, water baptism.)
The 12 apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. What was the purpose of their baptism? (Notice that Mr. Finnell will restrict his discussion to the apostles, which suggests he believes that only the Apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Most certainly he believes the Apostles received a "special" amount of Holy Spirit not available to us today.)
Acts 1:4-8 ....but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence...8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
The purpose of the apostles being baptized with the Holy Spirit was so they could receive power to witness to the world. (Ok, so what then does Mr. Finnell do with other baptisms of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures? What about the universal nature of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? 1Co. 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.")
There no mention of being baptized with the Holy Spirit and a connection to being born again. The apostles baptism with the Holy Spirit was not their new birth. (False. Jn. 3:3-6: "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' 4 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!' 5 Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'" Jesus clearly teaches that being born again is the Holy Spirit giving birth to our spirits.)
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so their sins could be forgiven.
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could be saved.
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit as a baptism into Christ.
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the ONE BAPTISM that the apostle Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:5. (His first three declarative statements do not lead to the fourth.)
THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER.
Jesus said ( Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Was Jesus telling the eleven disciples to Spiritually baptize disciples of all nations? The disciples did not have the power nor the authority to baptized anyone with the Holy Spirit. They baptized people with water. (This is terribly confused thinking. The disciples didn't have the power to do anything. None of us have any power at all. It is the power of God who works in us via the Holy Spirit. Without Him we are nothing.
Nevertheless, Mr, Finnell is wrong. We know the Apostles were very concerned with the Holy Spirit, and acted purposely to impart Him to others: Ac. 8:14-17: "When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
On the Day of Pentecost after Peter preached the gospel to them; the 3000 asked what they should do. Peter did not tell them to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could have their sins forgiven. Peter commanded them ( Acts 2:38..."Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) Peter commanded the ONE BAPTISM, water baptism. (Too bad this Scripture doesn't mention water.)
Was the apostle Peters instruction to the 3000, to be Spiritually baptized? Of course not, you cannot command someone to be Spiritually baptized. (Unsupported assertion.) On the Day of Pentecost 3000+ were immersed in water. (Unsupported assertion) (Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
The conversion of the eunuch. (Acts 8:26-38....36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?".....
The eunuch did not ask what prevents me from being baptized with the Holy Spirit. If Phillip was going to Spiritually baptized the eunuch, why would he need water. There is ONE BAPTISM and it is water. (Unsupported assertion)
Acts 22:12-16....Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
Ananias did not tell Saul to get up and be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Why would Saul have to get up to be Spiritually baptized. Saul was baptized in water, the ONE BAPTISM.
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT DURING WATER BAPTISM? YES! (Whoops, what? Mr. Finnell has been making a big deal of water baptism and dismissively discussing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and now suddenly swerves into admitting there is a spiritual component to baptism? Did he re-read this before posting it?)
Although Jesus was without sin and did not have to be born of water and the Spirit; the example was given at His baptism. (Matthew 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.) This was symbolic of the new birth. (Whoa. Mr. Finnell flips it around. He claims the SPIRIT is symbolic, and WATER BAPTISM is real. Now that is truly astounding.)
THE NEW BIRTH
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
This parallels the example of the baptism of Jesus is that, there is a water and Spirit connection. (Yes, this is what we are dealing with and Mr. Finnell has denied. It is the nature of that connection which is the point of disagreement!)
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Two things happen that saved them 1. The washing of regeneration (water baptism). 2. Renewing by the Holy Spirit. You cannot separate water baptism and the Holy Spirit when taking about being born again (The New Birth). (No, no, no! There is ONE thing that saved them, "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." The HOLY SPIRIT accomplishes the washing of regeneration and the renewing! Do you see how preconceptions can color a person't thinking, so that even the plain statements of Scripture are not understood? This is the nature of deception, where the truth becomes obscured by the fleshly nature. This is the product of an unregenerate mind.)
Acts 2:38 ....be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When you are baptized with water you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You are born of water and the Spirit. That is being born again, it is the new birth.
There is only one baptism that you can comply with; and it is to be immersed in water.
If you have been obedient to the terms for pardon, you have been immersed in water, you have been born again of water and the Spirit.(Of course faith, repentance and acknowledging Jesus as Lord and believing His resurrection, must precede water baptism)
THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER. (Ephesians 4:5)
(Mr. Finnell has gone to great lengths to bolster water baptism, the existence of which no one disputes, confusing the existence with the necessity of it. After all this he has not established the requirement of water baptism as opposed to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
It's easy to lose focus when there are many elements at work, just as it's easy to come to conclusions to support your preconceptions. This is what happens when "...people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.")
Mr. Finnell persists in his claim that one needs to be baptized in water to be saved:
--------------------------------------
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THERE IS ONE BAPTISM. WHAT IS THAT BAPTISM? (EPHESIANS 4:5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM,) WHAT IS THAT ONE BAPTISM?
There is one baptism. Is it water baptism or baptism with the Holy Spirit? (Granting for a moment that there is only a singular baptism, which I would dispute, then what does Mr. Finnell do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit? I'm going to surmise that Mr. Finnell believes the baptism of the Holy Spirit has ceased. This would conveniently allow him to claim there is only one baptism, water baptism.)
The 12 apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. What was the purpose of their baptism? (Notice that Mr. Finnell will restrict his discussion to the apostles, which suggests he believes that only the Apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Most certainly he believes the Apostles received a "special" amount of Holy Spirit not available to us today.)
Acts 1:4-8 ....but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence...8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
The purpose of the apostles being baptized with the Holy Spirit was so they could receive power to witness to the world. (Ok, so what then does Mr. Finnell do with other baptisms of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures? What about the universal nature of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? 1Co. 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.")
There no mention of being baptized with the Holy Spirit and a connection to being born again. The apostles baptism with the Holy Spirit was not their new birth. (False. Jn. 3:3-6: "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' 4 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!' 5 Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'" Jesus clearly teaches that being born again is the Holy Spirit giving birth to our spirits.)
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so their sins could be forgiven.
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could be saved.
The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit as a baptism into Christ.
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the ONE BAPTISM that the apostle Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:5. (His first three declarative statements do not lead to the fourth.)
THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER.
Jesus said ( Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Was Jesus telling the eleven disciples to Spiritually baptize disciples of all nations? The disciples did not have the power nor the authority to baptized anyone with the Holy Spirit. They baptized people with water. (This is terribly confused thinking. The disciples didn't have the power to do anything. None of us have any power at all. It is the power of God who works in us via the Holy Spirit. Without Him we are nothing.
Nevertheless, Mr, Finnell is wrong. We know the Apostles were very concerned with the Holy Spirit, and acted purposely to impart Him to others: Ac. 8:14-17: "When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
On the Day of Pentecost after Peter preached the gospel to them; the 3000 asked what they should do. Peter did not tell them to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could have their sins forgiven. Peter commanded them ( Acts 2:38..."Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) Peter commanded the ONE BAPTISM, water baptism. (Too bad this Scripture doesn't mention water.)
Was the apostle Peters instruction to the 3000, to be Spiritually baptized? Of course not, you cannot command someone to be Spiritually baptized. (Unsupported assertion.) On the Day of Pentecost 3000+ were immersed in water. (Unsupported assertion) (Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
The conversion of the eunuch. (Acts 8:26-38....36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?".....
The eunuch did not ask what prevents me from being baptized with the Holy Spirit. If Phillip was going to Spiritually baptized the eunuch, why would he need water. There is ONE BAPTISM and it is water. (Unsupported assertion)
Acts 22:12-16....Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
Ananias did not tell Saul to get up and be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Why would Saul have to get up to be Spiritually baptized. Saul was baptized in water, the ONE BAPTISM.
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT DURING WATER BAPTISM? YES! (Whoops, what? Mr. Finnell has been making a big deal of water baptism and dismissively discussing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and now suddenly swerves into admitting there is a spiritual component to baptism? Did he re-read this before posting it?)
Although Jesus was without sin and did not have to be born of water and the Spirit; the example was given at His baptism. (Matthew 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.) This was symbolic of the new birth. (Whoa. Mr. Finnell flips it around. He claims the SPIRIT is symbolic, and WATER BAPTISM is real. Now that is truly astounding.)
THE NEW BIRTH
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
This parallels the example of the baptism of Jesus is that, there is a water and Spirit connection. (Yes, this is what we are dealing with and Mr. Finnell has denied. It is the nature of that connection which is the point of disagreement!)
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Two things happen that saved them 1. The washing of regeneration (water baptism). 2. Renewing by the Holy Spirit. You cannot separate water baptism and the Holy Spirit when taking about being born again (The New Birth). (No, no, no! There is ONE thing that saved them, "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." The HOLY SPIRIT accomplishes the washing of regeneration and the renewing! Do you see how preconceptions can color a person't thinking, so that even the plain statements of Scripture are not understood? This is the nature of deception, where the truth becomes obscured by the fleshly nature. This is the product of an unregenerate mind.)
Acts 2:38 ....be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When you are baptized with water you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You are born of water and the Spirit. That is being born again, it is the new birth.
There is only one baptism that you can comply with; and it is to be immersed in water.
If you have been obedient to the terms for pardon, you have been immersed in water, you have been born again of water and the Spirit.(Of course faith, repentance and acknowledging Jesus as Lord and believing His resurrection, must precede water baptism)
THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER. (Ephesians 4:5)
(Mr. Finnell has gone to great lengths to bolster water baptism, the existence of which no one disputes, confusing the existence with the necessity of it. After all this he has not established the requirement of water baptism as opposed to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
It's easy to lose focus when there are many elements at work, just as it's easy to come to conclusions to support your preconceptions. This is what happens when "...people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.")
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