Pastor Larry wrote:
"I don't agree with this at all. Paul was not diminishing baptism in any sense. He was talking about a different issue, namely, loyalty to people rather than to Christ. To be filled with the Spirit is to be obedient and one cannot be obedient without baptism."
Paul was diminishing B. in that he did not put it on the same level as salvation. Yes, you are right about the loyality issue, that is obvious. But---- what Paul said is that he came not to baptise but to preach the gospel. He in no way infers that Baptism is part of obedience or he would have chose different words. He said what he said because he meant it. He said "Hey you big goofs, you don't belong to me, Paul, or any man you belong to Jesus, don't get confused about Baptism as I didn't even come to baptise I came to preach salvation in Jesus alone, Man, I am glad I didn't confuse anybody else by Baptising them." That is a modern version of what Paul said. Looking forward to your response Pastor L.
In Christ alone (not baptism),
Brian
"I don't agree with this at all. Paul was not diminishing baptism in any sense. He was talking about a different issue, namely, loyalty to people rather than to Christ. To be filled with the Spirit is to be obedient and one cannot be obedient without baptism."
Paul was diminishing B. in that he did not put it on the same level as salvation. Yes, you are right about the loyality issue, that is obvious. But---- what Paul said is that he came not to baptise but to preach the gospel. He in no way infers that Baptism is part of obedience or he would have chose different words. He said what he said because he meant it. He said "Hey you big goofs, you don't belong to me, Paul, or any man you belong to Jesus, don't get confused about Baptism as I didn't even come to baptise I came to preach salvation in Jesus alone, Man, I am glad I didn't confuse anybody else by Baptising them." That is a modern version of what Paul said. Looking forward to your response Pastor L.
In Christ alone (not baptism),
Brian