Here is our first problem. This is not a two step program in God's Word. If you look at Ephesians 2:1-10 the subject is quickening the spiritually dead man. Verse 1 states the fact while verses 2-3 explain what they were prior to quickening. If you will kindly study those previous attributes listed in verses 2-3 that is what is changed by quickening:
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In verse 5 it is again asserted they were quickened with a brief summary explanation that quickening is a past tense "savED" by grace experience:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
The added explanation here is instructional. This quickening was "with Christ" or as it is later stated in verse 10 it is a work only God can do "his workmanship" as it requires a CREATIVE act or "created IN CHRIST." However, here in verse 5 Paul introduces this completed work "with Christ" as a work that is accomplished "by grace ye are savED")
Verse 8 Paul continues this same description of quickening as a work in connection with Christ but expands upon it a little further - "For by grace are ye saved THROUGH faith."
Hence, he has now asserted twice it is a completed work "savED" and it is the work of God "with Christ" and accomplished "by grace." However in this second instance he expounds upon the meaning of grace by contrast and then explains why it must be accomplished solely by God.
This work of quickening is through faith rather than how you have explained it in a two step method. It is not quickened and then followed by faith but it is a finished work ("savED") that includes faith as it is accomplished "THROUGH FAITH." This work of God is then asserted to be "and that not of yourselves for it is a GIFT of God" The Greek preposition "ek" with the negative particle absolutely denies that this "saved" work of God includes human participation as it is "a gift" from God "and not of works, lest any man should boast."
Now, significantly the phrase "not of works" speaks of works originating from "ourselves" prior to quickening while "unto good works" in verse 10 speaks of works originating out of ourselves after quickening.
Faith fits NEITHER category! It is not "of works" prior to quckening OR part of "good works" after quickening but is inclusive as God's "workmanship" and his CREATIVE work of quckening as "faith" occurs "by grace are ye SAVED THROUGH FAITH" - This is the "workmanship of God" or being "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS" just as vers 5 describes quickening as being "WITH CHRIST."
Bottom line - faith does not originate in and of man but is a creative work of God in the act of quickening which is the past tense "savED" state of man.
Now, this does not occur in baptism for a very obvious reason. Look again at verses 2-3 which show the past tense prior to quickening whereas faith is inseparably involved in the creative work of God in quickening.
You cannot possibly say that verses 2-3 describe the condition of the person being baptized. Hence baptism cannot possibly be the modus operandi for quickening.
Are you going to tell us that just prior to water being applied to the candidate for baptism that such a candidate is aptly described presently as one:
1. Still walking after the course of the world at the point of baptism?
2. Still having Satan working in him at the point of baptism?
3. Still a child of disobedience at the point of baptism?
Ephesians 4:18 also describes additional characteristics of the person still separated from "the life of God." Are you going to tell us that at the point of baptism such descriptions still characterize the candidate?? Look at them:
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: \19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
1. Still having the understanding darkened at the point of baptism?
2. Still ignorant
3. Still blind
4. Still past feeling
5. Still given ove unto lasciviiousness
6. Still working uncleaness with greediness
The act of quckening changes all the above while prior to the point of quickening
all the above still characterize that candidate.
It does not take too much common sense to figure out that the candidate for baptism must already possess these changes BEFORE they are baptized.
There is no such thing as a believing unregenerated person or an unbelieving regenerated person as regeneration is INCLUSIVE of faith and change of all these characteristics.
