Brian, it's not a matter of "if" Jesus was praying. Read Matthew 26:39 & 42, Mark 14:35 & 39, Luke 22:41 & 44-45. Then try to deny that Jesus was praying to God.If Jesus was praying that makes Jesus inferior therefore they are not co equal. And that is contrary with the doctrine of the Trinity.
And scripture is still clear: Jesus is equal to, and is, God in the flesh, even though God says "this is my son" and Jesus says "My father which is in heaven."
I see exactly what you're trying to say about the Trinity; the fact is that we're actually a lot closer in belief on the subject than you'd like to think. I just happen to look exactly at what scripture says--every precept, every line, every little bit here and there. And what I continually see are references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--separate, but the same. I gave you several of those references.
1 Peter 3:21 is very clear on what baptism is for: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.what do you think baptism is for?
A good conscience? Is that what salvation is?
It's also very clear in Romans 6:5 -- For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Likeness? Is that what salvation is?
And it's also very clear that baptism was commanded (Mark 16), so what do we do with a command? We obey it.
Obedience? Is that what salvation is?
Be careful, Brian. Don't confuse belief with action. Word or deed, remember? Free gift, remember?My friend, you should think on this for several minutes as well. If there is nothing that you and I can do to obtain salvation than why do we even have to believe.
Brother, perhaps you should re-read Acts 11 yourself. Take a special look at verse 14: Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.Read Chapter 11 in acts and find out why Peter went.
Then, after you've read that, go back to chapter 10 and re-read what exactly those words were that Peter told them (Acts 10:34-43).
You'll find two things: 1) Acts 11:14 says "tell thee words whereby thou...shall be saved." Not "tell thee to be baptized" or even "tell thee what thou must do." 2) Acts 10:34-43, the words which are referenced in Acts 11:14, never mention baptism. In fact, the Holy Ghost fell upon those Gentiles after they heard the preaching of Christ crucified and risen, and before they were baptized in water. If the Holy Spirit is the "proof" of salvation, then these Gentiles were most certainly saved before they were ever immersed in water.
Now, just to put some icing on that cake, go back to Romans 10:17 and see how it fits in with the verses that YOU brought up in Acts 11 and Acts 10: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Not "faith cometh by baptism."
My friend, if you're basing your salvation on your baptism, then you've got a false salvation. You've got a salvation that's based on something YOU did, an action that you took. You said to yourself at some point, "If I don't get myself into that water, I don't have a hope of getting into heaven." You made a conscious decision that YOU had to participate in your salvation by making sure that YOU got in that water.
Whereas, if you've been convicted in your heart to say "I believe that Christ died on the cross for me, and finished the work, one sacrifice that covers all my sins," then you've done...nothing. Except accept what Christ has done for you.
Repentence? Oh, most certainly that gets preached. But only those that are convicted in their hearts of what repentence means and why they should do it will actually work at repentence. In other words, which comes first: The repentence, or the change of the heart? Without the change of the heart, there is no repentence.
My friend, you did not respond to Hebrews 5:8. You brought up Hebrews 5:7; all I'm asking you to do is to keep it in context by including the next verse.
Now, I think we're at an impasse. You've come up with nothing that has been able to change what I see the scriptures saying; and I'm not holding my breath that I'm going to come up with anything more that might change what you see the scriptures saying.
I've presented what I can, and worked through your arguments the best I'm able. I take my leave of this conversation.
[ October 12, 2002, 01:31 AM: Message edited by: Don ]