> General Discussions
Paul and Baptism
love_magnified:
--- Quote ---This sounds to me like Paul recanted on what he wrote in 52 AD to the Galatians and returned to the law So am I missing something or do we seem to have a dilemma I must ask for a little clarification for from those who may have some insight here. I personally am coming up a little short.
--- End quote ---
Hi LH,
There is no dilemma, the difference is the distinguishing between the Law of Christ and the Law of Moses. The Law of Christ is higher than the Law of Moses.
This might help: http://www.*not-allowed*.com/freefromlaw.php
SOTW:
I can understand the difficulty Lightseeker.
--- Quote ---The fact that 1Peter was written at the same time as the book of Acts (64 AD according to my source) seems to present a difficulty for me too as far as what SOTW said concerning Peter stopping the use of water in chapter 10 of Acts. At least that's what I thought you were saying.
--- End quote ---
Peter writes in his letter, that water is nolonger nessessary but if one wants to be baptized in water, he does not deny them water. For when it is done in this way, water symbolizes the true baptism that now saves us.
1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It (the baptism that now saves you in which water symbolizes, [not water baptism]) saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Lightseeker, I hope this helps you.
--- Quote ---This sounds to me like Paul recanted on what he wrote in 52 AD to the Galatians and returned to the law So am I missing something or do we seem to have a dilemma I must ask for a little clarification for from those who may have some insight here. I personally am coming up a little short.
--- End quote ---
We have no dilemma. With Paul, Paul was still a Jew and Pharisee still in desire to reach his people with the Gospel. Just like Jesus not needing to be water baptized, but in order to fulfill prophesy, Paul did most of everything he did to reach others with the Gospel. Paul did not put strength in the Law of Moses by obeying its requirments to enter the temple, it was required of him to obey the Law of Moses to enter the temple and preach the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:20-23
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
God Bless.
Lightseeker:
Love Magnified SOTW,
Thanks for the posts. I had a fair reply for both and lost them in trying to preview/submit. I'm still trying to figure out this protocol stuff. I type up a response and then when I go to preview/submit...it wants me to 'log in' again. Then it goes to a blank message body for response.
Before I could arrow back and resubmit. But yesterday, and just now again, I lost the whole thing. I'm frustrated and short of time. Learning patience through this tribulation also I hope.
Any advice?
love_magnified:
Advise for computer frustration? Here it is: join the club of millions and growing. ;)
That has happened to me too. No rush. I recommend this: if you know your response is lengthy you can do it in word in case that happens. If I have typed a long long response to something, I will usually copy it to the clipboard before submitting, in case something like that happens. If something goes wrong, I can simply go back and paste it in again. It's happened.
Lightseeker:
Love Magnified,
Thanks for the computer info. I read part of your web post article concerning the law of Christ...it's not a quick read. Long articles like that 'cause as many questions' as they 'give answers to' for me. Questions like, What about the 'law of liberty', 'law of the Spirit', ' :?: I've dialogued with some 'smart' :wink: theological boys who tell me that questions like that are just a 'heaping of terms' and they all mean the same thing. I have to tell them that I'm from feedlot country and I understand 'heaping' real well. Their heaping and my heaping have a lot in common. :P As far as I can find, your one verse concerning the law of Christ, and fulfilling it, has nothing to do with anything but serving others.
GAL 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Are there some subtle differences??? Or maybe even some major differences that have never had their depths plumbed yet? Oh well.
SOTW,
--- Quote ---Peter writes in his letter, that water is nolonger nessessary but if one wants to be baptized in water, he does not deny them water. For when it is done in this way, water symbolizes the true baptism that now saves us.
--- End quote ---
I don't see Peter saying what you see in this verse. I don't see him saying it is no longer necessary, nor does he offer the choice to have or deny water. I do agree that water is merely the symbolic which complements the reality. Question: Do you use bread/wine crackers/grapejuice in communion? Just curious cause I haven't been here long enough to see any positions on that ceremony yet.
Your 1Cor verses do give me something to ponder considering Paul's apparent participating in the law in Acts 21. Maybe he was doing it for a noble reason. But it wasn't "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law."
His purpose in Acts 21 wasn't to 'win Jews to Christ' or 'win them away from the law', which seems to be the purpose of the above verse. The scripture indicates that he went back to the law to appease those "Christian Jews" who were "zealous for the law". So how do you win people away from the OT symbols by participating in OT symbols? Seems hypocritical of Paul to me. May sound like heresy but I think Paul missed God and was judged with imprisionment. Remember The Spirit warning him 2x in Acts not to go to Jerusalem?
Any thoughts?
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