Epignossis
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Re:Will There Be Anything Left? - 2005/03/23 08:05
Hey Don, I have had dialogue with Poly on this - much the same but in relation to baptizing someone who is homosexual or a fornicator etc. Same diff I guess with someone who is pro-war.
Do you have any thoughts on 1 Peter 3:20-21
who had once been disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in Noah's days, while the ark was being constructed, in which a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water.
21 That which corresponds to this is also now saving YOU, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The point I had had made here is that baptism was about a request to God for a good conscience. Then it was about trying to maintain that conscience. But salvation wasn't about putting away the filth of the flesh althought efforts to do that would follow naturally from displaying love.
So the major leverage came from building up the person in the body of the Christ or in love. I figure that in the first century many who were moved to baptism were still very much in "the filth of the flesh".
The principle seems to me to be highlighted in the account of those invited to the wedding feast in Matt 22:1-14
22 In further reply Jesus again spoke to them with illustrations, saying: 2 "The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man, a king, that made a marriage feast for his son. 3 And he sent forth his slaves to call those invited to the marriage feast, but they were unwilling to come. 4 Again he sent forth other slaves, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Look! I have prepared my dinner, my bulls and fattened animals are slaughtered, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast."' 5 But unconcerned they went off, one to his own field, another to his commercial business; 6 but the rest, laying hold of his slaves, treated them insolently and killed them.
7 "But the king grew wrathful, and sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, 'The marriage feast indeed is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go to the roads leading out of the city, and anyone YOU find invite to the marriage feast.' 10 Accordingly those slaves went out to the roads and gathered together all they found, both wicked and good; and the room for the wedding ceremonies was filled with those reclining at the table.
11 "When the king came in to inspect the guests he caught sight there of a man not clothed with a marriage garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Fellow, how did you get in here not having on a marriage garment?' He was rendered speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the darkness outside. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.'
14 "For there are many invited, but few chosen."
The attendants were told to invite "anyone" both wicked and good. But the criteria for remaining was the marriage garment i.e. proper attire. I took that to mean clothed in the proper Christian attire - love.
It seems to me then, that the invitiation moves from God first. Then it's up to us. Could be the same with baptism. Anyone has that opportunity to be invited and enter. Will we attire ourselves properly so we don't get chucked?
Not wishing to be dogmatic but proffer some thoughts
Much love and spirit to all
ePig 
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he has acquired knowledge of something, he does not yet know it just as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him - 1 Cor 8:1-3 |
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Would that not signify your disaprove of them being called a Christain?