tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post4660847261987155750..comments2024-03-22T16:09:48.895-04:00Comments on Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Luther vs. Lutheranism on Baptism?James Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-68571363054349839332013-08-25T23:41:08.455-04:002013-08-25T23:41:08.455-04:00Your comments reflect a major misconception that e...<i>Your comments reflect a major misconception that evangelicals and the Reformed have of orthodox Christians.</i><br /><br />No, my comments do not. You appear to not have read my post carefully. Please: before commenting, slow down, read my post, and then disagree with something I actually said in regard to either Luther or Lutheranism. James Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-116440312702471412013-08-19T00:49:51.318-04:002013-08-19T00:49:51.318-04:00Your comments reflect a major misconception that e...Your comments reflect a major misconception that evangelicals and the Reformed have of orthodox Christians. Lutherans do not believe that baptism is necessary (mandatory) for salvation. Not even the Roman Catholic Church believes this. All the saints of the Old Testament, the thief on the cross, and thousand of martyrs down through the centuries have been saved without Baptism. Baptism is not the "how" of salvation!<br /><br /> Lutherans believe that baptism is one of several "when"s of salvation, it is not the "how" of salvation. The "how" of salvation is and always has been the power of God's Word/God's declaration of righteousness.<br /><br /> A sinner can be saved by the power of God's Word when he hears the Word preached in a church, preached on TV or radio, reading a Gideon's Bible in a hotel room, or reading a Gospel tract that contains the Word. Salvation is by God's grace alone, through the power of his Word alone, received in faith alone. In each of these situations, the sinner is saved the instant he or she believes. Baptism is NOT mandatory for salvation to occur.<br /><br /> However, the Bible in multiple passages, also states that God uses his Word to save at the time of Baptism.<br /><br /> It is the work of the Holy Spirit, using the Word of God, that works salvation in the sinner's spiritually dead soul, according to the second chapters of Ephesians and Colossians, and the third chapter of Romans. Your "decision for Christ" does not save you, neither does your decision to be baptized.<br /><br /> God saves those whom he has elected, at the time and place of his choosing. Sometimes God saves them while hearing a sermon in church, sometimes at home reading the Word, and sometimes by the power of his Word spoken during Baptism.<br /><br /> God does 100% of the saving. The sinner is a passive participant in his salvation. There is no passage in the New Testament that asks sinners to make a decision for Christ. The Bible states that God quickens sinners, gives them faith, and they believe and repent.<br /><br /> The sinner does not decide to be saved. God decides to save the sinner! <br /><br />Baptism is not an automatic ticket into heaven. Although salvation is entirely God, there is no "decision" by man to be saved, sanctification requires the believer's participation. God is not in heaven keeping track of our good deeds and our sins to decide whether or not to let us into heaven, but the Christian who turns his back on Christ by outright rejection (converting to Islam) or by ongoing willful sin/neglect of his faith, should be warned by the Church that he is "skating on thin ice". He may wake up one day in hell to eternal damnation!<br /><br />No faith--->no salvation--->no eternal lifeGaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519721717265344702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-16065665139767152692013-08-15T16:57:09.072-04:002013-08-15T16:57:09.072-04:00James, should we call some Church of Christ church...James, should we call some Church of Christ churches heretics because of their view on baptism?Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01410144337505012175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-23274957292416921692013-08-13T16:39:03.121-04:002013-08-13T16:39:03.121-04:00Thanks for the clarification on Pinto's eschat...Thanks for the clarification on Pinto's eschatology. <br /><br />Calling Lutherans heretics because of their view on baptism is bit silly.James Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-59018845135319106342013-08-13T16:32:54.401-04:002013-08-13T16:32:54.401-04:00I have heard Pinto claim Historicism as his eschat...I have heard Pinto claim Historicism as his eschatolgy. He holds the Reformers in high regard because of his focus on the Counter-Reformation and it's influence up to the present day. He also considers himself TR only, I believe to disassociate himself from any Ruckman KJO's. <br /><br />If not aware, polemics defending Lutheran Baptism have been the focus of LCMS Chris Rosebrough's F4F broadcast. Reformed Baptist Matt Haney did a sermon claiming Lutherans were heretics calling out Rosebrough. <br /><br />http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2013/08/biblical-case-for-the-lutheran-doctrine-of-baptism.html<br /><br />http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2013/08/what-the-bible-teaches-about-baptism.html<br /><br />http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2013/08/baptism-wrap-up.html<br /><br />I believe Pinto may have been aware of the controversy which is why he did his broadcast. Pinto on his following broadcast claimed he was being challenged in his position so he contacted a Lutheran Pastor for clarification.<br /><br />He discusses this in the first half of his broadcast though the title does not reflect it.<br /><br />http://www.noiseofthunder.com/noise-of-thunder-radio-show/2013/8/11/notr-ezekiels-idolaters-081213.htmlTomiPadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11787397005255585655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-15876284464595146782013-08-13T12:27:14.568-04:002013-08-13T12:27:14.568-04:00Interesting. It appears Mr. Pinto will be debating...Interesting. It appears Mr. Pinto will be debating Dr. White in Dec. 2013. Shame on me for not knowing that!James Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-73264607261391533772013-08-13T10:18:22.231-04:002013-08-13T10:18:22.231-04:00Chris Pinto is a KJV-Only fundamentalist who asser...Chris Pinto is a KJV-Only fundamentalist who asserts that Codex Sinaiticus is a "Jesuit forgery." Pinto also likes to fantasize about all kinds of other Jesuit conspiracies.<br /><br />The fundamentalists who fantasize about modern Jesuit conspiracies seem completely unaware that the actual modern Jesuits are for the most part a bunch of ultra-liberals today.Nicholas Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17069813028795565883noreply@blogger.com