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Originally Posted by Mark
So Jerry, what is your belief system?
Also, what is this suppose to mean?:
Do you condone the baptism of the newborn?
If so, then please post scriptural support for such, thanks.
Peace
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The ceremonial act of Baptism is synonimous with the ceremony of 'ablution' (a cleansing of the body). This cleansing is cleaning the body (ridding the body of ) what type of ailment? Because it is a religious rite, it would be reasonable to assume that the cleansing is the cleansing of the spirit by immersion. A totally symbolic act of man, as the spirit is not otherwise affected by the water in which the physical body comes in contact with. The act of baptism is a token act establishing a covenant with God. Though we sometimes fail to recognize the symbology involved, the act of baptism is also symbolic of the act of being 'washed in the blood of Jesus', thus giving those participants (the one being immersed) a protective blood covering. The act of baptism cannot in any way elevate any of us to an equivalency of Jesus the Christ. On the other hand, unless a man or woman receive the cleansing that is offered by this 'immersion' / baptism and be 're-born', then we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Under the dispensation of the Law, it was required that "Genesis 17: 10 - 11
10. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee;
Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and
]it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you."
The circumsion ceremony of the old dispensation of the law, as seen above, required every child to be circumcised, yet recognizing that the act was a 'token', a symbolism, of an agreement between that child and God.
Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for man(kind), but prior to Jesus coming on the scene, it was required of each man to be circumcised in order that the man be able to partake of the ceremony of 'passover'. The passover was further symbolized by placing blood on the lintel of the door of the home so that the angel of death would 'pass over' that particular home.
Because the Bible is filled with such symbolisms it would be prudent to anyone discussing the Bible to fullly acquaint themselves with the history and culture that was in place at the time of the writing of those Holy Scriptures.
As for my belief system. My belief, my confidence, my faith, my soul, my eternal life all reside in the fact that Jesus, the Son of the Most High God (Yahweh), died on the cross, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven. (Heaven = a 'place' NOT a state of mind).
Jerry
Exodus 12: 41 - 51
And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
43. And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44. But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
50. Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.