Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron_Bladder
This passage was not written in the future tense, as if it were a prophetic passage. The verb forms in John 3:3-6 are present and not future tenses, and so Nicodemus isn’t here being told by Jesus to get himself saved by being baptised; as this was a command given in a year’s time only after Christ's resurrection! Rather Nicodemus is here told to get saved right now! This is why the verb “lego” (I say) in verse 5 is a present tense (indicative, present and active). Jesus is here commanding Nicodemus to do so something right now, and not in the distant future to secure his salvation.
So if John 3:5 indeed refers to Jesus name baptism, as some have supposed, then Nicodemus is being told to do something which was not yet given to the church! Christian baptism wasn’t given to the church until after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection from the dead ( Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16) which it signifies by the way. But how Nicodemus could get saved by doing something, which was not yet given as you claim Bruce? And how does the verb at John 3:5, which is a present tense, really refer to a future and as yet still prophetic (future) action as your here implying? |
Hello Iron,
Again, I am sorry for missing your posts.
Nicodemus is responsible for being baptized by John the baptist or Jesus' disciples. The only difference in the baptisms was that Jesus' name was added. Was Jesus water baptized? Should Nicodemus follow His example?
John the Baptist’s water baptism
“John did
baptize in the wilderness, and preach the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
Mark 1:4
“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”
Luke 3:3
“And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Matthew 3:6
“And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”
Luke 7:29-30
“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between [some] of John's disciples and the Jews about
purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him.”
John 3:22-26
“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”
John 4:1-2
What Jesus said about water baptism
“
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:16
What Peter said about water baptism
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 2:38
What Paul said and did with water baptism
“When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 19:5
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and
be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Acts 22:16
What Peter added to the teaching on water baptism
“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto [even]
baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
1 Peter 3:20-21
Notice: This verse reads ‘
baptism doth also now save us’.
Many more facts can be found at my website:
http://www.freewebs.com/bibleteach/waterbaptism.htm
Have fun!
In Jesus,
Brother Bruce
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