So, one who believes is not sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day off redemption? (Ephesians 4:30)
I really don't see how you are distinguishing the good works that you say are required for salvation versus what the Judaizers also said was required for salvation. Both are advocating works-based salvation. They said circumcision was required - you say baptism is required.
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I say it because Scripture strongly suggests the necessity of baptism throughout the NT and it is foreshadowed in the OT. The NT explicitly rejects circumcision and so you and I both correctly reject it. The Church Fathers believed in necessity of baptism, too.
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Justin Martyr (151 AD) Then they are brought by us where there is water and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated... they receive the washing with water. For Christ said “Unless you are born again you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”
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It seems that in Scripture that baptism was very closely associated in the linear event of salvation. We have a harder time seeing that association in a culture that *allows* baptisms years after profession of faith.
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Does Scripture say that "professing faith" (or any similar such phrasing, of course) indwells the Holy Spirit in man? I only see it doing so when combined with the washing of water. Water + profession = baptism = indwelling of Holy Spirit, new creature made
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Typically, the expression used is simply 'believed'. This will probably open a giant can of worms, but what of Acts 8? Belief, then baptism, and then later when Peter and John arrive, pray, and lay hands on the believers, the Holy Spirit is *visibly* observed
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Andrew, what an excellent question and can of worms to boot! I had to research this awhile for at first glance I thought I had made a major error somewhere. The first key is to understand Jesus instituted seven sacraments, the two here are Baptism & Confirmation
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Baptism wipes away Original Sin and brings the Holy Spirit, making man able to enter Heaven. Confirmation completes Baptism via the laying of hands and further strengthening in Faith by the Holy Spirit. Water Baptism, laying of hands for Confirmation
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Anyways, at those times Confirmation led to miraculous abilities, like healing & tongues. The first Confirmation was at Pentecost in the upper room. Turning to Acts 8:16 now, we see that in context what is being discussed is the lack of these powers in the Samaritans
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The Holy Spirit seals us in baptism, but consider all the surrounding text of Eph 4:30, its all warnings about what not to do (or else...)