How could salvation be by 'grace only' if one did not have to keep Christ's laws or if there were no law at all?
If there were no law, then there would be no sin and if there was no sin there would be no need for grace.
When I was in my twenties I was baptized in a church, totally submerged before a congregation. It felt good, like it had fulfilled a major part or role of performance that needed to be done before I could be counted as a member of the body. I said the prayer. I confessed. Every one celebrated and the date is written in my bible. Nothing changed.
In my forties something else fell upon me that did change everything: I was “washed by the Word”, made clean. And I was baptized by fire from above, the Holy Ghost. Washed by the word; to be cut (pruned) in the heart. God choose the day of my birth both times: when I was born into this world and when I was taken out of this world...born new of Spirit belonging to (a new creation).
Which do you prefer the ceremony or genuine repentance and turning? Does it really matter which you prefer when a person's walk is between them and God? Especially if what you judge is by the outward man. God searches the heart. He does it.
John 1:26-27
[26] John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you,
whom ye know not; [27] He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
"I baptize with water" is important to the "whom ye know not".
Acts 11:15-18
[15] And as I began to speak,
the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. [16] Then
remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water;
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. [17] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God? [18] When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 22:16
[16] And now why tarriest thou?
arise, and be baptized, and
wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
John 13:8-10
[8] Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [10] Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
1 Corinthians 6:11
[11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 6:4
[4]
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like a
s Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
"Buried with him
by baptism into death" sounds like it a supernatural work and He decides,
who and
when He gives life.
