Baptism

Setting an example for us.

 

God only saves those who accept Jesus. Where I disagree with some on here is that I do not believe you have to live a certain way or do certain good works to keep your salvation. I think once you accept it then it is forever settled.

 

Those scriptures clearly indicate that one cannot earn salvation, only accept it. The paradox is this: If you truly accept it, you become changed and you believe in Jesus' salvation. If you stop believeing Jesus gift of salvation, then you aren't saved, but since you don't really believe in Salvation, you don't believe you ever were saved. So it's not that you lose it.....it's that you believe you never had it to begin with. You don't have to 'do' certain things to earn it, but your heart has to believe.

 

So what if you stop believing?

I don't think anyone is saying you have to live a certain way or do good works. What folks are saying is if you believe then you will be moved to be like Jesus, who did those things.

 

I agree that anyone who truly accepts Christ will be motivated to live in a manner that is pleasing to Christ. If a person does not heed this motivation he is headed for a lot of heartache as he tries to "swim upstream". God will discipline his children. If you live in sin and never feel guilt or conviction for it then you likely never really accepted Christ.

As far as stopping believing, that is just another way of failing to do what you should do. If I stop believing that my dad is really my dad that does not change the fact that he is my dad.

 

I just taught on this subject in my baptism class last Sunday. John was baptizing in conjunction with repentance as an illustration of cleansing (related to God's cleansing of the world through Noah's flood). Jesus obviously had nothing to repent for, which is why John was so flustered at Jesus' request for baptism.

It's my understanding that Jesus changed the meaning and symbolism of baptism from an illustration of cleansing to one of death, burial, and resurrection. At that time, it was both a foreshadowing of His crucifixion and resurrection, and also an illustration of the spiritual transformation of all who would follow Him (i.e. the 'death' of the old self, and the 'birth' of a believer's new identity as a child of God).

 

The difference in that analogy and salvation, is that you have salvation because you believe. Your dad is your dad whether you ever believed it or not.
If you don't believe Jesus is THE salvation, then you don't have salvation.

 

He also waqs fulfilling a phrophesy, wasn't he?

 

That is why it is called being Born Again. It requires belief to accept it. When you accept it you are born again and forever a child of God.

 

I think the original question, though dealt with what happens if you later decide you were wrong about Jesus.