Axe and two 38's

[dwight92070]

From the point when you/they "believe" until you/they are baptized, yes; just as Naaman was still a leper from the point he chose to go dip in Jordan to the point he dipped the seventh time. Salvation, just like Naaman's cleansing, is received when the qualifications to receive it are all fulfilled.

So you're saying that I really didn't believe during those 2 weeks?

 

[Doug Brents]

So you're saying that I really didn't believe during those 2 weeks?

You may have "believed" (had intellectual assent), but you had not yet exhibited faith (pistis). Without faith, you cannot be saved.

 

[dwight92070]

The story of Naaman to illustrate your doctrine is invalid. Naaman had to dip 7 times for physical healing, not for spiritual salvation, forgiveness of sins, the new birth, or eternal life. The New Testament does not use this story as a type of a checklist necessary to receive salvation. Naaman was obeying one command (wash in the Jordan) repeated 7 times. Your doctrine requires obeying 4 separate commands (repent - believe - confess - baptize). There's no parallel between what Naaman did to be physically healed, compared to salvation.

Naaman was healed by God because of his humble obedience, not because he dipped 7 times in the Jordan river. God could have told him to throw 50 rocks, and if he obeyed, he would be healed.

Nowhere in Scripture do we read, "If you repent, believe, and confess, but skip baptism, you're not saved - like Naaman after only 6 dips. Again, there's no valid parallel between the two.

Baptism is not one mandatory "dip" in a multi-step salvation formula.

You're trying to fit your doctrine into an Old Testament story, and then calling that an illustration of New Testament "truth". The Old Testament story of Naaman is not a blueprint for a New testament "plan of salvation."

The clearest New Testament teaching on how we are saved is STILL: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - Acts 16:31
Then, have been cleansed of your sins, having received the indwelling Holy Spirit, as an act of joyful obedience, be baptized.

 

[dwight92070]

You may have "believed" (had intellectual assent), but you had not yet exhibited faith (pistis). Without faith, you cannot be saved.

You have absolutely NO idea what I exhibited, because you weren't there. I did exhibit faith immediately after my new birth. The very next morning, I told another serviceman about God and have witnessed to many since. I prayed every day, continued to read about Jesus in the gospels, I cried tears of repentance as I read Jesus' words and rejoiced knowing that Jesus had miraculously saved me. From that moment on, the only thing I wanted to do was whatever He wanted me to do. In a week and a half, I knew He wanted me to be baptized, so I did exactly that. I began attending a church regularly and fellowshiping with other Christians and haven't stopped in 55 years.