dawny0826 said:
I'm going to start by asking you two a question...(which I do know the answer to
)
What WAS the purpose of baptism while Jesus was living?
Baptism served the same purpose while Jesus was living as it serves today. Why would it be any different? Throughout the New Testament, baptism is consistently tied to repentence. The following four examples are fairly representative of this important connection:
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the
baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the
baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Once a person has repented of his or her sins, the next step is to enter into a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. This is done (as was the case anciently) by being "born of water." Baptism is the means by which we do this. It was a commandment taught by Christ's Apostles and an ordinance that was important enough that Jesus, who had no need of repentence, requested of John for one simple, straightforward purpose: to fulfill all righteousness. He knew His Father expected it of Him and He complied.
What do
you think the purpose of baptism was while Jesus was living?
(By the way, what are we actually debating?
The title of this thread tells us nothing, and Buttercup's first post was about the Spirit Prison. Now, here we are discussing baptism.)