is water baptism a "work" ?

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The scribor, Bro Schmuel, scribeth ...

>      Has anyone got a nice write-up in response to the
> "water baptism=work" concept...
>
>      One point I have touched on is how in Ephesians 2:9
> >"not by works, so that no one can boast. "
> that while we may boast of feeding the hungry, there is
> nothing in baptism we can boast of, as the active
> agent is the Ruach ha Kodesh, which does the only
> "work", remission of sins.... (Divine Work :-)

To which another scribor, Bro Marlon Scott Boyd, scribeth ...

> I did a write up on this issue before.  As soon as I get the
> opportunity,  I will post it to the group.  But in a few words,
> I do not believe that baptism is a work in the way that they
> are speaking of.

Yeah.... I'd have to agree with that.  I think when talking about *works*,
we're implying that after a work is rendered, then earnings are delivered
back to the worker.

People can't *work* their way to heaven.  I think it's the JW's that sell
subscriptions to "The Watchtower" that somehow gains them heavenly brownie
points to gain them heaven (supposedly).  The Mormons think that by being
extremely successfull is a *work* (big families, big-time jobs earning lots
of money, etc, etc, etc) will get them to a higher-plane of heaven than
others that will only get to the 1st or maybe 2nd level of heaven (as I
understand what they say).

I've said it before, what repentence, baptism in the name of Jesus, and
being filled with the Holy Ghost does is basically make one elligible to
go to heaven.  Like a train ticket, it's the ticket to get on the train
to go to a destination.  But, since the journey is life-long, we might very
well get off the train on our own accord, and we'd then not make it.  One
thing's for sure, if you're holding your ticket on the train and there's
sin in your life, the conductor of the train will ask you to change from
your sinful ways.  If you do, you and your ticket will be allowed to ride
the train longer.  If you don't, then you'll willfully (when confronted
with the invalidation of sin) leave the train as you know you can't stand it.

A work... no.  Baptism is done out of obedience.  As an answer of a good
conscience towards God.  Necessary ... yes.

On the day of Pentecost, when the crowd was pricked in their heart, and
they asked Peter "What shall we do [to be saved] ?"  Peter replied with
Acts 2:38 & 39...

   Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
           one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
           of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
        39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
           all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
           shall call.

Good conscience...

 1Pe 3:21 ¶ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
          us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the
          answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection
          of Jesus Christ:

Just as repentence is like unto us "Christ being nailed on the cross",
Baptism is also like unto "burial with Christ" ...
And being filled with the Holy Ghost is like unto "resurrection".

 Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
        Christ were baptized into his death?
 Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
        that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
        glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness
        of life.

Bro Tyler
--
Bro Tyler Nally
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