Originally Posted by Peytonator
Pilgrim, I hold these views with a light fist. This is my "prelimary" view, which I hope to address with my pastor soon. Sadly, though, he has delayed 5 years in giving my dad a Scriptural answer to this topic, which is one of the reasons why I posted the topic here. At the moment, I am seriously considering the validity of my view, though of course, it seems right to me at the moment... perhaps things will change. But Jeff, what am I to do? How am I do contradict my conscience? What if I am still not persuaded by my pastor when I speak to him?
1. Conscience is no guide for truth, for even those who are regenerate still have the remnants of sin within which distorts the intellect, affections and will. Scripture in myriad places, in both the OT and NT, makes this not only clear but warns against resting upon one's 'conscience' as the final arbiter. How about just a few succinct examples:

Proverbs 3:5 (ASV) "Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:"

Proverbs 10:8 (ASV) "The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall."

Proverbs 12:15 (ASV) "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel."

Proverbs 28:26 (ASV) "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

1 Corinthians 3:18 (ASV) "Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise."

1Timothy 3:15 (ASV) "but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

2. Consider the 'source' of your view in light of #1.

3. Consider the overwhelming unanimity of the historic and confessional view; not either/or, but both/and re: water baptism and spirit baptism.

4. Your pastor's understanding of 1Cor 12:13, which appears you are in full agreement, is in error. The CONTEXT cannot support the view exegetically. Again, how is it that 1000s of far more godly, intellectually brilliant and recognized Spirit-filled men throughout history all agree on the understanding of this aspect of water baptism and of the perpetuity of it for the Church, but you would charge them all with being ignorant of the truth and incapable of sound biblical interpretation???

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simul iustus et peccator

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