Do you believe in eternal salvation and infant baptism?

Regarding salvation, I believe Paul said it best ...

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

It's a matter of believing that Jesus if God in the flesh, that you're a sinner in need of a savior and that Jesus is that Savior. John 3:16 says Jesus has already paid for the sins of the world. Now all we have to do is accept the pardon He offers each of us.

Once saved always saved is well documented in Scripture.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says salvation is a gift, so how can a faithful and righteous God take back this gift?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Likewise John 1:12 says we become children of God. In light of the parable of the Prodigal Son would God ever disown His children?

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

In John 6:38-40, Jesus says He will lose none of us:

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

In John 10:27-30, Jesus says no one can snatch us out of his hand:

“I give them [believers] eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

In Romans 8:38-39, Paul says nothing, not even us, can cause the loss of salvation:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul says our inheritance is guaranteed:

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Again in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Paul says we have a guarantee and adds that this "seal" means God owns us:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul says God paid a high price for us (the blood of Jesus). Would it make sense for Him to then reject us?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

In Romans 8:17 Paul says we are God's children and heirs:

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

And you are correct about infant baptism. It is a dedication ceremony and infers no salvation. We must all make a conscious effort to accept the Lord's pardon for our sins. That requires a mental maturity sufficient to understand the sin/salvation issue. This also means that children under the age of accountability are not held responsible for their sins. God is just.

Adults who have been saved may elect to be baptized as an outward acknowledgement of the decision they've already made in their heart. Baptism is not necessary for salvation.

Baptism is for everyone, infants and adults. A few non-denominationals, Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Penecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, and LDS (Mormons) all denominations of the last 200 years reject infant baptism. All other Christians both Protestant and Catholic baptize their entire family including their infants. It's the way its always been done and it's scriptural. Scripture states that baptism is the new circumcision. At 8 day old infants were circumcised, we baptize our infants marking them with the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 17, Colossians 2:9-12). The Jews of the time, with the male as the patriarch and head of the household, baptized their entire family (1 Corinthians 1:16). This was quite natural, because as stated above they were following God's commandment to give their families the Mark of the New Covenant, the way they have done circumcision for generations upon generations.

Having a faith in Christ first is not required. Yes, scripture states "believe and be baptized," (Mark 16:16) but it doesn't say "believe first and then be baptized." If one says let's go to a "dinner and a movie" it also includes going to the movie first. More importantly, it is a failure to understand what baptism is, which causes some to think you have to become a believer first. Scripture says baptism "clothes us in Christ" and brings us back to the very "seed of Abraham" (Galatians 3:26-29). Like Colossians 2:9-12, this text in Galations very clearly signifies that we are clothed or marked, linking us back to the the very "seed of Abraham," the mark of circumcision. Thus baptism replaces circumcision and likewise faith replaces law (Galatians 3:23-25).

Yes you can fall from grace. Note proponents of once saved always saved will cite Romans 3:23, but ignore just a few verse after that which states it's "remission of sins that are past" (v 25). Sins in the future of a mortal kind can take away salvation. Scripture says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12) False teachers will tell you it means "work out your reward.". Using their Deceiver's slight of hand, they replace "salvation" with the word "reward," fostering the lie that heaven can not be lost. Wishful thinking. There is simply no basis for replacing "salvation" with the word "reward." One doesn't have "fear and trembling" over different reward levels, but one does have "fear and trembling" over loss of salvation. The loss of heaven, the fear of hell is clearly what the scripture teaches here, this loss through mortal sin. These same deceivers will lie and give you false security when they misquote James 2:14-24, stating it about "justification before man," an oxymoron since only God has the authority to to declare this. The entire context is about justification before God, not man. Abraham's justification was before God, not man. And yet through Christ's mercy the sacrament of Penance restores us to a state of grace and gives us hope.

Yes, I believe in eternal salvation and baptism. Your pastor is Arminian, teaching you as an Arminian. His "all babies go to heaven" statement is well within antinomian boundaries that look at the Old Testament as a completely different era, useful only as a baseline for the New Testament. It may as well have merely apocryphal value.

With this line of thinking, you should be able to pick out one of your Arminian answers as being correct, i.e. infant baptism is not valid in the least. And, logically, if you can opt in to salvation, why shouldn't you be able to opt out? Free will is free will, grace follows faith and does not precede it.

Eternal salvation - yes.

Once saved, always saved - no. These are two separate concepts. I do believe that one can fall from grace if they commit the unpardonable sin.

Infant baptism - yes. God chooses us and puts the Holy Spirit in us. We don't make that choice and go to Him asking for the Holy Spirit. Our sinful nature won't allow it to happen. And yes, infant baptism IS Holy Baptism. The child is reborn as a child of God and is granted salvation and forgiveness.

And, no, all babies do not go to heaven. Babies are the most selfish creatures around, in case you haven't noticed. Have you ever told a 1 year old "no" and then have them look at you with glee in their eyes as they do it? Besides, we are all born with a sinful nature and we are conceived in sin, therefore none are worthy of God's grace without baptism.

And, from what you are saying... you are NOT Lutheran, as no Lutheran pastor would ever say that.

ETA: Dawn, I do not believe in Luther as my Savior, I believe in Christ Jesus as my Savior, and all that He taught us. I happen to follow doctrine, as found in the Bible, which was written out and explained by Luther, et al.

If it was impossible to fall away, there are about 80 verses in the New Testament that are unnecessary.

for instance;

"For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off."

Romans 11:21-22 ESV

Infant water baptism is no where mentioned in the New Testament. It is always something subsequent to conversion.

I agree with you on infant baptism. I also believe in what I like to call eternal security. I have studied the subject from both perspectives. The Bible is clear you don't have to hold on to Jesus---He holds on to you. I am convinced that once a person sincerely and honestly trusts Christ for his or her salvation, they become a member of God's family forever—and nothing can change that relationship. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:29).

Does this mean it doesn't matter how a professing Christian lives, since they will be saved anyway? No, not at all! For one thing, if that person refuses to follow Christ and lives a life of sin, it may well mean he or she wasn't a Christian after all. The Bible warns, "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning" (1 John 3:6). Outwardly Judas was a disciple—but inwardly his heart was rebellious and unbelieving.

In addition, sin separates us from God, and when we sin our fellowship with God is broken, and our witness for Christ is blunted. Peter stood at the fire and denied Jesus three times, and those around him must have assumed Jesus meant little to him (see Mark 14:66-72).

But listen: Peter repented, and God forgave him and restored him to usefulness. And that can happen to you. Don't let sin hold you in its grip any longer, but repent and ask Christ to forgive you and help you—and He will. His promise is for you: "If we confess our sins, he ... (will) purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

I suggest reading the book "Eternal Security" by Dr. Charles Stanley.

believer_in_jesus37421@yahoo.com

Without Baptism, you have no Grace in you.

One must be Baptized to enter Heaven.

So, yes, I for one, believe in infant Baptism.

Secondly, your friend believes Calvin (Presbyterian Church 1707).

Methodists and Lutherans believe in Luther (Methodist Church 1791 Lutherans 1597).

The Catholic Church believes in Jesus (Catholic Church-over 2,000 years ago).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Cathol...

Baptism removes Original Sin, and brings Grace down on the soul.

Good for infants.

+Jesus, I Trust In You!

Do people ever read for themselves for the answers they seek .

Read revelations ,3;4,,5,,6 > talks about being BLOTTED out of the BOOK OF LIFE !!!

We can only be saved by having our name written in the BOOK OF LIFE ,, according to GODS WORD !

LOOKS to me IF GOD so wills it HE can BLOT IT OUT !

do I believe in eternal salvation ? SURE as long as we live as GODS commands us and keep our name in THE BOOK !

Thinking we can never fall from GRACE is a dangerous way to live ,,, can lead to PRIDE ,, which GOD hates ,,,, can lead to the attitude ,,, hey ,, its ok to live and do whatever one wants to cause in the end ,,, we saved ,,,,,,,,,,,,, opens the door for satan to work ,,,and we definitely don't want to give an edge to satan !

eternal salvation yes

infant baptism no

once saved god keeps you by his holy spirit that is given to people at salvation

KJV: John 5:24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

KJV: John Chapter 6

[39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

[40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Assurance of salvation:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

6:39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

1 John 5:11; 'And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.'

Romans 8:35; 'Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?'

I am going to go with eternal salvation, since I was baptized. Just for the lulz, since I am a solid atheist now. A Calvinist has to argue I am going to Heaven now. LOL.