And each believes that their truth is, "answered with full scriptural support."
And each believes that their truth is, "answered with full scriptural support."
I only see two on this thread who have disagreed with everyone else. That being said, I do believe that, if a person is born again and loves the Lord with all their heart, that the baptizer does not have to be someone who is ordained--if that were the case, then Christians in foreign countries, where there are no churches, would be in big trouble.
The entire Operation Auca mission brought about by Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and others, was done in the middle of Ecuador--they had no ordained ministers to lead them to Christ and baptize them. Are they any less baptized than we are? Are they any less Christian? No. In fact, I believe that the Waodani people are probably better Christians than most American Christians, as they appreciate their faith and the sacrifice that the Lord has made for them much more than those of us who have access to "Christianity" on every street corner.
If Christians can only be baptized by ministers of some kind, why wouldn't God do the same for salvation?
"Cats are so vile the Bible does not so much as mention them."
--Natty Threads
"I have come to the conclusion that people are strange."
--Firedance
While I agree God is not limited to the ordinary means He has given us, and while I have also said others can baptize when ordained ministers sent in apostolic succession are not available, I have never found an example of such an unoridained believer baptising in the scriptures.
He did ... Most of you have taken the Verse ...To be born again ..to be some magical statement or prayer and puff ... you are saved.
You also have to Eat the Lamb that was Slain to be saved (Jn6[54] he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life),... And that can only come about by Apostolic Succession.
1Cor.11
[23]For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
[24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
[25] In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
[26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
The only one who has Authority for confection of the Eucharist is those in the Apostolic Succession.
How do you know you have found 'the truth' and others have not?
Each of us are searching for the truth. Each of us believe we have found it. The rest is up to God.
Acts 17:11
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Each person needs to discern what they learn by testing it against scripture. That is why it is important to seek Him with all your heart. When you do, He does the rest.
The idea that the one who spoke the universe into existence and counts the hair on our head is not able to communicate to His creation who seek Him is unbelievable.
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
I can put all my faith in Him to respond to my sincere search. That is His promise.
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
'A person with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument,'" writes von Campe