Even the Great Baptist theologian GR Beasley-Murray seemed to think
baptism was more than just a pretty picture as he called it a
"divine-human event."
http://www.the-highway.com/articleJan99.html
 :)

Blessings,
Randy


> Gentlemen,
>
> Following a link, I found this in an article this morning.  What are your
> comments?
>
> In particular,
>
> 1) is Baptism a "means of grace"?
>
> 2) Is Baptism "God's action and not ours"?
>
> 3) Does God give the gifts of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit through
> Baptism?
>
> Baptism is more than a confession of faith. When Rick Warren speaks of
> Baptism, he has some creative ways of saying what Baptists usually say
> about it, namely, that it is an outward sign of an inward reality. In
> other words, Warren believes that Baptism is only a public declaration of
> faith on the part of someone who has already become a believer (and for
> this reason, infant Baptism is excluded). While Baptism does make a public
> statement to others that the one being baptized is entering into the
> Christian community, it is much more than this. As already noted, Baptism
> is a means of grace. That is to say that Baptism is God's action and not
> ours. The Bible clearly states that in Baptism God gives us the gifts of
> forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
>
> This is not intended to attack any individual or denomination, simply to
> prompt discussion of a particular doctrinal position.
>
> Jerry
> "The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they . were
> astonished . because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of
> the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God"
> (Acts 10:44-46).
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