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If Baptism and Communion do not convey grace, then what's the point of doing them?



Grace.



The free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.


Key to the definition of grace is the word "unmerited". When you merit something, it is owed you or deserved by you.

Grace being UNmerited is by definition NOT receivable by any outward act. One cannot do anything to merit grace. Grace can only be given freely.

When a man becomes born again (a Christian), God then through Jesus Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection, can grant us grace. Few understand this but God is not stingy. God lavishes his grace upon us. Basically and literally, we are filled with grace and immersed in grace and walk in grace and breathe and live in grace....there is no shortage of grace.

Those that believe grace can be obtained by ceremony of any type, do not understand salvation. They believe it can be lost so it must be maintained and/or they believe that they cannot live a good life without continually refilling themselves with grace.


What they do not get is that there is no shortage of grace upon them. The Christian has the Holy Spirit within him. All the power necessary to live a holy life is with the Christian at all times for God is truly with and in the Christian.

One cannot lose grace and therefore one also cannot lose salvation. Grace is unmerited....nothing one can do to obtain it or relinquish it. God gives it at his choice and his choice is and always will be to lavish his grace upon the Christian.


So why baptize?


It's a testimony. According to Romans 10:10,11...a testimony is required for salvation. But once testimony is made, salvation is assured forever.

It's a milestone. It reminds the Christian that no matter what doubts the enemy sends that the Christian did do as God required and is saved forever.

It is symbolic of the Jewish wedding ceremony in which the bride to be takes a ceremonial bath by immersion. (Google Jewish wedding ceremony). This is right and proper as the church is the bride of Christ and he is our groom and soon we shall have the wedding.

It carries a reward. We are rewarded for good works.



But remember, baptism IS a WORK and by definition and by scripture CANNOT be a means of salvation or a manner to receive grace. As salvation is a free gift, not of works lest any man boast...and grace by definition is UNMERITED. (cannot be worked for).


I'm no expert and one could expound on the questions you have asked for hours and hours if not days, months and years.


Hope this helps.


Silverkz