Thanks for your clarification. I have to remember that Steve (theoldadam) is Lutheran. As such, I need to understand better the Lutheran orthodoxy so I can appreciate where he’s coming from. I grew up Catholic, so I’m well-aware of that view.

Steve Blackwell over at Indywatchman, just recently posted a lengthy treatise on water baptism. I tried to read it, but I’ve been busy lately that I haven’t had real opportunity to dig into it. I will admit that after reading it, I’ve been mulling over my stance on it. Had I read it before, I would have probably changed my post a little. However, my stance on the “good thief” still remains.

That being said, I like your rhetorical question: “I would never allow my child to take communion before that child became born again.. so why would I have my baby baptised?” That’s how I view it as well.

Steve is trying to say that your view is a work but I know that is not what you are saying Joe. Our faith is by His grace and so is our baptism. I just never could figure out how the cart got in front of the horse on this issue. I would never allow my child to take communion before that child became born again.. so why would I have my baby baptised? I just don’t get the Scriptural basis for that thinking?

I’m not quite sure how to take the the statement “I read it throught tje prism of grace (what God does) and you read it through the prism of the law (what man does).” In my old nature I would take this as an insult.

But I’ve chosen to look at this through the prism of 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient … does not act unbecomingly … is not provoked … but rejoices with the truth.”

Having said that, I actually had to figure out what would have caused you to write this because–again–my original post dealt with God’s perfect grace as it related to the thief on the cross. I’m not sure how you could say that I’m looking at it through the law. If I was, I would be saying that baptism is required for salvation. I am not. I am not dismissing baptism nor it’s significance. The bottom line is that you are a Lutheran. As such, you will adhere to the tenets of your faith and I respect that. What is ironic is that we were both raised Catholic. It sounds as though Lutherans have similar views of baptism as Catholics. As such, I understand where you are coming from (if my assertion is somewhat true). Therefore, you and I will never agree on this point because of our differing viewpoints.

Yeah, it’s in there…we read it differently.

I read it throught tje prism of grace (what God does) and you read it through the prism of the law (what man does)

Therein lies the difference.

Me thinks. :D