Expert: Ernie Laurence, Jr. - 1/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: Well I asked GOD to forgive me and for Him to give me stregnth to stop so does this mean that I am in trouble and am not saved and that He won't help me?

ANSWER: God has already provided the means for your help.  Folks like me who desire only the best for you and offer you a guide to the Bible until you find your own way through it.  You have help, if you'll only listen to it.

But asking God to forgive you when you haven't followed the plan He set down for you to follow to be forgiven isn't going to do anything.  I've outlined for you what you need to do.  You were not immersed in water for the right reasons.  You have not repented of your sins.  You must do things God's way, repent and be immersed in water into Christ in order to obtain the remission of sins.  Then Christ is your mediator and you can finally pray to God through Christ for all the things that you need.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So let me get this straight,are you saying that every time we sin,we should get baptized again?

Answer
No.  I'm saying that from what you told me, you were not baptized according to scripture...you were not baptized for the right reasons.  All you did was get wet.

From what I understand, you believe you were baptized because you were already saved and that was the thing to do.

However, the Bible teaches that one must be baptized (immersed) in water into Christ for the purpose of having their sins forgiven.  You must understand that it is in the water that we come into contact with the blood of Christ and are saved and reborn (1 John 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 6:3-5; John 3:3,5), not before.

Once you have met all the preceding steps -- faith, repentance, confession -- then you must be immersed in water for the correct reasons.

Having done that, you are truly a part of the body of Christ and have access through prayer through Christ as mediator to the Father to ask whatever you need, including the forgiveness of any future sins.  There is no need to be baptized twice (nor can you be if you did it right the first time).

Does that make sense?

In Truth and Love,

Ernie