In case you havent see or heard this yet, you better sit down and be prepared. This is really good.




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Funny, I just stumbled across this quote how timely with this post!

PAYING THE COST
The point of this examination of the cost of following not to discourage anyone from following Him, however. It is rather to encourage you to follow Jesus to the end. To do that we must count the cost, by all means, but then we must pay it joyfully and willingly, knowing that this must be done if a person is to be saved.

Bishop Ryle, who also listed the examples of those in Scripture who fell away from their profession, pressed his listeners to examine the religion they follow and turn from it if it cost nothing. He pressed them to turn to Christ.
"Very likely [your religion] costs you nothing. Very probably it neither costs you trouble, nor time, nor thought, nor care, nor pains, nor reading, nor praying, nor self-denial, nor conflict, nor working, nor labor of any kind. . . . Such a religion as this will never save your soul. It will never give you peace while you live, nor hope while you die. It will not support you in the day of affliction, nor cheer you in the hour of death. A religion which costs nothing is worth nothing. Awake before it is too late. Awake and repent. Awake and be converted. Awake and believe. Awake and pray. Rest not till you can give satisfactory answer to my question, "What does it cost?"5

:yahoo:

Important Conclusion:

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6)


I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(John 15:5)

Important Conclusion:

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6)


I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(John 15:5)
I don't see anything about baptism here.
Anyone disagree?

I don't see anything about baptism here.
Anyone disagree?

Hmmm... Depends which baptism you are referring to:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. (Mark 1:8)

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: (Luke 3:16)

When a person is Born Again, he/she receives the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
This is the empowerment that God gives to believers whereby it is the Spirit of God dwelling within.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)

Water baptism by immersion is a symbolic testimony that one has repented and given their life to Christ; The Baptism of The Holy Spirit is the indwelling Spiritual regenerative process when a person is truly Born Again, as Jesus said one must be.