Freak said:
Just a Christian,
You are misguided in understanding this vital issue of salvation and baptism.
First, justification is by faith in Christ (See Romans 5:1). This is a one-time event. You call upon the Name of the Lord and you will be saved (See Romans 10:9-10). When this occurs you are justified before God.
Secondly, after one is justified who grow in your sanitification. This involves being baptized as commanded in the Scripture. Not for salvation (for you are already justified) but for your santification.
Jesus saves my friend for He is eternal God. Water is just that Water. Water is not God. Water simply symbolizes the present work of Jesus Christ.
Freak,
Now, lets look at what you have said.
"First, justification is by faith in Christ (See Romans 5:1)." Now, who is Paul speaking to, alian sinners or the saved? I think he is speaking to the saved. So, by context, you are not even touching on the subject. If you are going to enter the discussion, lets stick to the subject "Will God save an alian sinner by prayer"?
Speaking further on this post will only tend to justify your entrance, so let me leave it with this. Go and find one verse, not two or three but just one verse that clearly and presisely teaches that an alian sinner can be saved by prayer and I don't have a "leg to stand on".
Water--"...see here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36).
1. Self-will
2. Ignorance of the will of God.
3. False teaching.
4. Family pressures.
5. Love of the world.
6. Misunderstanding of scriptures.
7. etc.
What will cause a person to be baptized.
1. True love of God.
2. Desire to please God.
3. Belief in the doctrine of baptism.
4. Deny self.
5. Denying the world and its temporal pleasures.
6. Desire to be spiritually cleansed of sins.
7. Desire to be obedient to faith in Jesus Christ
So, where do you stand? I stand with Jesus Christ on the subject of Baptism. "...he that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).
JustAChristian