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Yes, there are instances in which Jesus uses the I AM phrase in a literal sense. There are also instances in which he uses the I AM phrase in a figurative sense.
When a person says, I AM the vine and you are the branches, I AM the door, I am the bread of life - we must we wise enough not to translate these instances as literal.
You glossed over where I pointed out that when he used the "I am" figuratively, he followed it up with an explanation.
For example:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
An explanation is provided.
No such explanation is given when it comes to Communion. So in the absence of an explanation, shouldn't we take Him at His word? And I don't mean that we should believe in Transubstantiation. that takes it too far. I mean to say that He says the bread/wine is his body/blood and we don't try and think beyond that.
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It could be the case that children and infants were baptized and it could be the case that they were not. The scriptures are not clear on this point. Assuming they were is irrelevant to the point I making because the scriptures are clear the water baptism is not require for salvation.
Then infant baptism is acceptable right? There's no Scriptural reason to exclude it and we do have Scripture of households being baptized (Acts 16:15 for example).
The Scriptures certainly has a multitude of verses that baptism is something that should be done for all believers. Peter and Paul both talk about baptizing not as a "maybe" but as an expected thing to occur. To dismiss it is to dismiss all of the calls for baptism.
Further, it dismisses what Paul says in Acts 2:
"And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
This is what Lutherans teach baptism is. The promise of God bestowed on those who are baptized and we gladly baptize all so they receive that promise. It doesn't mean that the individual (children or adult) won't fall away later, but that God calls for it so we do it.
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It would only create a theological issue for one who believes that water baptism is required for salvation or removes original sin. Where does the age of accountability end, I have no clue. I just know what each one is accountable to God at some point in their life to place their faith in Jesus. I'm simply saying that I'm not convinced that a 1 year old has that capacity to understand Jesus' death and resurrection applied to their own sins.
No it creates a theological issue because this requires you to set a "minimum" standard for what is the acceptable level of capacity. Your response shows that as you aren't sure a 1 year old has the capacity to understand. Or said differently, you create a synergistic act of man deciding when he's ready to "receive God." Yet Jesus calls us to receive the Kingdom of God like a child (Mark 10).
But lets use me as an example. I'm in my mid 30s. I believe I am a christian and have been for years, yet I know more now than I did then. Did I become a christian when I truly believe that Jesus died for my sins? Or did I not have the right level of understanding? When does someone achieve that level and who sets it?
Instead, if we see baptism as a promise from God, we see that we are putting our faith in God to bring that child into the faith at the appointed time. We take ourselves out of the equation and give it to God.