Baptism

[Bloodbought]

I was visiting another church this morning and during the service they had a baptism.

There were six young people being baptised.

One of them had been baptised as a child in the RC church. Had been brought up inthe Church of Scotland. As a teenager she realised thatshe needed to be saved and accepted Jesus Christ as Her Lord and Saviour. ie She believed the Gospel message. After studying her bible she realised the Jesus expected her to be baptised.

This morning she was Baptised as a beleiver by full immersion.
Acts 8v Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

I have not posted this in the RC area since there are other churches that practice infant baptism.

What are your views on baptism?

[canny]

I was sprinkled as a child as an RC,, I believe for my family to take responsibility toi bring me up in the family of God....

Now, I believe something completely different,,, I see no harm in child Baptism it is the parents and Godparents who fail if that child is not taught as they should be.

Now... at this time..... I believe I was baptised when Jesus took all the sins I have and ever will commit away from me.....

He knows I will commit them, But He knows who I am and He knows where I will end up.

just my belief.

[IChThUS]

Now I have been baptised 3 times.

Having been born in 1944 extremely prematurely (I have never found out how much) I was given a life span of 6 hours and a rushed baptism was made in the hospital "to ensure I went to heaven".

I fooled everyone and survived, so was 'properly' baptised in the Anglican ritual at about 16 weeks. (my memory is a bit vague).

I always considered this sufficient until earlier this year, when I was joining a pilgrimage to Israel and had the oportuity to be bapatised by full imersion in the River Jordon. I then felt it was the right thing to do.

Would you believe how difficult this was to be?
The Anglican Vicar accompanying our party was unable to perform it because I had been baptised as an infant and dual baptism was not permitted. He was however permitted to assist the Baptist Minister, also a member of our paraty. The story does not end there, he could only do it after discussion with the minister of my own Baptist Church (2 miles distant from his) giving his permission for him to do so.

[Jon-Marc]

Baptism is only meant for those who have trusted and believed in Jesus Christ and are born again. It is done AFTER receiving salvation. Baptism alone won't get anyone into heaven. Of course, baptism is NOT a part of receiving or keeping salvation, but a sign that we HAVE salvation and that we identify with Christ. It's a waste of time baptizing babies, because it serves no purpose whatsoever except to get them wet.

I was baptized twice--once as a lost sinner and again after I received Christ. The first one was useless since I wasn't saved.

[Faith]

Unless, you are born again by water and the Spirit...

They all thought the washing with water was the water baptism.
But Jesus said in John 4 he gives us the water so that we thirst not again for Gods presence.
And it is only in receiving Christs life giving water we can receive the Spirit for fountains of life giving water abounds in those who receive the truth from Christ.

The outward sign was the turning from sin by John the baptist but he said, He who comes after me will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Christ is the only water you can receive that brings the life giving Spirit. You need to accept Christs life giving water to be born of the Spirit.

Paul speaks to those who were preaching Christ who had not heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They only had the baptism of John. But the truly important baptism is the Spirit. Men can receive the Holy Spirit before they receive the baptism of John. Because the most important baptism is the Holy Spirit and that is received on through the life of Christ.

Love Faith.xx

[Onesiphorus]

I am going to apologise from the outset because I know i will be upsetting a lot by what I am about to say , so once again I apologise

When I was newly saved , I was water baptised , because I thought and believed it was the "right" thing to do for all the reasons given , which you are all aware of so there is no need to list them

But now i must be honest and say that I cannot think or find of any reason why a born again saint saved through the blood of Christ by grace through faith should be water baptised

It plays no part in salvation to the born again ..Christ did that on the cross

It does not wash away our sins ..CHrist did that on the cross

It does no identify a saint in Christ ..our spirit baptism did that when we believed on our savior

It is not an outward sign of anything to a born again believer ..the sealing of the Holy Ghost is that sign

It is not a reenactment of the death of Christ

or any other connection or obligation for a born again saint


Now I know this goes against the vast majority of the religious teaching out there , but it is an example of us doing something extra to what Christ did on the cross , and it has no bearing on who we are except that speaking personally "I" felt " better for doing it but it is not about "I " its about "HIM" Christ Jesus

[Jon-Marc]

Yes, there is the water that satisfies our thirst, and there is the Living Water, which is Christ the Lord. It is the Living Water by which we are born again and NOT the baptismal water.

[titus212]

Now I know this goes against the vast majority of the religious teaching out there , but it is an example of us doing something extra to what Christ did on the cross , and it has no bearing on who we are except that speaking personally "I" felt " better for doing it but it is not about "I " its about "HIM" Christ Jesus

Some very good points Onesi, but what about when Jesus was baptised? Why did He insist on being baptised by John, even though He was without sin?

I see baptism, NOT as a necessity for salvation (that is what the cross was for), but as a proclamation that we WILL be identified with Jesus in his death and resurrection, that we are choosing to follow Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. I have resisted being baptised for the reason that I know the commitment baptism sybolizes, but feared that my commitment would mean nothing if I fell again to sin. I wanted to be sure of my commitment to follow Him with all my heart, mind, and strength. I know that I am ready.

Varlen (The VMan)

[AmaaandaB]

Some very good points Onesi, but what about when Jesus was baptised? Why did He insist on being baptised by John, even though He was without sin?

I see baptism, NOT as a necessity for salvation (that is what the cross was for), but as a proclamation that we WILL be identified with Jesus in his death and resurrection, that we are choosing to follow Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. I have resisted being baptised for the reason that I know the commitment baptism sybolizes, but feared that my commitment would mean nothing if I fell again to sin. I wanted to be sure of my commitment to follow Him with all my heart, mind, and strength. I know that I am ready.

Varlen (The VMan)

I agree. Baptism isn't required for salvation, but it is about following Christ's example and being obedient. Jesus said to be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3). Acts 2:38 tells us all to repent and be baptized.

Onesiphorus wrote, "But now i must be honest and say that I cannot think or find of any reason why a born again saint saved through the blood of Christ by grace through faith should be water baptised" ...Well, the reason we should be baptized is because Jesus was baptized and we are told to do so. We shouldn't be legalistic about it, of course, but it should be treated with respect and obedience.

[Pariah]

I am going to apologise from the outset because I know i will be upsetting a lot by what I am about to say , so once again I apologise

When I was newly saved , I was water baptised , because I thought and believed it was the "right" thing to do for all the reasons given , which you are all aware of so there is no need to list them

But now i must be honest and say that I cannot think or find of any reason why a born again saint saved through the blood of Christ by grace through faith should be water baptised

It plays no part in salvation to the born again ..Christ did that on the cross

It does not wash away our sins ..CHrist did that on the cross

It does no identify a saint in Christ ..our spirit baptism did that when we believed on our savior

It is not an outward sign of anything to a born again believer ..the sealing of the Holy Ghost is that sign

It is not a reenactment of the death of Christ

or any other connection or obligation for a born again saint

Now I know this goes against the vast majority of the religious teaching out there , but it is an example of us doing something extra to what Christ did on the cross , and it has no bearing on who we are except that speaking personally "I" felt " better for doing it but it is not about "I " its about "HIM" Christ Jesus

Some scriptures to back you up there, brother.

1 Corinthians 1:11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Acts 10:42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Remember how it was before for the Jews to get the remission of sins?

Mark 1:3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

As John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by water baptism for the remission of sins for the Jews, so can we see how Jesus is the Way for the remission of sins for the Gospel's sake as He will baptize with the Holy Ghost.

So when Peter bore witness of Jesus Christ to the Jews, the implementation was still the same for the Jews to receive the remission of sins by water baptism but as it was done in Jesus' name, they had received the promise of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

So when the Gentiles were receiving the Holy Ghost before water baptism, it was because by believing in Jesus, they had received the remission of sins.

So that is why Paul was not sent to baptize, but to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles for as many has believed in Him, they have received remission of sins and the promise of the Holy Ghost.

Are any future Jewish converts under the requirement of water baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of sins? Is the Lord's hand short that it cannot save?

Romans 10: 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If water is available for baptism, they can do it if they want to, but Jesus has saved them. Water baptism need not be exalted as a hope for salvation. Jesus is our hope. Jesus is the Saviour.