Not another post on baptism .Why not ..with a different angle. My son Matt is doing horrible. I just got done doing some preaching. not too much but some. I ask him ..Matt , areyou even convicted just a little bit?" And he said," not really." And believe me..he's living in sin. Has Matt been baptized ?...yes As a young boy aboput 12. Not really sure on his age. I expressed to my wife.I am really hurt. All that homeschooling ..and he's not even convicted?? My wife made this statement."Maybe he's really never been saved." You know what..I think she may be right. head knowledge is not being saved. I know in the Episcopal church infants are sprinkled and at the moment they are sprinkled the priest proclaims they are now filled with the Holy Spirit. {Matt was emerrsed in a pool}Now....maybe he was saved and needs to come to his senses like the prodical. Did the prodical need to be rebaptized ..? No. Repentance happened in his mind. Jesus said . Luke15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
What I'm saying ...many may have been baptised but were never saved. Many children are coerced into baptism but really had no idea about selling out and daily bearing a cross.
Chuck7
Chuck, here's my two cents. You are correct--the prodigal son didn't have to become a son again. When one is scripturally baptized into Christ, they become a son, and only need repent to be accepted back into the fold. However, there is a lot more to scriptural baptism that just being dunked.
I also agree that it seems that children are often coerced into being dunked, without realizing what it means--which is not a scriptural baptism.
My apologies for a lack of scriptural referances here--I'm short on time at the moment.
Chad
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Thanks Brother,
Chad you and I hav ehad some rough debates in th epast my friend. It is my desire that we can keep this one civil. I've learned alot over the last year and a half. I believewe can do it.
C7
I ask the child if they understand sin, and I ask them to explainsin to me, that really helps to figure out if they actually understand why they are in need of a spiritual cleansing, some do but some do not. If they study the Book ofActs by the time they are old enough to sin willingly, they should understand baptism. But I agree, some are too young and then drift away. Some after they get older, try to apply present knowlegde to a past expirence, but God knows the heart.
Our baptism is alot more than just getting dunked, if one don't realize and understand what he is really doing at the time then he just gets wet. IMO when one is baptized he must know that he is a sinner and needs to do something about those sins, then he must believe with his whole heart that Jesus is the son of God, and understand what he is being baptized for, I believe the bible teaches that at our baptism is where your sins are remitted, its where you touch the blood of Jesus, its where you are added to the Lord's church, if one can't really tell you why he was baptized then I would question him a little on why be was, make sure he understands, there are alot of 12 year olds baptizedthat arefully aware of what and why they were, alot of difference in kids though. Thats my 2 cents worth.
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Our baptism is alot more than just getting dunked, if one don't realize and understand what he is really doing at the time then he just gets wet. IMO when one is baptized he must know that he is a sinner and needs to do something about those sins, then he must believe with his whole heart that Jesus is the son of God, and understand what he is being baptized for, I believe the bible teaches that at our baptism is where your sins are remitted, its where you touch the blood of Jesus, its where you are added to the Lord's church, if one can't really tell you why he was baptized then I would question him a little on why be was, make sure he understands, there are alot of 12 year olds baptizedthat arefully aware of what and why they were, alot of difference in kids though. Thats my 2 cents worth.
Strut My Man
Strut I don't dare disagree with you. It could affect future events.Your 2 cents is always worth listening too Randy.
Chuck7
Honestly Randy,
IMHO I don't think the formula is all that important unless I am a pastor.I have been baptized and I have confessed Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I am growing in His grace. Now ..if i'm standing behind a pulpit..yeah I'd better know real good what I am teaching. Lot's of responsibility.
Chuck7
Our baptism is alot more than just getting dunked, if one don't realize and understand what he is really doing at the time then he just gets wet. IMO when one is baptized he must know that he is a sinner and needs to do something about those sins, then he must believe with his whole heart that Jesus is the son of God, and understand what he is being baptized for, I believe the bible teaches that at our baptism is where your sins are remitted, its where you touch the blood of Jesus, its where you are added to the Lord's church, if one can't really tell you why he was baptized then I would question him a little on why be was, make sure he understands, there are alot of 12 year olds baptizedthat arefully aware of what and why they were, alot of difference in kids though. Thats my 2 cents worth.
And you knowbrother Strut, I agree with you on this!
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LOL, Chuck, you don't have to worry about future events, you will always be near and dear to my heart and yes you can disagree with me on here LOL.
You are correct, preaching from the pulpit and teaching in any publicsetting bears alot of responsibility, If one teaches a mistruth that might lead someone astray he will have to answer to God for that. God bless you and your family, You have done a good job in raising Matt and I bet he will come around, Just keep on keeping on and from your great heart and example he will have to grow spritual.
__________________
THE NRA, WHERE WOULD YOU AS A GUN-OWNER BE WITHOUT THEM.
GUN-OWNERS, UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.
WOW....Strut that was encouraging. I wished I had that kind of relationship with all these men.I honestly don't try to offend on purpose.
C7
PS Actually this is an answer ot prayer.I haven't been in God's Word as much as I should be and becaus eof THIS I'm going to study my head off on baptism. I just prayed this morning that I would get in to God's Word more.
And yet another post on baptism
