Opinions are plentiful, everyone has one. When baptism is mentioned, there are most plentiful. They are freely offered into discussion and expected to be excepted by others. My question is, "does it really matter what the bible says"? Some teach infant baptism, some sprinkle, some immerse, some dunk the candidate three times, some one time. Some use titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, others use the name of Jesus Christ. With all these variations, does it really matter what the scripture has said?
Opinions are actually worthless as the bible declares that man shall not live by opinions, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The only criteria for determining the truth of God is found in his Holy Word.
The roots of baptism is found in Jewish practiced in the pre christian era. Proselytes were baptised to Judaism to express their faith in Jehovah God. John followed, baptizing to prepare the hearts of the Jews to receive their Messiah. Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. Jesus himself was baptized of John. After this He and his disciples baptized large numbers of believers. Jesus included baptism as a vital part of the inauguration of a new convert into the church he established (Matt 16:18).
After his resurrection, He instructed his apostles, "go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (Matt 28:19). Then before assending up into heaven, He opened their understanding to the scripture and the things written of him. Saying, repentanc and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:44
The responsibility of continuing his ministry, sharing the gospel, and extending the influence of the church fell upon the disciples. Having their understanding opened by The Lord, reqarding the plan for redemption, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, in Jerusalem, Peter preached a message about Jesus, the Messiah, his death, burial, and ressurection. This message led to the question, "what shall we do"? The bible answer is found in Acts 2:38, "Arise and be baptized everyone of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of theHoly Ghost" The mention of the Holy Ghost reveals Peter's understanding of Jesus teaching in John 3:5.
The form or mode of valid water baptism is undenialably immersion. The term "baptism" has its root in the Greek word "baptizo", meaning to dip, plunge, submerge, immerse. Scriptural reading reading required, John 3:23, Matt 3:16, Acts 8:38.
The formula has a great bearing on spiritual truth. Jesus laid down specific instruction and intended for all men to comply with his instructions. Col 3:17 certainly applied to water baptism. The Apostles, who had their understanding opened by the Lord, knew the exact meaning of baptism, the form of baptism, and the formula for scriptural baptism. Carefully read Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5, 22:16. The name gives baptism its validity. One cannot leave something as important to chance or opinion. "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved".
Regardless of what some traditions and opinions proclaim, the Bible teaches "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ". Is the teachings of the scripture important?
Long time no see Snooky, . . .Good post and I agree with you in that what the bible says is important, although we can't take just one verse a lot of times and take it literally. For instance in Mat 28:19, It says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost", and yet the bible doesn't give one instance of anyone using the triune interpretation of that verse. In every example of a baptism for the remission of sins in the bible the name of Jesus is invoked or directly alluded to.
At any rate, I'm headed out the door in a few minutes, taking a short vacation in California. I'll be back, Lord willing next week. God bless you all, and try not to argue.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
First of all, have a good time in California. One needs to get apart once in a while so he doesn't come apart.
You make a good point. Matt 28:19 was a commandment given by Jesus and is very important to us or it wouldn't have been recorded and handed down to you and I. Those to whom Jesus "opened their understanding" fulfilled that commandment by baptizing them in the Name of the Lord in every record. A key to my understanding of these events is in the fact that, "when Jesus does something, he does it right". When he "opens ones understanding", it will be opened corectly. I think this proves beyond doubt that it does matter what the bible says.
Be careful and have a nice time.
A brief look at the texts in the Bible where water baptism is mentioned will reveal that faith alone, without the added step of baptism, assures the forgiveness of sin, the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the gift of everlasting life. A key text is found in the tenth chapter of Acts where a straightforward example of the operation of God in the regeneration of the sinner is recorded.
This is the account of the conversion of the house of Cornelius as the apostle Peter preached unto them the one pure Gospel of God's saving grace through Christ. There is no possible way they were already believers, since they had not yet heard the Word of the Gospel which alone can save (Acts 10:6,33; 11: 14-18; 15:7). Cornelius was religious but lost; he was a devout proselyte to Judaism, but in need of hearing the Good News that the righteous demands of the Law had been met in Christ and that salvation through Him was now available to Jew and Gentile alike. Cornelius had to hear about Christ!
In Acts 10:34-43 God gives the details these needy Gentiles had to hear and believe in order to be saved. Peter preached Christ crucified and risen again Who would be either Judge or Saviour to sinful man. It was then that Peter gave the one condition to receiving the free gift of salvation: "To him [the Lord Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (vs. 43).
It was, "While Peter yet spake these words, [the Gospel concerning the Perfect Person and finished Work of Christ] the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word" (vs. 44). They all believed and were saved at that very moment! How do we know? Turn to Acts 15 and read carefully verses six through eleven. Here we have the same event viewed from God's perspective and we have the Divine commentary on what took place in the hearts of those who believed the Gospel and in so doing, received the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Spirit. "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, . . . purifying their hearts by faith. " (Acts 15:8,9). Peter did the preaching; the Gentiles heard and believed (see John 5:24; Gal. 3:2); and God did the saving!
Now look back at Acts 10:45-48. It was after they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit that they were baptized. There is no possible way it could be said that their sins were washed away in baptismal waters since they were already in Christ. (see Rom. 8:9). The speaking in other languages was a sign to the believing Jews present that these Gentiles had now received what they had at Pentecost and were now in God's New Creation, the Church. Water baptism was the outward witness to their identification with Christ and with others of like precious faith. Is water baptism a step in gaining salvation? Absolutely not! This text which so clearly gives the one basis of regeneration would have to be torn out of the Bible if baptism was essential for salvation. But praise the Lord such is not the case, and all who have believed to the saving of their souls can rejoice along with Peter, ...we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they" (Acts 15:11).
Baptism, and it's practice, and purpose is a very commonly misunderstood thing among many. The practice of Baptism , or washing with water goes back to the old testament where we see water used to cleanse the High Priest {which is a mataphor for Jesus Christ}, and also it is used to wash clean the scarifices to God, which are also metaphors for Jesus Christ.
Many mistakenly point to the Baptism of Jesus, by John as an indication that all true believers should be baptized in the same manner, when this is not true. Jesus was baptized for 2 reasons , by John who was a Levitical preist, from the same line as Aaron, who was also a Levitical priest . Johns baptism of Jesus , or washing Him in water, was first for the purpose of preparing this Lamb, the Lamb of God for sacrifice, the same way washed the spotless animal sacrifices for God.
Aaron, the appointed priest of Israel, was a picture of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ would become the High Priest of the New Covenant, spoken of in the book of Hebrews. In order for Aaron to enter the Holy Place, he had to be washed by his brother Moses. In order for Jesus to enter, He too had to be washed by a Levitical Priest , the man called John. Therefore the Baptism of Jesus occured so that the "spotless lamb", which is Jesus Christ Himself, , could be made ready for sacrifice, and delivered up by the High Priest, which is also Himself, for Jesus was the only one pure enough to be the Lamb of God, and the Holy One Holy enough to offer Himself up.
When the Bible proclaims to "baptize" them, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, it simply means to fully immerse them in the Word of God through teaching. Salvation is of God, and by God, through the Blood of Christ. It is the Baptism in the Blood that distinguishes Christians, from non Christians. Sad as it is, it seems many men spend soo much time argueing, and stressing over this very elementry thing, that they lose much valuable time in service for the Lord.
[blockquote][align=left]"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed...but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb witho"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed...but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19[/align][/blockquote][align=left][/align]
[align=left][/align][blockquote][align=left]John 8:31-34..To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin" [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Man in sin must be freed from slavery to sin. He cannot free himself, but must be freed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is an offensive truth to the unregenerate man. Men do not like to hear that they are, in fact, totally dependent upon God's grace for salvation--they do not want to know that they areunable tothemselves, or even of coming unto Christ for salvation, outside of God's gracious drawing (John 6:44). But as the Lord Himself said, we are slaves to sin. Slaves must be freed. [/align][/blockquote][align=left][/align][blockquote]
[align=left]Romans 8:5-8 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Those who hold to baptismal regeneration would have us to believe that one passes from being a "natural man" to a "spiritual man" through baptism; yet,from wheredoes this desire to be baptized come? Is God not pleased when we are baptized? Of course. Yet, Paul said that the one who is still fleshly cannot please God. If such a person is the enemy of God, enslaved to sin, how is it that he is able to do such a spiritual and pleasing thing as to desire to be baptized? Obviously, this is impossible. Baptism signifies our death to the old way of life and our resurrection to new life in Christ, as Paul uses it in Romans 6:1-4. Unless we have died to sin, and been raised with Christ in reality prior to our baptism, the symbol becomes meaningless. [/align][align=left]In taking the position they do, the baptismal regenerationists not only make man capable of things he is not, but they reduce God's grace to a mere aid, and make the death of Christ a theory that is dependent upon man's act of obedience, rather than the finished and effective work that the Bible teaches it to be (Hebrews 10:10-14). [/align][blockquote][align=left][/align][/blockquote][align=left]When we keep in mind the foundational truth that man is unable to save himself, but that salvation is the work of God, we are able to understand why it is said that we are justified by God's grace (Titus 3:7), justified by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9), and justified by faith. Grace, and the blood of Christ, are both things that are beyond man's ability to manipulate; and faith, if it is true, saving faith, is the gift of God as well. Hence, we are justified by God's action, not by any action of our own. Never is it said that we are justified by baptism. [/align][/blockquote]
dabowhunter, Just a couple of simple questions if I may. Why did Jesus open the understanding of his Apostles? Were they in error in what they spoke and wrote about baptism? I notice that baptism seems to put a real burr under your saddle. We have been down this road before so I ask you personally, are these scriptures important to you? Have they been obeyed?, If so why?, If not, why not?
Is it important?
, . . .Good post and I agree with you in that what the bible says is important, although we can't take just one verse a lot of times and take it literally. For instance in Mat 28:19, It says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost", and yet the bible doesn't give one instance of anyone using the triune interpretation of that verse. In every example of a baptism for the remission of sins in the bible the name of Jesus is invoked or directly alluded to.
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