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I've been thinking off & on for awhile now about
getting baptized .. do any of you have any thoughts
if being baptized is important as a christian?

 :)

Brother Love :)

I believe that water baptism is very important; it was commanded of us by God. While the lack of it will not keep you out of heaven, it is a proof to other believers that you have trusted Christ with your life and are willing to live for Him. I have heard it described as a symbol of your sins being washed away. Wherever Christ's disciples lead people to Him, they baptized them in the Name of the Lord.

Baptism is not the same thing as salvation; if you go under the water without Christ in your heart, you will come out wet. Without faith, its just water.

                          AMEN

Getting baptized [immersed] is not only important for a Christian, it is vital:

1. It is Christ's command to each one who repents and believes the Gospel (Matt. 28:18-20).

2. It is therefore an act of (a) faith (b) obedience (c) surrender to God. You cannot move on from being a "babe" in Christ to a "mature adult" until and unless you take this first step of obedience after you are saved

3. Before men it is (a) a testimony to the new birth (b) a testimony to a changed life (a) a witness for Christ

4.  Before Christians it is (a) confirmation that you are indeed an obedient child of God (b) that you are a part of the body of Christ (c) that you may take your place of full membership in a local body of believers (d) that you may freely partake of the Lord's Supper.

However, there is a deeper meaning to water baptism which you should study in Romans chapter 6. It is primarily a symbolic and physical affirmation that from the moment you were saved, you "died" and now Christ lives in you and that you live in HIS POWER on this earth "to walk in newness of life".  In other words you can now "DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST" who strengthens you by His own Almighty power within you: "FOR IT IS GOD THAT WORKETH IN YOU, BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE" (Philippians 2:13).

I repented, for getting baptised.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Thank You Lord

Brother Love

(http://www.sirinet.net/~blkidps/rom5_8.gif)



AMEN!!!!

Brother Love :)

Bl that makes no sense,you repented for getting baptised.

Makes makes sense to me.
I regret that I got water baptised, and I really, really rgret that I baptised others in water.

And Yes Thank You Jesus

Did Jesus repent from being baptised?

No Brother, He was Baptised for a reason. Do you know why He was Baptised? Clue it was not because He had sin, like myself.

Todays verse is 1 Corrinthians 1:17

I never thought of a reason why he was baptised,i have no answer,but i would like to know.I know he had no sin like me.

1 Cor. 1:11-17 is vary important to the issue of water baptism. It is true that it is not a polemic against baptism but rather it is against the party spirit within the Corinthian church. The members of the church were taking sides according to whomever had baptized them, and Paul though this was shameful. But, this passage also reveals to us Paul honest attitude toward baptism at the time of the writing of this epistle. Paul states that he had personally baptized only a few of these believers (vv.14,16). "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius.also the household of Stephanas (vv. 14,16).

So, what was Paul's attitude toward baptism? INDIFFERENCE Indifference was Paul's attitude toward baptism and it is indicated when he says, "besides, I know not whether I baptized any other." But, Peter who was sent to baptize cannot be indifferent and wasn't in view of the Apostle's great commission: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16. Peter did not think baptism was optional or a matter in which either he or the convert may be indifferent.

Grace & Peace

Did the eunuch regret and repent of it? It says he went away rejoicing.

 Acts 8:35.  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
 36.  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.

 38.  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.
 39.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Did Cornelius and his house regret and repent of being baptized?

Acts 10:44.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
 45.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 46.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
 47.  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
 48.  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Cornelius and his kinsman and friends wanted Peter to stay. No regrets or repenting of their baptism.


The only baptism that should be repented of or regreted is one that is not done in the true doctrine of Christ.

Matthew 3:13.  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
 14.  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
 15.  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
 16.  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
 17.  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Amen, Ollie!  :D

1. If you make baptism necessary for salvation, then Paul thanked God he saved so few.
2. If you make baptism essential to obedience, then Paul thanked God that he made so few obedient.
3. It should be apparent that Paul was indifferent to baptism during his 18 month stay at Corinth.
4. It should also be apparent that Paul never, in his ministry, saw himself as working under the commissions of Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16, given to the Twelve.
5. At this stage in Paul's ministry, little emphasis or importance was placed on baptism.
6. Paul's commission from the glorified Christ differed from the commission given to the Twelve at the point of water baptism (Paul's commission did not include water baptism).;
7. If God had commanded Paul to baptize , as He did the Twelve, he would not have stopped baptizing under any condition. Paul would not have allowed the abuses of man to prevent him from carrying out God's direct command to him.
8. The Corinthians also abused the Lord's Table, but Paul did not say that because of the abuse of the Lord's Table I will not celebrate the Lord's Table any longer.
9. If Baptism had ever been a command of God to Paul, as it had been to the Twelve, he could never have said: "God sent me not to baptize." V.17.
10. The Bible , nor Paul anywhere tells us that Paul delegated the less important task of baptizing to others. This is not in the Bible. Paul did not delegate his authority. Jesus did delegate His authority to baptize to others John 4:12, but Jesus was still said to have baptized. That is they were baptized by His authority. This could also be true of Paul , but it is not since we have no scriptural record of it. And if baptism was as important as people think it was, then we would surely have some mention of it in the word of God.
11. The fact remains , baptism is not an ordinance of the church, the Body of Christ after 62 ad when the Jews were set aside and when "the revelation of the mystery" completed the Word of God. From that point on, we have a dispensation that is purely of grace and the operation of the Spirit. Spirit baptism is now the order of the day.
Eph. 4:5; 1 Cor. 12:13.
12. We must recognize the truth of both the "Go.baptize" of Matt. 28:19 and "Christ sent me not to baptize" of
1 Cor. 1:17 . Both are true and while many struggle with the conflicting statements, it does not seem to occur to very many that the risen and glorified Christ gave further revelation to Paul which replaces or takes precedence over His first commands.
(a). Most feel that Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:16 are perpetual commands and hence the obligation of the church. This would have been the case had their been no further revelation. And why can't be believe in progressive revelation??? The Lord rescinded or changed the Matthew 10:5 command; He told the Apostles "Go not in the way of the Gentiles", then later He said, "Go make disciple all nations [Gentiles]." It is a fact that our Lord changed many of His first teaching and commands.
(b). Many today suffer the "red letter bible syndrome." Are the words of our Lord in the four Gospels more binding upon us than His words in the epistles of Paul? Paul said, "the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." 1 Cor. 14:35. All of Paul's writings should be in red letters as they were received by direct revelation of the Glorified Christ. Gal. 1:11,12; 2:1-9; Eph. 3:1-9. Did not Peter refer believers to Paul's revelation and epistles
2 Peter 3:15,16 ? In carrying out his mission to the Gentiles Paul did not work under the Kingdom program of the Twelve Apostles, but the new dispensation of grace which God had given him.
(c). The correct answer is a dispensational one -----the Twelve were working under the Kingdom program and they had their commissions which included water baptism. And Paul was working under the Grace program of the Body Church and the new dispensation of the mystery in which Spirit baptism was the means whereby believers were placed into the Body Church 1Cor. 12:13.

RIGHT ON!

AMEN!!!!

Brother Love :)

The Scriptures contain several water baptism ceremonies which we believe are related to God's earthly kingdom purposes concerning Israel and the nations (Acts 2:36-38; 13:24), but the Apostle Paul, whom Christ sent not to baptise (1 Cor 1:17), explicitly states concerning the Body of Christ, "There is one baptism" (Eph 4:5), which is administered by the Holy Spirit and not by human hands (Col 2:11,12), which results in the permanent union of every believer as a member of the Church which is His Body (1 Cor 12:13). Therefore this Church does not practise the ordinance of water baptism BUT recognising the differences in understanding on the part of sincere believers in this Church and from other denominations who are our beloved brother and sisters in Christ, grants the liberty to its members in grace to adhere to their own convictions on the subject, as long as they do not invest any saving merit in water baptism, or make the subject a matter of contention in the Church.

I agree with the above doctrine

Brother Love

Ephesians 4
4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all
***************
Iam not sure this can be considered the Spirit Baptism?Look at verses 4 one body and spirit meaning the Holy Spirit,then verse 5 One Lord,One Faith,One Baptism meaning Jesus,then verse 6 One GOD and Father meaning GOD.WHat i see there is the trinity.Now how is the conclusion drawn that the one baptism is that by the spirit?

For a Start Read 1 Corinthians 12:13

I need more than that,there are verses that could conclude water baptism and spirit work in unisen.

Like I said start with 1 Corinthians 12:13

Question Who is the Baptiser?
Does Jesus Baptise?
Or does the Holy Spirit Baptise?
Read Acts Chapter 2 over and over until you see what Gods Word says, NOT what you have been taught what it says.
Read Acts Chapter 10 Over and Over until you see what it says, NOT what you have been taught what it says.

Grow in Gods Grace

P.S. "Christ sent me not to baptize" 1 Cor. 1:17

Water Bapism-Old Covenant(OT)?
Spirit Baptism-New Covenant

What do you think?

Any thoughts?Anyone?

Circumcision was basically an old covenant rule; in the new covenant, we realize that circumcision of the heart is acceptable to God, whereas the bodily circumcision is merely an outward expression. But as far as I know, water baptism was not ruled out as an outward display that could be discarded; throughout the book of Acts and much of the New Testament regarding new believers, we find that baptism was a prominent element in the early church. You believed on Jesus, and then you were baptized. "Here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" "They that gladly received his word were baptized;" "And he commanded them to be baptized..." "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away they sins..." What we read here is a physical immersion in water, other than the baptism of Spirit.
My personal opinion on why Paul was relieved he had "baptized so few": Christians were saying, "I follow Paul"; "I follow Apollos"; they were forgetting that they were following One Lord, and were causing division in the church by holding to one preacher instead of the Word that was preached.

I hear ya,i beleive that spirit baptism is part of the new covenant,i say new because in acts 2 we see the spirit come to dwell with us on a regular basis.In the OT the spirit would come and go,and not always be with the person.Now the spirit dwells in us.For water baptism iam not certain,iam thinking is was part of the old covenant,since Jesus had not died yet water baptism was used for the forgiveness of sins.I feel it is very important for us to understand the new covenant.Ive never been taught about the new covenant,ive always known the new testament.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit into Christ of believers, making them part of the church, which is Christ's Body. All (but two references) by Paul in his epistles refers to this baptism which identifies believers as part of Christ and his church. Cf. Romans 6:3-15; I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12 But there is much more than this….

NO WATER!!!!

Once again Ambassador, I must agree.

The Crusader

What verse says NO WATER?Think about it,Jesus was Baptised to fulfill all righteousness,to start his ministery,are we not to minister the word of God?

I must agree, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The Crusader

The Crusader

Why would you repent of something that is not a sin?Are we as christians suppose to minister the word to others?

The one baptism according to Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour:



Matthew 28:18.  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
 19.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 20.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


The only one that baptized with the Holy Spirit was Jesus Christ. It happened twice, to the Apostles on the day of Pentacost at Jerusalem in the second chapter of Acts and to Cornelius and his household in the tenth chapter of Acts signifying the gentiles also received the Holy Spirit.

Here is a command by Christ to His apostles to go, teach and baptize all nations.

Is it Spirit or water baptism?

Could the apostles baptize with the Holy spirit?

Is the Holy Spirit working through the baptism Christ commands to be done?

To me it is quite obvious from this thread that Satan has found another way to create division and dissension among believers by CREATING CONFUSION ABOUT BAPTISM.  God is not the author if confusion, and the teaching on baptism is quite plain. Why are we continually confusing the baptism of the Holy Spirit with water baptism, when each one is distinct and each one is necessary?

WATER BAPTISM
Water baptism is a commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ for every believer in every age until the Lord comes for His saints (Matt. 28:19). Water baptism signifies death, burial, and resurrection with Christ -- when He died, we died; when He was buried, we were buried; when He rose again, we rose again with Him (Rom. 6:1-23). Water baptism does NOT WASH AWAY SINS, but PROVES that our sins have been forgiven and we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit -- "raised to walk in newness of life". Obedience to this command is obedience to Christ.  IT IS AN OUTWARD MANIFESTATION OF AN INWARD REALITY.

SPIRIT BAPTISM
The baptism with or by the Holy Spirit is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who "IMMERSES" [baptizes] each and every believer into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12, but read the whole chapter, Eph. 4:5, but read the whole chapter).  There is no conflict in Scripture, and this baptism accompanies salvation by GRACE through FAITH in the blood of Christ and His righteousness (Tit. 3:4-7).  There is no commandment to be baptized with the Holy Spirit (since that is God's supernatural work) but there is a commandment to be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT (Eph.5:18).

So how does Christ "baptize with the Holy Ghost"?  When we believe on Him and receive Him as our Lord and Saviour, He gives us THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST (Acts 2:38), who in turn baptizes us into the Body of Christ. The emphasis by Paul on "ONE BAPTISM" [ of the Holy Ghost] was because the gifts of the Spirit were causing disunity in the Body, and believers had to be reminded that there are no divisions in the Body of Christ because there is "one Body, and one Spirit" (Eph. 4:4). I trust this post will again remind us of the same truth.

The one baptism according to Ollie ;D