What are the differences between a born-again christian and a catholic?

Question

just curious... it's a real sticking point in my family right now... and i'm just really curious about the whole thing...

Answer 1

Dear me&my_gang08

Thanks for the great question. I hope the following will answer the question.

Just What Do You Mean
..."Born Again"?

"Praise the Lord, I'm BORN AGAIN!" Millions of those who have come forward at evangelistic campaigns, or answered altar call at revival have spoken those words. Former President Jimmy Carter, whose sister is a well-known evangelist, considers himself a "born-again" Christian, as do thousands of others in notable professions. Just what does it mean to be "born again"? What happens to you when "it" happens? What do you feel? How do you know? Are there any evidences of "being born again"? And what did Jesus teach about this? Was Paul "born again"? Must you be "born again" to be a Christian? If you are "born again," must you speak in "other tongues," and receive the "baptism of the Holy Ghost"? You will be surprised to see the plain teaching of your Bible on all these questions!

By Garner Ted Armstrong

Who hasn't, at one time or another in life, wanted to "turn over a new leaf"? Who among us has not desired to relive certain portions of our lives - to start over, to erase unpleasant experiences of the past?
We have all done it. We have all promised ourselves to "begin anew," to rid ourselves of bad habits; to commence new interests, projects or hobbies, and, sometimes we succeed, in part. New Year's resolutions, promises to mates and loved ones, personal vows and promises we make to ourselves - all of these illustrate the desire to "turn over a new leaf." And which person among us has not decided, with almost monotonous regularity, to "change our lifestyle"? We promise ourselves we will diet, exercise; we will eliminate certain foods and substances we suspect may be harming us, and we will get ourselves back in good physical condition.
Transcendent above all of these passing and temporary desires for change is the profound, religious and emotional experience which millions call "being born again."
What did they believe they were doing? What was the goal, the motive? Was it not to change their lives? Was it not to give themselves to Jesus Christ; acknowledging the fact that He is the Savior of the world; that He died for our sins, and that, when we acknowledge Him as the divine Son of God, our personal Savior, High Priest and soon coming King, calling upon Him for forgiveness of all of our evil deeds and sins of the past, He becomes our forgiving Savior?
What wife and mother has not been thrilled to the bottom of her soul upon seeing a husband and father who had been grievously afflicted with a drinking problem, perhaps abusing his wife and children, unable to hold a job, of a foul mouth and bad personal habits be moved to want to change all this - perhaps "going forward" at the altar call following a particularly inspiring sermon by a famous evangelist, and confidently feeling he has then been "born again"? To tens of thousands, the experience they call "being born again" is a very precious, deeply rewarding experience.

Repentance

Jesus preached about repentance. Matthew said, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17).
Surely everyone understands the meaning of the word "repent"? Webster's New World Dictionary puts it this way, "(1) To feel sorry or self-reproachful for what one has done or failed to do; be conscience-stricken or contrite. (2) To feel such regret or dissatisfaction over some past action, intention, etc. as to change one's mind about. (3) To feel so contrite over one's sins as to change, or decide to change, one's ways; be penitent."
Continually, Jesus preached that those hearing His message should repent! Mark wrote, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel!" (Mark 1:14, 15). He told His listeners, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). when Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness and a warning, He reminded them that repentance and the forgiveness of sins was the primary focus of their message! It was the result that should be expected, in those cases where God was calling individuals to salvation, as a direct result of hearing the apostles preaching.
Read the description of the "great commission" Jesus Christ gave His apostles! "And [He] said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46, 47).
One of the most outstanding examples of how the apostles began to fulfill that great commission in their day - a great commission to God's Church which remains to be performed in our day - is found in the second chapter of Acts, when the apostle Peter, explaining about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ said, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 2:38).
Surely, you have known individuals in your experience who have tried to do this! Perhaps you, yourself, have gone through a religious experience when you felt you really repented of your sins - wanted to rid yourself of your guilty past, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior! But, perhaps the minister you heard, or the church you attend referred to your experience as "being born again," rather than ''repentance.''
Then why did Jesus speak of repentance so forcefully and continuously as being the experience one feels at the time or deep contrition over one's past? Why did He continually thunder at His audiences "REPENT ye, and believe the gospel"?
It may come as a shock to you - but literally millions of our fellow citizens have been brought to a frame of mind where they wanted to REPENT, and, insofar as they were able, they tried to do just that - but were not told by the evangelist to whom they listened HOW to do it! Instead, they were told that the "experience" of accepting Christ as Savior and the desire to rid oneself of feelings of guilt over past sins was "being born again''! Make no mistake! Jesus Christ or Nazareth said. "You must be born again!" But does "being born again" mean "repent"?
But how can this be? Notice what the Bible plainly says! "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren!" (Romans 8:29). Here, Jesus is called the firstborn among all those who are likewise to be born of God, even as He was. Was Jesus "born again"? Absolutely! The Bible plainly says He was! But does this make any sense? If "being born again" means repentance; if "being born again" means the experience one feels at a time of deep sorrow and contrition, and a desire to change one's life by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and calling upon Him for the forgiveness of sins, then how could Jesus have possibly been born again? If "being born again" means forgiveness of sins and commencing life anew as a Christian, is the Bible trying to say that Jesus somehow was guilty of sin?
But Jesus never sinned! He lived a flawless, perfect life! Yet, the Bible says He was "born again"! Notice! "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept!" In Romans, the eighth chapter, the same writer, the apostle Paul, speaks of Jesus Christ as the "first born" among many brethren. Here, drawing upon the meaning of the day of Pentecost (called, in the Old Testament, the ''feast of firstfruits''!) Paul characterizes the risen Jesus Christ as "the firstfruits of them that slept." Read on. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they are Christ's at His coming" (I Corinthians 15:20-23). Notice carefully the context. This is the famous "resurrection chapter." 1 have said for over twenty-eight years that, if a sincerely thirsting and hungering Christian person will merely read the fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians slowly, carefully and meaningfully - without anyone attempting to "spiritualize away" or argue around what these beautiful words plainly tell us, he will come to understand more about the plan of God; about the state of the dead, and about the resurrection of the dead than is understood by thousands of ministers in the great and vaunted churches!
Jesus Christ of Nazareth is ALIVE! He was raised from the dead! (See Acts 2:24, 30, 32, 36; Acts 4:2; 4:10; Revelation 1:18.) when Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, He was once again, very God! Even though He had the power to manifest Himself in His human, physical form (as He did to the apostles on many occasions, even telling doubting Thomas to thrust his hand into His gaping wounds, in order to convince him of the fact that He was, indeed, alive!); even though He was able to appear inside locked doors, materializing miraculously from His spirit form into human form, Jesus Christ was SPIRIT!
The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus Christ out of the tomb, it was rolled away to let the world look in! The world saw, through the eyes of Peter, John, and then others, a tomb that was empty! The tomb had been emptied long before the stone was rolled away at the earthquake, when the keepers of the tomb were struck unconscious!
Notice how the apostle Paul explains the great change that takes place at the resurrection of the dead! "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up'? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed His own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: . . . And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly" (I Corinthians 15:35-38).
Notice that Jesus, referred to as the "last Adam" (verse 45) is stated to have been made a "quickening SPIRIT"! After the resurrection of the dead, at which time Jesus was said to have been "born anew" or "born from above" He became, once again, SPIRIT! When the Bible says He was a "quickening spirit," it means He has the power to make alive! Now, what about us?
Paul says, 'And as we have borne the image of the earthy [made in the image of our own physical parents], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [finally be made in the spiritual image of our spiritual father!]. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God: neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory'' (I Corinthians 15:50-54).
Study those words carefully! Can you understand them? If you can, you are now being given understanding that is not possessed by literally tens of thousands of ministers, and simply is not taught in many of the most prestigious churches! Yet the Bible plainly says that the time of our great CHANGE from human to spirit; from corruptible fleshly life to incorruptible spirit life comes only "at the last trump" which is precisely at the time of the second coming of Christ!
But of course! Did not you already read it? Notice again verse 23. "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits [He is the "firstborn" of many brethren!] AFTERWARD they that are Christ's AT HIS COMING!"
So the Bible characterizes the instant of the resurrection of the dead - a great, global, tumultuous event to occur precisely at the time of the second coming of Christ, as "being born again''!
Obviously, this is distinctly different from the moment of repentance, at which time, if we sincerely repent, are baptized, and received the laying on of hands for the Holy Spirit, we are begotten as children of God! It is as different as the two moments in your own life involving your birth! There was a moment when you did not exist! You were merely "potential" life, within the bodies of your two parents. Then, at the moment of conception, "YOU" began to be! A few seconds previously, and you were merely a "potential" human being! But, following the very instant of conception, YOU, just the way you are, with your thinking, reasoning mind; your height, shape, weight, general texture and coloring of skin, hair and eyes, were predetermined by the indelible stamp of your father and mother's own heredity, contained in the genes and chromosomes from their own bodies, gradually forming in the womb of your mother, until the time, approximately nine months later, when you were BORN!
The two events are obviously greatly different! Yet, they are closely related.
Believe it or not, this is a direct analogy to the process of repentance on the one hand, and being "born again" on the other! Could it be that millions of people who speak of "being born again" do not understand that what they really mean is that they believe they have repented, but are merely using incorrect terminology? Could it be that there is something far deeper, greater, more fabulously exciting and rewarding in their personal futures that they do not yet understand, because they have not known the whole truth on this vital subject?
After all, Jesus did tell Nicodemus "You must be born again!" Now, it is time to painstakingly study that most important part of scripture!

"Ye Must Be Born Again"

The first time in all history such strange words were ever uttered was when Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus, an educated man, a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, knew the Old Testament scriptures. However, what Jesus said to him was totally outside his experience, or his education. Never in his life had he heard such a strange saying. To Nicodemus, there was no such thing as people "speaking with tongues," or speaking about "being baptized by the Holy Ghost," or "being born again." Though such expressions are commonplace, particularly in the southeastern United States and in the colloquial phrases used by itinerant evangelists and others, you have to realize that the strange statement Jesus uttered was absolutely shocking, and brand-new to Nicodemus' startled ears!
Nicodemus knew Jesus used the ward in Hebrew which meant "born." It was the same word Jesus would have used if He had spoken of a "newborn colt" or a "newborn baby." It was not a "different" word, connoting anything spiritual or extraphysical.
Therefore, Nicodemus answered exactly in kind. Since Jesus had spoken of birth, Nicodemus, completely mystified, retorted, "How can a man be born when he is OLD? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4).
Now, let's pause a moment and ask ourselves, how would YOU have answered Nicodemus? Let's suppose you are one of the millions of people who believe you have been "born again." If so, how would you respond to Nicodemus' obvious puzzlement? Millions would probably tell Nicodemus he must "believe on Jesus Christ of Nazareth as personal Savior - call upon Him for the forgiveness of sins, and, upon receiving the Holy Spirit, he must be "baptized" by the power of the "Holy Ghost"! Many, particularly those in the "charismatic" movements would go on to explain that there must be "evidence" of the baptism of the Holy Ghost by speaking in tongues!
You and I both know there are literally hundreds of "Pentecostal" preachers and ministers who would explain it that way!
But how did JESUS explain it?
Read it, in your own Bible!
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:5-13).
I have included here about half of the lengthy first-person quotation from Jesus Christ to Nicodemus, which includes the "favorite scripture'' of millions, John 3:16!
But did you grasp it? Did you understand it?
We shall see.

Were You Born of the Flesh?

How well I remember a conversation I had with a very cultured, genteel, elderly lady more than twenty years ago on this same subject! I'm sure she has long since died. She must have been in her late seventies or early eighties at the time: the widow of a Protestant minister who had preached standard Protestant doctrine as taught by one of the mainstream fundamentalist churches for more than fifty years. Deeply entrenched in this elderly lady's mind was the commonplace understanding of the expression "born again."
However, she had heard several of my radio programs, or perhaps seen the telecast; she had read some of the literature, and, during a visit to our offices, asked me for an explanation.
I read Jesus' words from this passage very carefully, expounding every single word, and the meaning of each phrase. I explained. "Now then, Mrs. (I have long since forgotten her name, but shall call her Jones), you were born many years ago as a little baby, just as I was. My name is Armstrong. I am so named because my father and mother gave me life, by the process of begettal, and human birth. Today, as l am sitting here talking to you, it is obvious I am flesh"! I grasped one forearm with another, and explained to her that, if I nicked my face when I am shaving, I bleed. I explained that our human, physical and chemical existence is temporal, that we are sustained by the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. She and I both agreed that, as we sat there chatting about the scriptures, we were both HUMAN - both flesh!
"Fine," I said. "Jesus said, That which is born of the flesh is flesh! So far, so good. We are both fleshly, and we have both been born into this human life from our mother's womb, and we are FLESH!" "Now then," I said. "Jesus said, That which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT." Looking at the lady, I said to her, "Now then, Mrs. Jones, it is obvious you are not yet spirit! That is, you have not yet been changed into a spirit being!" I explained how Jesus, after the resurrection, was able to materialize before the startled disciples, standing suddenly before them inside a stone building with securely locked doors! I explained how the Bible says "God is a spirit," and how we read, in I Corinthians 15:50-52, that when we are changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" we are to BECOME composed of spirit!
I explained the vast and fathomless difference between a fleshly, human being; a creature with the same bloodstream and fleshly, chemical existence as any rabbit, cow, chicken or horse -and the fabulous, ETERNAL existence of the spirit members of the family of God!
I went on to expound, even as did Jesus to Nicodemus "The wind blows wherever it wants to, and you can hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell where it comes from, or where it goes - so IS everyone that is born of the spirit" (John 3:8)!
After painstakingly explaining about how our physical eyes cannot see the molecules of air that surrounded us; how wind likened unto God's Holy Spirit in the Bible, can be so powerful that hurricanes and tornados can tear down buildings, hurl cars and trucks about like matchsticks, and pack a powerful punch, I explained, as thoroughly as I knew how, the vast DIFFERENCE between that which is fleshly, and that which is spirit!
Feeling I had finally gotten through to this very sweet, elderly lady's mind by carefully explaining exactly what Jesus meant, I finally asked, "Now then, Mrs. Jones, in the face of all this and what Jesus plainly said, have you yet been 'born of the spirit'?"
''Oh, yes! Praise the Lord!" she said.
I wish someone could have taken a picture of the look of dumbfounded amazement that must have transfixed my face at that moment. Never have I felt so inadequate.
You see, to this dear lady, the idea was so absolutely FIXED in her mind: having been set in her memory for more than fifty years, that she was only "half listening" to what I was saying! She simply did not get it - she didn't understand! Spiritually, she was BLIND!
But Nicodemus had not been subjected to fifty solid years of false teaching! Nicodemus, amazed, asked Jesus "How can these things be?'' which resulted in Jesus saying, If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12).
You see, Jesus Christ was speaking of a total change from flesh to spirit; from human to divine!
The apostle Paul explained it thoroughly in the famous "resurrection chapter" of
I Corinthians 15.
Read it again, particularly noticing what Jesus said about the kind of body we shall have in the resurrection!
''It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness: it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit [a spirit being - capable of giving life!]. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment. in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality [something we do not now have!]. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:35-54).
I have repeated here, for your careful perusal, one of the most important passages in all the Bible concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the meaning of "being born again"!
Can anything be plainer?
Just as I explained to the elderly lady, there is a kind of flesh that we human beings share with other air-breathing creatures! But our fleshly bodies are as different from spirit as the difference between the earth and the sun!
Paul said ''So also is the resurrection of the dead!" He said that we are buried in the ground as "a natural body," but we are raised as a "spiritual body"!
He explained that the "last Adam" (meaning Jesus Christ) was "made a quickening spirit"! He went on to say that just as we are earthy, as our human physical parents were earthy, so shall we be "heavenly" as our heavenly Father is heavenly.
Now, can you understand verse 49? "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly''!
Did not John say the same thing when he said, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: But we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2)?
No, elderly Mrs. Jones simply did not understand! Doubtless, she was a genteel, cultured and sincere lady. But, because of literally decades of false teaching, she was spiritually blind! She didn't know that she was spiritually blind - she thought she really understood! To her, the only response to my question "Have you been born again?" was her natural response "Oh yes, praise the Lord!"
She did not understand, just as millions of others do not understand that the experience which they CALL "being born again" is really the experience of repentance; and that Jesus Christ meant something far deeper, far greater, more profound - that He meant we are, eventually, to be BORN OF GOD by a resurrection just as He, Christ, was!
That's why He is called the "firstborn among many brethren," and the "firstfruits of them that slept"!
Jesus Christ was "born again"! That doesn't mean He had to "repent,'' for He lived a flawless, sinless and perfect life! But He did die for our sins, and He was resurrected! When He was resurrected, He was changed into SPIRIT!
He was no longer physical, fleshly. When He manifested Himself to the startled disciples behind closed doors, He was able to identify Himself as having the same "body" by the miraculous power of God, but He was also able to instantly disappear by transforming Himself into spiritual essence and simply disappearing from their sight INSTANTLY, even through solid stone walls!
Jesus used the analogy of wind as something which has power, which can set up a noise, and which yet is invisible. He said, "So is every one that is born of the spirit!"
Of course! When we are changed instantaneously at the final trump, at the moment of the arrival of Jesus Christ to this earth, whether we are living, or dead, we will instantly be changed INTO spirit!
We will then be born of God BY A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD!
What a tragedy it is that, though millions have been led to the place where they wanted to "be born again," meaning they wanted to change their lives; to give themselves to God; to repent of their sins, and to receive Jesus Christ as personal Savior - they were able to go only PART WAY with that process for the simple reason that they were blindly following blind leaders who simply could not tell them the whole truth! And why not? Because those blind leaders did not KNOW the truth about repentance! They did not know what sin is! They did not know the real truth about water baptism and its deep symbolism; about the laying on of hands for the receiving of God's Holy Spirit; about the real meaning of being BORN AGAIN!
The Greek word for "born" is gennao. It means, according to the exhaustive concordances, "to bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring forth."
Notice that there is only one Greek word connoting both the words "to beget" (conceive), and "born."
Only by understanding the context can one determine which way the Greek word gennao should be translated into the English. Actually, Christians should speak of having been "begotten of the Holy Spirit," as a new child of God - but not yet BORN of God - if they knew what Jesus really meant by "Ye must be born again."

"Begotten, But Not Yet Born"

We all know what is meant by conception. It is the moment when a male sperm unites with the female egg in the womb, causing the beginning of a new human life.
At that precise moment, a moment which took place in all our lives, a completely new, totally individual human life has begun! The pattern in the genes is set; the sex is decided, and the general height, shape, skin color and texture, color of eyes and hair - all is set, predetermined by the combined hereditary traits of mother and father.
But the newly-begotten life is not yet BORN. Today, as millions fight against legal abortion, they point out that such a life, though conveniently called a "fetus" and not a "child" is a HUMAN LIFE!
The analogy between human begettal and birth and spiritual begettal and birth is clear.
God is the Architect of our bodies. It is He who "made them male and female" (Genesis 1:26, 27). God is the Great Designer of the human reproductive cycle.
Just as the Creator designed our human, physical bodies so they are capable of reproducing after their own kind, so is GOD REPRODUCING AFTER HIS OWN KIND!
He BEGETS US with the power of His Spirit! We then become a "new creature" in Christ - a "new creation." We are, in the innermost being, as enlivened by the begettal of God's Spirit, a NEW SPIRIT LIFE gradually being formed!
We are begotten, but not yet BORN!
Follow the logical analogy further: Just as the tiny human life, in embryonic form, must be nurtured and fed by the mother's body; just as it is protected in the womb, so must the newly-begotten Christian; the newly-begotten spiritual life be nurtured and fed in the body of the "mother," which is the spiritual organism called the Church!
Finally, after years of overcoming; of patience, faith, trials and tests; years of serving, sharing, giving - years of allowing God's ways to supplant OUR ways; of allowing our Heavenly Father, through the power of His Spirit to RULE our lives - we come to maturity; to the point of BIRTH into His own family!
That is why Christ is called the "Firstborn among many brethren"!
Finally, at the resurrection, or at the moment of His coming, if we are "alive and remain"
(I Corinthians 15:50-52), we shall be CHANGED! We will then be BORN OF GOD by a CHANGE from human to spirit; from physical to spiritual; from a mortal being to an immortal being!
Then, and ONLY then, shall we be "BORN AGAIN"!
Finally, if you and I were sitting down to discuss the statement Jesus made to Nicodemus, and I painstakingly went through the same scriptures as I did with elderly Mrs. Jones, after explaining, carefully, each word Jesus spoke, and I asked YOU, "Now then, (substitute your name), have YOU been born again?" What would your answer be?

-End-

me&my_gang08. Catholics sprinkle and pray to Mary and others that are dead.

IS WATER BAPTISM
REQUIRED FOR
SALVATION?


Is baptism necessary for salvation? When should it be done? Should infants be baptized? Should one be re-baptized in later years if one feels his first baptism was invalid? Should the living be baptized for the dead? What is the form for baptism? Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Can you be saved if you are not baptized? Who should do the baptizing? What if you were baptized by a man in whom you have since lost faith? Should you be baptized again? Here, from the pages of your own Bible, is the plain truth about water baptism.

By Garner Ted Armstrong
and Wes White

Surely baptism is one of the most well-known of all the Christian "sacraments." One major church takes it's name from John the Baptist. Many churches, following Catholic custom, "baptize" infants at their "christening" by sprinkling a few drops of water on them in an elaborate ceremony.
Some churches include baptismal tanks as a part of their pulpit platform and altar, with baptisms incorporated into special worship services before the entire congregation.
Millions have been "baptized" in one form or another. Hundreds of millions in the Catholic world, especially France, Italy, Spain, and most of Mexico, Central and South America, were sprinkled as an infant, believing they were "baptized." Baptism is called the "door of the church" by the Roman Catholics; the means by which one is brought into the body of the church.
In comparatively modern times, exultant believers have been seen cavorting beneath a fire hose, spraying water over the wildly enthusiastic following of an evangelist who held forth in a major street corner. Was this "baptism" valid? During the late '60s, the "Jesus People" movement saw hundreds joining hands, skipping over the sands of the Pacific coast, striding into the surf. Was this a valid baptism?
Probably, you were baptized at some time in your life, perhaps on your first birthday; perhaps as a young person at 15, or 17, when you were emotionally moved to do so by a revivalist. Maybe you were "baptized" into the church you attend because it was the church of your parents, and your friends.
But what about baptism? Have you ever read much about it in the Bible?
Some claim it is not necessary.
Have you ever heard a radio or TV preacher deliver a message similar to this? "If you want to be saved, all you have to do is accept Jesus in your heart. As you sit in your car or home -even if you are in a bar - just say, "I accept you, Jesus" and you will be instantly saved. You don't even need to be baptized!"
Is this statement correct? Is this all there is to being saved? Can a person who wishes to become a Christian simply whisper, "I accept you, Jesus" and thereby receive ETERNAL LIFE?
Or is there more to Christian conversion?
Understand this! Jesus died for our sins so that we may have ETERNAL LIFE (John 3:16). If we are to receive salvation, it is vital that we understand what is required in order to receive this great gift. We dare not take the word of any man; we must look to the Bible for our answers.
"But wait a minute!" you may protest. "You're telling me I must earn salvation. If salvation is a free gift, then that means I don't have to do anything at all in order to receive it! Right?"
Wrong! We are saved by GRACE through FAITH (Ephesians 2:8), but the process is not unconditional.
Suppose a friend telephoned you and said, "I have a gift for you. I'd like to give it to you today but you must come to my house to pick it up."
Is your friend offering you a free gift? Yes! Did you earn this gift? No! Will going to your friend's house mean that you have earned this gift? No! It is still a gift. But you must take certain steps in order to receive this gift. If you refuse to take those steps, you will receive nothing.
Receiving God's free gift of eternal life involves the same principle. You have not earned it, but you must do what the Bible instructs if you are desirous of receiving it.
Notice the instructions Peter gave to thousands of people who asked what they should do in order to receive eternal life. His first directive was to "REPENT." His second was to ". . . 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 Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Can you see how Peter, who was speaking under God's inspiration, told his listeners that, even though eternal life was a gift, they could receive it only if they met certain requirements -REPENTANCE and BAPTISM? Comparing baptism to the Noachian Flood where only eight people were saved. Peter later wrote, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Christ'' (I Peter 3:21, Revised Standard Version).
Peter never once said, "Just sit there and whisper to yourself. 'Jesus, I accept you into my heart.' '' No! Peter taught that receiving salvation required ACTION on the part of those wanting it. How could it be plainer? Repentance and baptism are essential requirements for salvation.
Many people today have been deceived into thinking that they have been saved. "How could this be?" you may ask. "Isn't the important thing that we worship Jesus Christ? Does it really matter how we worship Him?" Yes it does! Jesus said that the time would come when people would worship Him in a wrong manner! He said, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:6-9).
We must not swallow "hook, line, and sinker" what any man says. We must obey God and follow His instructions as laid out in His Holy Bible.

Jesus' Instructions and Example
Baptism did not begin with Peter after the death of Christ. Christian baptism was prefigured by the Israelites when they passed through the Red Sea (I Corinthians 10:1-2). Jesus Himself taught baptism. He instructed His disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). Did Jesus require the mere verbal expression of faith in order to receive eternal life? No. He required physical action - baptism - in order to be saved from ETERNAL DAMNATION.
Should it surprise us that Jesus taught baptism? It shouldn't when we realize that Jesus Himself was baptized! Even though Jesus lived a perfect life and was totally without sin (I Peter 2:22), He knew the importance of setting an example for us to follow. ". . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21). For this reason, Jesus was baptized and thereby demonstrated the vital importance of this act (Matthew 3:16).

What Method of Baptism?
"But there are many methods of baptism in the world's churches," it is often pointed out. "How does one know which method of baptism to use?"
Many of the large, fundamentalist churches utilize sprinkling, or pouring of water for baptism. However, in doing so, they ignorantly admit their sole authority for this completely unbiblical, unauthorized form of "baptism" is teaching handed down from the Roman Catholic Church; teaching inherited by many Protestants from the time of the reformation.
The primary Catholic authority, the Catholic Encyclopedia, admits, ". . . The most ancient form (of baptism) usually employed was unquestionably immersion. This is not only evident from the writings of the fathers and the early rituals of both the Latin and Oriental Churches, but it can also be gathered from the Epistles of St. Paul, who speaks of baptism as a bath (Ephes. v, 26; Rom. vi, 4; Tit. iii, 5). In the Latin Church (the church at Rome, as distinct from that at Constantinople and elsewhere), immersion seems to have prevailed until the twelfth century. After that time it is found in some places even as late as the sixteenth century. Infusion and aspersion (pouring and sprinkling), however, were growing common in the thirteenth century, and gradually prevailed in the Western Church." (Art. "Baptism," Cath. Encyclopedia, Vol. 11, pp. 261, 262, emphasis mine).
Thus it is admitted that the Bible teaches immersion; that the practice of immersing, baptizing believers into the water prevailed for more than twelve long centuries until it was "gradually" altered from the biblical form to the present-day Catholic sacrament.
But the Catholic Church recognizes the "traditions of the 'fathers' " as being equal with scripture. Most Protestant churches reject such traditions.
How strange, then, that with the exceptions of the Baptist Church and some others, many large professing "Christian" churches follow Catholic tradition in their form of 'baptism" instead of the plain words of Scripture - the commands of the Saviour, Christ Himself!
Modern "churchianity" is deeply divided on the subject. Anciently, controversy raged over various practices such as infant baptism, re-baptizing (which led to the name "Anabaptists," attached to those practicing re-baptism by their enemies) and baptizing surrogate candidates for the dead.
But did Jesus Christ leave it up to the churches to "decide" which mode of baptism they would like to use?
He certainly did not!
Obviously, according to the plain statements of Christ; according to Peter's command on the Day of Pentecost; according to the whole meaning and purpose of baptism (study Romans, the 6th chapter), one should be baptized only after repentance.
"REPENT!" Jesus cried.
And what does it mean to repent?
It means to be deeply convicted of sin - to be emotionally shocked into deep remorse; shameful penitence; contrition, sorrow!
And what IS SIN?
"Sin is the transgression of LAW!'' (I John 3:4). Sin is the breaking of any one of the ten cardinal points of God's Ten Commandments as they are magnified, made spiritually binding, by Jesus' whole life and teaching, particularly His famous "Sermon on the Mount."
Almighty God has not left it to mankind to decide what is sin. He has, rather, left it up to us to decide WHETHER to sin, or obey God's holy, righteous and perfect LAW!
When Paul repented, he came to the realization that his life was forfeit! He knew the penalty for sin! "For the wages of sin is death: but the GIFT of God (Notice it is God's gift - not something with which we were born; it is not something inherent within us!) is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23).
Paul wrote, "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin . . . 0 wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom. 7:14-25).
When Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9) he was shocked into REPENTANCE! When Ananias placed his hands on him (Acts 9:17) Paul was immediately baptized. Notice; "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized" (Acts 9:18).
Here is a classic example of what Christ meant by His command to repent, and be baptized!
Isn't it then obvious to any thinking person that baptism is NOT FOR INFANTS? Can a baby "sin"? Can a tiny babe in arms become convicted of having broken God's law? Can a baby of months be brought to full knowledge of God's plan of redemption; of His Holy Law; to the conviction of sin and repentance?
Nonsense! Yet, many great and vaunted churches practice infant "baptism" (which is a misnomer, for they do not really "baptize," but sprinkle, or pour a bit of water on the startled infant's head!).
Does God authorize carnal, human churchmen to devise any method of so-called "baptism" that appeals to them?
By no means! The Bible lays down a definite method of baptism, which we shall see plainly. This is not a frivolous matter.
We cannot take this matter lightly. We must again go to the Scriptures to see how the actual act of baptism is supposed to be performed. In order to fully understand this matter, it must be pointed out that the New Testament was not written in King James English. It was written in the Greek language. Today we have many English translations - the most popular being the King James version which was first published in 1611.
When the apostles wrote the New Testament in Greek, they used the following words:

(I) cheo meaning "to pour"
(2) rantidzo meaning "to sprinkle"
(3) baptizo meaning "to immerse" or "to dip."

If pouring or sprinkling were acceptable forms of baptism, the apostles would have used the words cheo or rantidzo. But they did not. They used the word baptizo whenever referring to the act required for salvation. Proper baptism requires immersion - not sprinkling or pouring.
During his ministry John the Baptist went to Aenon " . . . because there was much water there" (John 3:23). If sprinkling or pouring were proper forms of baptism, John could have used a few gallons of water to baptize hundreds. But he needed "much water" because he practiced complete immersion.
Notice that when Jesus was baptized He was in water. "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descending upon him" (Mark 1:10). John the Baptist did not take Jesus to a well and pour water on His head out of a dipper. Jesus was immersed.
Another example of water baptism is found in Acts 8. Here we see Philip teaching Christianity to the Ethiopian eunuch. When the eunuch asked to be baptized, he and Philip " . . . went down both into the water" (v.38) for baptism. And when they were finished ". . . they were come up out of the water" (v. 39). The Ethiopian eunuch was completely immersed in water.

Meaning of Baptism
"Why is complete immersion required?" is commonly asked. "What is so wrong with pouring or sprinkling?" God tells us not to follow the ways of men, but to obey His Commandments and to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
As you will see from a careful, thorough reading of Romans 6, baptism pictures, among other things, the complete burial of the old self.
Complete submergence in water is necessary because it is symbolic of burial. Can you imagine the local undertaker standing a dead corpse against a tree, shoveling a small amount of dirt on its head, and declaring the body "buried"? That is how ludicrous the practice of "sprinkling" or "pouring" must appear to Almighty God, who set His method of baptism down in scripture!
Baptism is an important symbolic act. It has a special threefold meaning for us. It pictures WASHING, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.
First, baptism cleanses us of our sins and gives us a fresh start with God. Both the blood of Christ and the waters of baptism wash away our sins (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16).
Second, baptism symbolizes the death of our old, sinful selves. To be baptized is to bury one's carnal self in a watery grave (Colossians 2:12).
And, third, baptism gives us new life. It symbolizes the resurrection which we are promised if we obey God and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:3-5).
What could be more beautiful? Baptism pictures being buried with Christ (by being covered with water) and being resurrected with Him (by being raised out of the water)! The symbolism of burial and resurrection cannot be portrayed by sprinkling or pouring.
This important ceremony was practiced by the New Testament ministers and has continued to this day. Jesus Christ has never given any man or group of men the authority to modify the method of baptism which He preached and which the disciples practiced.
Over the years many have asked God's ministers, "Aren't there any circumstances where God could give salvation to a person who was not baptized?" It is not up to men, even ministers of Jesus Christ, to dictate to God or to limit what He can do. The important point is that any person who desires eternal life and is able to be baptized should do so.
If there are special circumstances (and this would be rare, indeed), Almighty God knows, and understands. There are some. for instance, who have a very real disease - hydrophobia. In its worst form the disease literally causes fear of swallowing. Though rare among humans, it results in an unreasoning fear of water. Commonly, though it is called rabies among animals. If someone knows the truth of God: knows what sin is; is convicted, broken-hearted in repentance of sin; wishes to beg God's forgiveness for those sins; wishes salvation from God, but has an unusual fear of water, then God would surely understand. The decision would have to remain that of the individual, not of the minister, or other counselor.
Sometimes, handicapped persons have wondered if it were possible to be baptized. I have known of cases where some few were actually baptized while lying on a stretcher, because of incapacitating handicap, or weakness.
To satisfy some of the more curious questions, let's suppose the following scenario. Suppose a couple were marooned on the desert - more than a hundred miles from the nearest water of any kind. Suppose, as they knew they were near death, they read the Bible together, realized they were sinners - desired to be forgiven of God. Suppose it was physically impossible for them to be immersed in water (their most earnest prayer, surely!). Would God reject them because they were unable?
By the same token, suppose our fictitious couple were on an island in the ocean. They repented, wanted to call out to God for forgiveness, and for His Holy Spirit. Suppose they solemnly baptized each other in the sea? Would God honor such a practice? I sincerely doubt that either of the above scenarios have obtained, but surely, God would not reject such people, for He is far more concerned about what happens in the human heart than the physical, mechanical aspects of things.
The Bible does give us an example of a repentant person who was not baptized but was promised that he would he with Christ in the Kingdom of God. It took place during Jesus' crucifixion. Two thieves were also being crucified at that time. One expressed his belief in Christ and asked if Jesus would remember him when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus replied that the man would see Him in Paradise.
Unfortunately, this scripture is used by many churches to imply the thief went immediately to heaven. Yet, Christ said, clearly, that He (Christ) would be dead for "three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40), buried in the "heart of the earth."
Following His resurrection, He warned the women, "touch me NOT, for I not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, 'I ascend unto my Father and to your Father; and to my God, and your God.' " (John 20:17).
Christ was alone. The thief was not with Him. Christ had NOT "gone to heaven" immediately upon death, but, exactly as He said (Matt. 12:40) was buried! Many do not believe Christ was truly dead for those three days and three nights. But if Christ did not die, then we have no Saviour!
Remember, man placed the commas and periods in the Bible. There were no punctuation marks in the Greek. If a husband turned to a wife, while driving the car along a country lane and said, "What's that up in the road, ahead?" The wife, hearing the pause after the word 'road,' might misunderstand. She might think the husband was saying there was a head in the road!
But if he said "What's that - up in the road ahead?" She would understand.
So it is that, by misplacing the comma, men have totally perverted the meaning of Jesus' statement to the "thief on the cross."
What Jesus really said was, "Truly, I'm telling you today -YOU SHALL BE (in the future - after the resurrection!) with me in paradise!" (Luke 23:43, paraphrased).
But what about the thief? Christ obviously promised salvation to him, because the thief was repentant; because he recognized Christ!
This was a situation in which the man obviously was not physically able to be baptized. Sometimes a minister of God will counsel an inmate in prison who cannot to be baptized because the officials of his penal institution will not allow it. One inmate who still had eleven years to serve for robbery said, "I've repented of my sins and do not bemoan the fact that I won't be released for several more years. I know I must pay for my crime. But I can't be baptized for eleven more years! What if I die before I am released? Will I then suffer eternal damnation?"
The principle of "the thief on the cross" would seem to fit in this instance. This inmate is simply unable to comply with the Bible command to be baptized. But if he is truly repentant and accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he too will be with Christ in Paradise.
Sometimes a person who has requested baptism lives in an area where we cannot get a minister to him for some time. Invariably the person expresses concern about having to wait. One man refused to drive his car for fear he might be involved in a fatal automobile accident before he could be baptized. A similar situation is that of a hospitalized person who is so ill or injured that hospital paraphernalia such as a body cast, intravenous feeding tubes, or a breathing machine will not allow immersion in water. Once again, no concern is necessary in such situations because of the "thief on the cross" principle.

In What Name?
Many have been confused by Matthew 28:19 where Jesus talked about baptizing in His name and in the Father's name. Some are also confused by the mention of the "Holy Ghost."
Since this scripture is often used during the baptism ceremony, it would be worthwhile for the reader to understand two points.
First, the King James Bible uses words that have different meanings today than they had over 350 years ago. The translators in 1611 used the word "ghost" for the Greek word pneuma. God does not have a ghost (there is no such thing as a ghost as portrayed in fictional movies on the supernatural), but God does have a Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a personage in the God Family. The God Family is presently composed of the Father and the Son - it is not a trinity.
The word "trinity" is nowhere mentioned in the Bible, and the only scripture which implies it is a deliberate insertion by copyists after the invention of printing. The spurious verse is found in I John 5:7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." Not one word of that passage is found in the Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, or Alexandrinus, nor in any manuscripts until after the time of the comparatively modern invention of printing. For full information on this vital subject, ask for a re-print article on the subject of "The Trinity."
Remember! Christ prayed to the Father. Even the Roman Catholic Church recognized the Father as the supreme member of the Godhead; the One to whom Christ returned; the One to whom Christ credited all His works!
Yet, when the angel announced the conception of Christ, he said, ". . . for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Sprit." (Matt. 1:20). Mary was told, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the POWER OF THE HIGHEST shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God!" (Luke 1:35).
Obviously, not one of the vaunted churches of this world claims the "Holy Ghost" is the FATHER of Jesus Christ, yet the Bible says again and again that the agency used by God in bringing about this stupendous miracle was the Holy Spirit! Write for the "trinity" article for a complete, irrefutable Bible study on this important issue.
Back to our discussion. Remember, the first point was that the word "Ghost" is an error. It should be rendered "Spirit."
Second, the word "in" in this scripture was translated from the Greek word eis. A better translation would he "into."
A more accurate rendering of Matthew 28:19 would be, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Baptism puts us into the divine God Family. At baptism we become begotten sons of God and earn the right to call Him "Father."
Notice from this scripture that we are baptized into Jesus Christ, not into any church denomination. Oftentimes ministers of this world's churches will baptize a person only if the new person is willing to be baptized into that minister's church denomination. This is wrong! Any person who wishes to receive salvation should refuse such a requirement. He should only be baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son. Loyalty to any man or group of men should also be refused because it is not a requirement for baptism.
A proper procedure for baptism should follow this form very closely: Before the actual baptism, the repentant person should be asked if he has repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. Then, the person doing the immersing should say, "And now, (the persons' full name) as a result of your repentance of your sins; the transgression of God's holy law, I now baptize you into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 'in the name of' meaning 'by the authority of' Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins." The repentant person is then totally immersed in water.
Some church denominations believe baptism should he performed only in running water such as a river or stream. But there is no scriptural basis for this. A baptism may he performed in a swimming pool, a lake, the ocean, or any body of water which is large enough to accommodate complete immersion.

When Should You Be Baptized?
Some ministers tell repentant persons, "It is not for you to decide when you are ready for baptism. As a minister, I have the discernment to determine whether or not you are bearing good fruit."
This high-handed attitude is not scriptural. Philip did not require the Ethiopian eunuch to demonstrate several months of good works to "prove" he was "worthy" of baptism. Nor did the disciples require "proof" from the thousands that they baptized on the day of Pentecost. The Philippian jailer and his household repented and were baptized by Paul and Silas in the same night (Acts 16:33).
As soon as a person realizes that he is a sinner, that he needs to be washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, that he accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, and that he wants to become an obedient begotten son of God, HE SHOULD BE BAPTIZED! If it is not possible for him to he baptized immediately, he should he baptized as soon as possible.
On one hand, baptism should not he taken lightly. It should not be undertaken without counting the costs. On the other hand, like all important steps one takes in life, it should not be put off!
And because of the vital importance of baptism, it is not a step to be taken by children. The Scriptures speak only of "men and women" being baptized (Acts 8:12). There is no New Testament reference to children being baptized.
It is impossible to draw an arbitrary line as to what the minimum age for baptism should be. No one can say, "Twenty years old is the earliest anyone can he baptized." Some young people, though not many, are ready for repentance at age seventeen. Even more uncommon is the sixteen year old who truly understands the significance of such a step.
Many a child is convinced in his own mind that he has come to true repentance and may even convince others of it, only to come to the realization later that it was just a passing interest replaced by a new infatuation with another person, a rock group, or a car.

Who Should Perform Baptism?
It is a commonly held belief that only an ordained minister may baptize. This is not true. When the disciples first baptized, they were not yet ordained. They were not even converted! Remember, however, Jesus Christ had appointed them directly! They were His students, His disciples. Though unconverted, they were His bona fide representatives. Not just anyone - surely not spiritual novices; not those who are unacquainted with the scriptures, should perform baptisms.
In Acts 2:37-41 we learn that three thousand people were baptized on the Pentecost following Jesus' crucifixion. Did the twelve apostles baptize this vast number? Probably not. No doubt nonordained members also baptized.
In Acts 8 we see the example of Philip who, although a deacon, was apparently not an ordained minister as yet. Even so, he baptized many Samarians (v. 12) and later the Ethiopian eunuch (v.38).
So the Scriptures are plain that ministers are not the only persons qualified to baptize. The person who baptizes you is only human anyway. One woman was baptized by a minister who was later discovered to be a thief. Did the minister's sins invalidate her baptism? Absolutely not! Because it is actually Christ who baptizes us. He uses imperfect men as His instruments to do His will.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Therefore, it is unreasonable to expect baptism at the hands of a man who is free from sin. When you are baptized, you do not look to the human being who puts you under the water. You look to Jesus Christ, the One who actually washes away your sins. But in the process of seeking baptism, it is wise to look for someone who can help you with questions and provide you with spiritual guidance. Jesus Christ set up His true Church with ministers who are specially called for this purpose. All biblical examples show that baptisms were performed by representatives of the true Church of God. In all cases these representatives were either ministers of the Church of God or they were men selected by the ministry to represent the Church.

Receiving the Holy Spirit
The ceremony of baptism completely cleanses the repentant person of all past sins. At that moment, he stands before God as a holy vessel. It is then that the baptizing person places his hands on him and asks God to put the Holy Spirit in that person. This is known as "the laying on of hands."
Actually, the laying on of hands is a second baptism. Paul called it the baptism of the Holy Spirit. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we he bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13).
As mentioned earlier, the Holy Spirit is the divine power from God which guides and directs the Christian. The person is still a free moral agent - free to do whatever he wants. But he now has God's Spirit within him, showing him the way as he submits his life to God.
This power within us was promised by Christ. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [Spirit] is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). The power of the Holy Spirit is the essence of the mind of God. It is that Spirit which God uses to put His laws into our minds and write them in our hearts (Hebrews 10:16).
When the Christian gives his whole life to God and places his trust in Him, he receives the blessings of a peaceful mind. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance . . ." (Galatians 5:22-23).
Is it possible to he baptized and not receive the Holy Spirit? Yes! In the New Testament we read of a dynamic preacher named Apollos who was taught by John the Baptist. Apollos baptized people but did not perform the laying on of hands. Later Paul met some of these converts and was shocked that not only was the Holy Spirit absent from their lives, they had never even heard of it! (Acts 18:24, 19:16.)
There are many Christians today who are in the same condition. They have been baptized but do not have God's Holy Spirit in them. The solution to this problem is the one administered by Paul. He rebaptized them and laid hands on them so that they could receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:5-6).

What About Re-Baptism?
Tens of thousands have had the experience of "repentance" at an early state in their lives. Then, as the years go by, they "backslide," as the churches term it, drifting into sinful habits, appetites, and attitudes. At some point in their lives, they begin to realize this sinful condition, and they again come to the place of repentance.
They begin to attend church; they begin to "straighten out their lives" again, probably because of some emotional shock. Sometimes it is financial; or a divorce, or loss of a loved one, or terrible sickness or disease. Something awakens them to their spiritual need.
But they begin to feel rejected. They begin to feel guilty about their previous baptism; about having slipped back into hurtful old ways. Some, convinced they are "not good enough" for God, drift along for years, wondering whether they have committed the "unpardonable sin", wondering if God will reject them. But, while they WANT to be forgiven anew. They want to repent; to straighten out their lives, they labor under guilt feelings, and can't seem to shake them off!
Then, the question comes; "Should I be re-baptized?" The answer? It is entirely up to you. Any Christian can sin - and ALL do, from time to time. But there is a difference between slipping up; yielding to temptation, giving in to physical appetites (like a severe habit of smoking, etc., which can be like a terrible yoke, and for some almost impossible to break) and sinning - quite a difference between that, and living a life of sin.
Surely, if there exists serious doubt about your own state of mind when you were first baptized; about how much you understood about what sin really is, whether you truly repented of it; whether you knew enough about how to obey God, then you should remove that doubt, and be baptized again. The point is, no other human being can make that decision but you. No one can know your heart except God Almighty. No man - minister, or not, can claim to know your mind and heart.

Baptism For the Dead
Some churches practice "baptism for the dead," also known as ''vicarious baptism." It is based on the belief that one person can be baptized for a dead person who was not a Christian. This dead person supposedly will then be offered salvation.
Vicarious baptism is based on just one scripture which says. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" However, the most obviously logical explanation is found in remembering what we learned about infants being baptized. Baptism should follow repentance; a conscious act by a living, breathing, human being! Baptism is an act of voluntary submission to God's will! It the act of a living person, "acting out" the terrible consequences of sin, obeying God's command willingly.
The dead are completely inert; unconscious, oblivious! It is nonsensical to assume a living person can somehow be "baptized" for some person who died, when the dead person is incapable of thought; of understanding scripture; of repentance, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Saviour!
The Greek word for the English "for" is the same word used throughout the New Testament, huper, which means, according to the Greek-English Lexicon (Thayer), "Up, over, etc., Lat. super, over, a preposition, which stands before either the gen. or the acc. according as it is used to express the idea of state and rest or of motion over and beyond a place."
Since the use in I Cor. 15:29 is in the genitive, notice what Thayer says, "With the GENITIVE; cf. W. 382 (358) sq. 1. prop. of place, i.e. of position, situation, extension: over, above, beyond, across . . . Lat. pro, for, i.e. for one's safety, for one's advantage or benefit."
Specifically, when dealing with I Cor. 15:29, Thayer says, ". . . in the place of, instead of" (Thayers, p.638-639).
NOTICE! The meaning of the term huper from the Greek does not mean "on behalf of"! It means INSTEAD of, or "in the place of."
Now, notice the original scripture: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. . . else what shall they do which are baptized for (Gk. huper, meaning IN THE PLACE OF, or INSTEAD OF) the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for (huper) the dead?"
"And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily" (I Cor. 15:26-31).
The whole context of the 15th chapter of I Corinthians is the subject of the resurrection of the dead. Paul reveals that some of the Corinthians were doubting this important truth! (See vs. 12-18). But Christ is the Head of a living Church, and said He would be with that Church down through the many generations. He said the Church would never cease to exist!
But, unless there were newcomers; new converts, being baptized to replace those who died (baptized IN THEIR PLACE, INSTEAD of the dead-) then, as that older generation ceased to exist, there would be no church. As part of Paul's argument, he explains to the Corinthians that the church continued to baptize newcomers to "fill up the place of" the dead; replacing those who died, thus tying the rite of baptism directly to the hope of the resurrection, which it partially foreshadows.
This was NOT authorization for living persons to be baptized a dozen, or a hundred times for unknown, dead persons, which makes a travesty of the whole point of baptism!

What Should You Do?
Now, what about you? Have you been baptized? Did you know, if you were, what sin really was - about the weekly Sabbath; God's Holy Days, His laws concerning clean and unclean things, tithing; about the real truth concerning the nature of man; about Bible prophecy? After you were baptized, did you begin to grow in grace and knowledge; to become more and more well-versed in the Bible, the sacred word of God? Were the fruits of God's Holy Spirit of LOVE, JOY, PEACE instilled deeply into your mind, inculcated into your very character?
If you have never been baptized, do you now realize that you MUST obey this command of your Master; your Lord and Saviour, if you are to be truly SAVED?
IF you were baptized previously, but have since drifted back into carnal habits; drifted away from God - do you recognize the need to call upon God to get you started back in the right way; God's WAY OF LIFE?
As you well know, we have never held "altar calls"; never begged audiences over radio, television, or in personal appearances to "come forward" or to "make a commitment." That does not mean we are unconcerned about your personal salvation -it means we reject the practices of many of the modern religious leaders, believing, instead, that we should adhere as closely as possible to the teachings and customs of Christ Himself!
God commissions His true Church, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice LIKE A TRUMPET, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sin!" (Isa. 58:1). He says, "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; (keep at it! Don't let up!) reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry!" (II Tim. 4:2-5).
Jesus prophesied, "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness (a witness against them!) unto all nations; and THEN SHALL THE END COME."' (Matt. 24:14).
Somehow, God has brought YOU into contact with His work; with His church!
This is not a work of men. It is not a large, wealthy, politically-powerful organization; it is not boastful of great properties, but is of very modest, humble means. Yet it is a work of FAITH; a work that is the work of Jesus Christ in his human instruments - all the church - a collective work of many, not just the work of one man, or a small handful of men!
In this booklet, you have read the TRUTH from Almighty God about baptism! Christ said to REPENT, and be baptized! Peter cried, "REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED!" Whether you have heeded this command in the past; whether you heed it today - the time is coming when you WILL heed, for the only alternative is to lose out on eternal life; to LOSE SALVATION!
No, we do not beg, or make emotional appeals. But we do preach Christ's Gospel of forgiveness; of God's love; of the coming TRIBULATION and the DAY OF THE LORD! We plainly speak out about SIN, and show WHY we should repent!
If you need personal counseling about baptism; about your own spiritual condition, please ask for a list of the ministers nearest you. If no one lives within reasonable distance, it is possible we could help you in the not too distance future when conducting one of our many personal-appearance campaigns. Failing that, perhaps someone can visit your area. We will be happy to counsel by letter, or even telephone, if that is desired.
The most important question in your life is whether you are converted; whether you are a servant of Jesus Christ; whether you have been made a child of God, brought into His Church, the spiritual Body of Christ. YOU must make that decision. We will pray that you make the right one. And we will also pray that you do not put it off - that you are encouraged to act NOW.

-End-

For more great FREE booklets with answers which you may ask. Online. Intercontinental Church of God.

If I can help more contact Church of God - Broken Arrow. e-mail [e-mail]

Have a great and happy day.

Answer 2

Actually nothing at all. A Born-again Christian is someone who has been Baptized in the Name Of the Father, & Of the Son, & Of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore Catholics **ARE** Born-again Christians.

The people who usually call themselves "Born-agains," are Protestant Evangelical or Fundementalists, usually belonging to either the Baptist, Pentecostal, or Seventh-Day Adventist Churches. They memorized every single word of the Bible, & think they know what Christianity is all about.;-0

Answer 3

Born again Christian means that the person was a Christian and then went bad like doing drugs and such and then found Jesus again and stopped doing drugs and such and becomes real active in the church condemning to hell any one who is not a Christian and those who are still doing drugs. Born again Christians are usually protestants. Catholic is different. Its a religion of its own. Been around a long time and has had a pope since after Christ.

Answer 4

born again' christians rely on the bible for everything. The Bible is the compass for their faith. Catholicism is kinda made up of rules and regulations that you have to follow. There are many differences really. Christianity says you only worship God and no idols, whereas catholicism worship the virgin mary and they do have idols (statues). Christianity says you only have to confess yer sins ONLY to God, but catholicism you have to confess to a priest, who they call father-- and this christianity would call a sin too because there's only one father who's are heavenly father. Catholics actually made their own bible and the true Holy Bible says not to add words to the Holy Bible. From a personal perspective, the difference is that catholics are spiritually blind. Don't know why they'd want to actually worship something that they themselves made with their own hands. Like God said in the Bible, let those statues save them if they are true gods! Sorry catholics, but the truth must be told.

Answer 5

Praise Jesus.
The Bare Truth Is That Once A Person Is Filled With The Holy Ghost, He Is Born Again, Be it Protestant Or Catholic.

Answer 6

I posted this answer to a similar question:

It depends, like so many things, on how you define the category. The Barna Research Group, a Christian organization, provides the following criteria they use in their polls:

"In Barna Research Group studies, born again Christians are not defined on the basis of characterizing themselves as "born again" but based upon their answers to two questions. The first is "have you ever made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in your life today?" If the respondent says "yes," then they are asked a follow-up question about life after death. One of the seven perspectives a respondent may choose is "when I die, I will go to Heaven because I have confessed my sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior." Individuals who answer "yes" to the first question and select this statement as their belief about their own salvation are then categorized as "born again." "

Using these criteria, they found 30% of Catholics classify as born-again, compared to 45% of all adults.

Answer 7

A born again Christian is a person who knows that they have sinned and that they cannot in their own power redeem themselves. They believe that Jesus is God, set aside his glory, and came to earth and lived a perfect life so that he could die for the sins of mankind. They accepts this gift and allows Jesus to be Lord of their lives.
A Catholic is someone who may or may not believe that they must admit that they are a sinner and that the only way to be saved is by accepting that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
I know many Catholics who believe that their works won't get them into heaven and I know many who are trying to make it in by doing good works.
Jesus said "No man comes to the Father but by me."

Answer 8

A born again person is someone who accepts Christ as their savor which is how they become a Christian. Christianity is a way of life where you obey the laws of God after you have accepted His son Jesus as your savior. That is how you obtain salvation.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Catholics do not teach salvation. With out salvation and being born again, you will not get into heaven.

Answer 9

My grandparents(father) are catholic, so when my family lived near them, i used to b catholic. My grandparents(mother) are born-again christian, so when my family lived near them, i used to b born-again christian. So i guess i know about both catholic, and born-again christian,

Both catholic, and christian believes in God, but catholic believe Mary(Jesus's birth mother) is greater than Jesus, since she gave birth to Jesus. So if you visit someone who is catholic, you can find more statues of Mary than God or Jesus. Christian believe that Jesus is much much greater than Mary since Jesus is son of God, not son of Mary. That's the differences of the their beleifes.

Now Rules: when i a catholic, i used learn a lot of rules from my grandparents. I had to pray in certain time facing the Mary statues. and Catholic has a pray book that we need pray.
we just say excetly same thing from praybook at certain.
The pray book tells me when, how, where, what to pray. I thought it was sort of meaningless. But christian just pray whenever we want to, whatever we want to . right? and Catholic has more rule than christian. Catholic also has different name from the bible to use in the Catholic church. My name was Debora. (but my real name Michelle) i guess that's the differences of the rules.

I was only elementry student when i was catholic, so i don't have variety of knowledge about catholic. I'm sorrry about that.. And i guess they have certain name for the pray book and other things that mentioned above/// I'm srry about that.! Hope i helped you!

by the way, i 'm christian

Answer 10

A catholic has been brainwashed since birth. A born-again christian has been brainwashed since old enough to make choices.

Answer 11

Born Agains tend to be Protestants