I would like to know about those things...?

Question

What are the different views regarding:
•Who should be baptized?

1. Efficacy of Baptism =

2. Subjects of Baptism =

3. Mode of Baptism =


•How they should be baptized?

1. Efficacy of Baptism =

2. Subjects of Baptism =

3. Mode of Baptism =


•Which are your views, and why?

1. Efficacy of Baptism =

2. Subjects of Baptism =

3. Mode of Baptism =

Answer 1

Read:
Mark 16:16
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 2:38-47 (Compare this to Luke 24:46-47)
Acts 8:12-13
Acts 8:36-39
Acts 9: 6-19
Acts 16:15
Acts 16:31-33
Acts 18:8
Acts 22:16
Romans 6:3-13
Colossians 2:12
Galatians 3:27
1 Peter 3:21

After Jesus rose from the dead and commanded baptism, every example of a conversion in the New Testament specifically mentions baptism. Even though grace, mercy, repentance, confession, and love are all necessary for salvation, these are not mentioned every time, but baptism is.

None of these converts ever ate, drank, slept, or continued a journey until they were baptized. It was always immediate. (Notice in Acts 9, Saul had not eaten nor drank for three days, but he was baptized and then he took food.)

Acts 2:38 says that baptism is "for the remission of sins", "unto the remission of sins", or "so that your sins will be forgiven" (depending on which translation you read). Belief (faith) and repentance come before baptism (Martk 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:36-38), therefore it is for those who are old enough to be able to believe and repent. (Not infants.)

Answer 2

Who should be baptized? People who profess faith in God and want to make a sincere effort to live according to the teachings of Jesus. How? There is only one way to be baptized, and that is being immersed in a liquid, preferably water. Anything else is not baptism, unless you are talking about the Spirit baptism, and the word "baptism" or "baptized" in reference to receiving the Holy Spirit is a comparison with water baptism; you are immersed in the Spirit. Acts 2:38 tells us to be baptized in the name of Jesus; also read Acts chapters 8, 10, and 19.
Efficacy of baptism? It doesn't matter; baptism is commanded, so we do it.

"Jesus was Baptized with water over his head and body, not total imersions."

Earl, where do you get that? I want a reference for that statement.

Answer 3

-Efficacy: An ingrafting into Christ.
- Subjects: Believers and "entire households" according to New Testament practices. This included women and children and servants/slaves back then. Women have a different status today in most countries. Servant/slaves status has been removed in most countries. Infants status is of course unchanged.
- Mode: Pouring or sprinkling as similar acts were performed in the Old and New Testaments, and in extrabiblical texts. Sprinkling of dirt over a body constituted burial if the "total immersion" argument still has you adhering to that belief.

Answer 4

Who should be baptized?
Those who believe in the scriptures. Colossians 2:12 - Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
1 Peter 3:21 - The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

How should they be baptized?
Various Christian denominations perform this act differently by what they say as one goes down in water.
Infants are baptized different under Catholicism as they don't know the meaning yet.
Youth to adulthood get baptized by full ablution or dipped from head to toe in water. (not Catholics).
I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
I baptize you in the name of Jesus.
I baptize you in the name of the " names of your ancestors here" (LDS).

Answer 5

Baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual reality that is supposed to have already occurred in the individuals who go through the ceremony.

Romans 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For historical accuracy water Baptism should be full immersion but as it is a ceremony it doesn't mean that a person isn't really saved if they don't actually go under water. The Greek word baptismo means to "immerse".

Baptism in and of itself has no efficacy in saving a person's soul. It is a sign of obedience to the command of Christ and a public declaration of one's faith but if a person is born again and somehow dies before being baptized they will still go to be with the Lord just like the thief on the cross whom Jesus assured would be with Him in paradise after he confessed that he deserved to die for his sins and asked Jesus to save him.

Answer 6

Just to clarify the misunderstanding of the first answer:

Infant baptisms are done (such as in the Catholic church) to dedicate that child to God, free the child from original sin, and to name those who will guide the child throughout life.

In Catholicism you undergo a second baptism, with oil, at confirmation. You chose to dedicate yourself to the church and to God as an adult.

This is something that is often very misunderstood.

Answer 7

Baptism should be done for already converted Christians, not before. Christians only, but it does no harem for those not saved, and submergence is what is shown in the Bible. Baptism is NOT required for salvation, it is an outward sign of death to self and Resurrection into a new life in Christ

Answer 8

Most generic Christains batpize their infants

Baptists, Apostolics favor ADULT baptism or re-baptism when you REALIZED what you are doing and CONSENT through free will.

Jesus was Baptized with water over his head and body, not total imersions.

That doesn't mean Total Imersion is a no-no.

Many Apostilics do total imersioin.

Answer 9

Alright, I am not real sure what you are looking for exactly but I am going to give you a series of scriptures. Basically we know that Jesus was obedient to God by allowing himself to be baptized in John 1:28-34 and that he performed baptisms according to John 3:22,23. We know that John the Baptist bare witness that his purpose was to let people know that the one coming after him (whom he indicated was Jesus) is the Son of God.

Baptism has been a regular practice of the church from its inception according to Acts 2:38,41; 10:48. Jesus baptized his own disciples in John 3:22. And it was given as a commandment from Jesus to recieve baptism in Matthew 28:19. The full purpose and symbolism of Baptism is revealed in Romans 6:1-11.

What I believe is that Baptism is a way of giving physical testimony of one's belief in Christ, repentance and acceptance of his teachings. It is also obedience to one of Christ's commandments. For this reason I do not believe in the baptism of babies or children to young to understand what they are doing. One has to be capable of understanding to repent, believe and give testimony. Also there is no mention of baptising babies in any of the early church accounts, the accounts of Jesus or the accounts of John the Baptist performing this sacred rite.

I believe in Baptism by immersion or dunking for two reasons. One when both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ performed Baptisms they always did so at large bodies of water like rivers. If they were simply sprinkling or pouring water on then I feel they could have done it anywhere that they had access to a bucket or pitcher. Second the symbolism described in Romans that we are sharing in his burial and resurrection lends me to believe that you are going under water and then raised back up out of the water.

Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20 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.

Mt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Joh 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Joh 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ac 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Ac 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Ro 6:4 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.