Baptism, what's your view?

Question

Here goes the one thats probably going to stir up a hornets nest, but before anyone gets bent out of shape, remember that denominations for the most part are just particulars, and we are, or should be brothers and sisters in Christ and should be able to discuss this in love, CALMLY.
I believe that we should be baptized. Personally, I was full body immersed, because I feel it is apropriate. PERSONALLY, I have NO issue if someone wants to be "sprinkled", as the act of baptism in itself has no "power" and is meant to be an outward visible proclamation of ones faith. Jesus, in Luke 23:43 tells the thief next to Him, "today you will be with Me in paradise". He had never been baptized. I know the great commission in Matthew, my question is this, do you HAVE to be baptized to go to heaven? My view is that acceptance of Christ is the only "have to" everything else is extra.
Wasn't Christs blood enough without needing add ons?
REMEMBER WE ARE FAMILY!
In love, Eric :)

Answer 1

A lot of people will give you their view, "nevertheless what do the Scriptures say?" (Gal. 4:30)

Baptism is a command of Christ. He said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

Many will tell you that someone believes, is saved, and then he shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said. It is not in the same order.

What would Jesus have said if he had meant, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved”?

I believe he said what he meant and meant what he said. I believe Jesus! “He that believes not shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Many agree that baptism is commanded by Christ, but they say it is not necessary for salvation. Hebrews 5:9 says, “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” It is necessary to obey Christ to be saved!

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.) I Peter 3:21 says "baptism now saves"! (What would Peter have said if he had meant "Baptism saves"?)

In the conversion of Saul (Paul), Acts 22:16 says he was commanded to be baptized and wash away his sins. Can we be saved if our sins remain? The blood of Christ washes away sins (Revelation 1:5) .

Romans 6:3-4 says we are “baptized into Christ”. Can we be saved outside of Christ? (See Gal. 3:27 also.) These verses in Romans also say we are “baptized into his death”. At Christ’s death is where his saving blood was shed and offered for our sins. We must contact His death to contact that blood! Can we be saved if we have not contacted His death?

Romans 6:3-4 also say that at baptism we “rise to walk in newness of life.” At a birth there is a new life. Can we be saved if we have not been “born again” to this new life?

In the New Testament after Jesus gave the command about baptism, every example of a conversion specifically mentions baptism. None of these converts ate, drank, slept, or continued their journey until they were baptized. It was always immediate.

Some point to examples, such as the thief on the cross, before Jesus issued his command of baptism. They could not have obeyed a command that had not yet been issued. Also the death, burial, and resurrection that baptism now represents had not occurred at that time. How could they be baptized into Christ's death, when Christ had not yet died?

Those before Christ's death lived under the Old Testament. The New Testament came into effect after Christ died and rose again. (Hebrews 9:15-17) And remember, it was after His death that he commanded baptism (Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20) All those who now live after that point in time are subject to the New Testament and to that command.

Also, the thief on the cross was at the scene of Christ's crucifixion. He had direct contact with Christ at His death. We are not in that position. Again, it is through baptism that we contact His death!

Saul who I mentioned earlier, is a good example of the necessity of baptism. He spoke to Jesus. He called Jesus “Lord” and he asked what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus told him to go into the city and it would be told to him what he “must do”. In the city he fasted for three days and he was praying. (Acts 9:9-11) Many would say he was saved at that point, but he still had not been told what he “must do”.

Then he was told to be baptized and wash away his sins. Please note, even though he had not eaten or drank for three days, he was baptized before he took food. (Acts 9:18-19) This shows the urgency of baptism.

After one believes, repents and confesses Christ; baptism is the point at which we come “into Christ”. The act of being immersed in water and rising up out of the water symbolically recreates Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is this way God has appointed for us to contact Christ's death and be forgiven of our sins. Baptism is “for the remission of sins"!

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord!" (Acts 22:16)

As for the mode of baptism,


The word "baptism" comes from a Greek word that means to immerse. The translators of the KJV invented the word baptism because they were told to create an accurate translation, but they were afraid to use the literal translation of "immerse" because the Church of England practiced sprinkling. The King was the head of the Church of England, and he was himself sprinkled.

In John 3:23, it says, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized." Only immersion requires "much water".

Also we see in examples of baptism that those being baptized went down into the water and came up out of the water. (Matt. 3:16-17, Acts 8:38-39) Only immersion requires this.

Finally, baptism is described as a burial. (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12) Only immersion is a burial of the one being baptized.

Immersion, a burial, is the baptism authorized in the New Testament!

Answer 2

Jesus WAS baptized and "when He came up out of the water".., and when the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized, they didn't use a water bottle, and every example that we can read about in the Acts of the Apostles evidences there was water beyond a bottle or basin... I believe "BURIED in baptism" is the key and operative term and picture here.., and it represents a "burial and resurrection". When Jesus and Lazarus were buried, they didn't sprinkle a few rocks over them.
The Bible teaches baptism and I would be very suspect of any religion that tried to leave it out..., I think we "baptize believers", I don't think we baptize people to MAKE them believers.. I don't think water is the point of contact for salvation. I do believe that when a person has come to a place of repentance and asked Jesus to come into their life and BE their Savior and Lord over their life, then baptism is necessary because the scriptures teach it as an outward demonstration of your death to your old life and the resurrection to a new life IN Christ.
I was raised in a group that believed and still does that burial in water IS the literal washing away of the sins.., and I NEVER was asked to accept Jesus as my Lord; only did I believe He is the Son of God? Well, the devil believes that!! and he isn't saved!
Anyway, the Bible teaches baptism as a sacrament and part of the salvation of a believer all through the New Testament. Also, I read it as "dunkin".
Good question, but many arguments about it. Go the whole way and never worry about it again.
I was baptized several times and finally got to do it in the Jordan in Israel..., WONDERFUL; GLORIOUS!

Answer 3

If baptism had no power, Jesus would not have said it is necessary for salvation. When asked what we must do to be saved, Jesus said we must be "born again". When further pressed to explain what that phrase meant, Jesus replied that being born again means being reborn through water and the spirit, an obvious reference to the holy sacrament of baptism. Of course it is not the act itself that has the power. It is God. But God releases that power and grace through the sacrament.

Full immersion is certainly a valid form of baptism. Sprinkling is not, but I know of no church that sprinkles people. The other valid form of baptism is pouring water over the head of the person being baptized. This is the form usually used by the Apostles. They preached in a desert country, and in many towns they visited there was no water anywhere for many miles except the town well. That is how they baptized - with a bucket of water drawn up from the well. It is also significant that every known early work of art depicting the baptism of Jesus - and there are a good number of them - shows Jesus standing in the water while John pours water onto His head. Apparently that is how the early Church believed Jesus was baptized - and why wouldn't they, since that was the standard way they baptized as well.

Answer 4

It is quite funny that several of the people, I see here demanding full immersion baptism, have said by faith alone in at least one of their answer or perhaps not by works. Baptism is not faith what a spiritual express an outward announcement there by Works. It has do to with the persons spirit and the Spirit of God; therefore dunk, sprinkle spit or spray diet coke on them the deed is done before the water hits you. Why do Christian have such a hard time separating the physical and the spiritual worlds of God. God reads your heart for your lips will lie.

Answer 5

Paedobaptism is completely valid, as is pouring or sprinkling. Baptism, under a covenant view, is not an add-on. It is circumcision revisited. An unbaptized Christian holds the same status as an uncircumcised Jew. In the OT, I think the response would have been, "what are you doing!?" for the new believer who refused the mark. I look at credo baptism the same way, and I think that's why baptism is given the status it is given in the NT. To call it a profession of faith only is wrong (what about an ingrafting into Christ?). To call it salvation itself is wrong (God rejected Esau's circumcision in the same way). To do it only because we were commanded to is works-based religion. But to say with the Psalmist, 119:47, "I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love" -- fulfills Jesus' command in the spirit that I believe it was intended. It's a covenant, it belongs to God, and we delight in this rite. To not be able to participate in it, as in the case of the thief on the cross, it would have only increased his agony of not entering the Kingdom with God's (new) mark upon him.

Answer 6

you dont have to be baptized to enter heaven. But what degree of heaven are you seeking

if you accept Christ then you shouldnt have a problem getting baptized even Christ was baptized and he was perfect

Im baptizing my sister next week and i thing it is a very important thing

even if you die and you were baptized what would it hurt i would rather take the chance and get baptized then to find out we had to

Answer 7

I believe that immersion is the Biblical method of Baptism. But, I'm in agreement with you, that Baptism is more symbolic of dying to the old man and rising in the newness of Christ. Baptism is an act of obediance to the Lord.

Answer 8

Here is my view on the subject for what its worth... I believe that if an adult wants to get baptised because they fully understand and know what they believe that is fine. I think its wrong to baptise a baby because they don't know anything yet and it should be their choice once they are old enough to understand. Thats all I have to say about baptism, other than I dont believe it really does anything, but I still think it should be a choice, and not forced on someone before they are even old enough to know their own name...

Answer 9

I think, that we should do as Jesus did, He was baptized and we should do it too, but as you gave the example on the cross, we have to remember another scripture, saying , that "all things are possible with God."
God can do anything , He is not limited to certain religious practices.

Answer 10

Baptism is the out word demonstration of inward faith...Answer, no there is no place in the bible that says that water immersion is mandatory to enter heaven.