Why do Protestants say?

Question

That baptism is only an outward sign when we are COMMANDED to be baptized?


John 3
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5Jesus 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.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Acts 2:38Then 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.


Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

And dont bring up the thief on the cross, he was still under the Old Covenant being Jesus had not died yet.

CJ, unless your name is God Almighty, you can not read what is in my heart and soul and can not know if Iam saved or unsaved. Stop committing blasphemy against God and bearing false witness

"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)."

Answer 1

hello, There have been some very good answers. I would just like to clear up some glaring errors in regards to baptism.

First of all, there is no record of how Jesus was baptized or how much water was used. The Scriptures are silent on the methodology. In fact there is no biblical account of anyone being immersed.

The earliest written record of baptism is in the "Didache" which says that it should be in running water if possible, immersed or by pouring. I do not know of anyone who sprinkles as one poster said.

There are three kinds of baptism:

Baptism by water

Baptism by desire

Baptism by blood

Someone mentioned the thief on the cross, his baptism was a baptism by desire. I pray this helps to clear up the errors on some posts.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 2

A person cannot enter into the Kingdom of God without being baptized in some form. Scripture does not exclude infants or children. Infant baptism has been going on since early Christian times. Christ does not make an "exception" for infants anywhere in the Gospel. Therefore, some non-Catholic Christian denominations who only baptize adults, put children and infants at risk. The risk may be limbo. Although it is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, limbo is said to be reserved for unbaptized infants. It is a place of happiness, but without the great joy of being with God Himself. Would not "whole households," as stated in Scripture, include infants and children?

"But our Lord Himself said (John 3:5): 'Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' Consequently it became necessary to baptize children, that, as in birth they incurred damnation through Adam so in a second birth they might obtain salvation through Christ. Moreover it was fitting that children should receive Baptism, in order that being reared from childhood in things pertaining to the Christian mode of life, they may the more easily persevere therein; according to Prov. 22:5: "A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it." - St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologica" 13th century A.D.)

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

Answer 3

I wager for those who move wherein denomination of church you attend, such a lot Christians are Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. I do not consider many founded church buildings fall external of that umbrella (even though a few name themselves non-denominational) Personally, I permit Jesus train me, and a few matters I've found out do not accept as true with both Catholic/Protestant dogma. The Bible is plenty extra intricate than the common character realizes. Therefore, I keep in mind myself non-denominational. I'd as an alternative move to a church that was once instructing the Word proper, than move to a church seeing that it was once of a unique denomination... As some distance as Protestants move, there have additionally quite been many "one-offs" in contemporary years, so can one quite categorize them as "protesting" Catholicism?

Answer 4

There are two ways one can look at this passage. One could be seeing it as a contrast, being born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit (spiritual birth). You have to be physically born before you can be spiritually born or born again.
The second way is that it means baptism, which was done after the spiritual birth. This was a normal act done by proselytes (Gentiles who converted to Judaism) as seen by the baptism work of John. But, it is abundantly clear from the whole of Scripture that baptism comes after regeneration or spiritual birth.
Paul spoke of how we view baptism. We go under the water to signify death, and rise out to signify new life.

Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Answer 5

They have a dilemma; denying that baptism has any connection to salvation whatsoever, they are nevertheless commanded to do so according to the Bible. So they do the same thing with this as with the "Lord's Supper" -- make it an ordinance for believers, instead of a sacrament conferring grace.

Answer 6

You are right. One key Scripture reference to being "born again" or "regenerated" is John 3:5, where Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

This verse is so important that those who say baptism is just a symbol must deny that Jesus here refers to baptism. "Born again" Christians claim the "water" is the preached word of God.

But the early Christians uniformly identified this verse with baptism. Water baptism is the way, they said, that we are born again and receive new life—a fact that is supported elsewhere in Scripture (Rom. 6:3–4; Col. 2:12–13; Titus 3:5).
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from the Catechism Of The Catholic Church:

CCC 1263 - By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.66 In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God.
CCC 1265
Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature,"69 member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 7

Born of water, means born of Living Water, which is indeed born again in Jesus Christ... He is the Living Water you know... such as Manna from Heaven

He is our food source from Heaven, living water, nourishment of all that we need if we are truly in Christ.. If we shall drink of Living water, we shall never thirst for righteousness, nor anything else...

Answer 8

I am a protestant who does not think baptism is necessary to know God or be saved. I am not a Bible expert but verse 5 could mean born of water= flesh , and of spirit= Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

The only "outward" sign is that it is "witnessed" outwardly in public and is suppose to be witnessed. Anyone can "say " they are born again but until they are "outwardly" baptised then they are not able to enter into the kingdom of God.

Answer 10

Not all Protestants say that. I am a christian not a Catholic and I believe what the scriptures says we must be baptized in order ti inherit the kingdom of heaven. Baptized by full immersion not by sprinkling Christ was not baptized by a few drops of water but by complete submersion into the Jordan River.