what is baptism?

Question

need 2 kno asap

Answer 1

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. However, 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 now 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?

How can our sins be washed away by the blood (Revelation 1:5) if we have not contacted that blood? To contact the blood, we must contact His death where the blood was shed!

Romans 6:3-13 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 Christ?

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. He 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 he be baptized into Christ's death, when Christ had not yet died? How could he have been “buried with Christ” (Col. 2:12) when Christ had not yet been buried? How could he rise from baptism “in the likeness of His resurrection” when Christ had not yet risen?

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 Jesus 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 “calling on the name of the Lord”. Obviously, “calling on the name of the Lord” involved more that saying ‘Lord’, more than praying, more than belief and more than repentance. Saul had done all of these things, but he still needed to call on the name of the Lord!

The phrase “calling on the name of the Lord” means to rely on His authority. Saul had not done this until he did what the Lord authorized (instructed), namely “be baptized”. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20, read Luke 24:47 along with Acts 2:5 & 38).

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. In fact, none of the new converts in the book of Acts ate, drank, slept or continued a journey until they had been baptized!

Baptism is specifically mentioned in all of the examples of the conversion of an alien sinner in the book of Acts. Love, grace, mercy, confession, repentance, and the blood of Christ are all necessary for salvation, but, even though they can be inferred, they are not specifically mentioned every time. Baptism is!

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"!

Baptism is by immersion. To be scripturally baptized, you must be immersed in water.

The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. The Greek word we get the word "baptism" from, means to immerse.

Immersion is to dip down into the water. It is an overwhelming. The one being baptized is lowered into (until he is completely under) the water and then lifted up out of the water. It is not just sprinkling or pouring a little water on top of someone.

This can also be seen in Scripture.

John 3:23 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".

Baptism is described as going down into the water and coming up out of the water. (Matthew 3:16-17, Acts 8:38-39) Only immersion has the one being baptized going into the water.

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

It's funny that the only place that people have trouble understanding baptism is in religion. If someone were to say they were "baptized in debt", would you think they had just a sprinkling of debt (a few bills)? No, someone described in this way is figuratively "covered up" with debt.

I saw a sports article that said the freshmen on a football team had an "early baptism". Of course it mean they were plunged into full sudden participation in the program. They did not just see a sprinkling of activity, but they were fully involved.

If we can understand this everywhere else, why not in religion?

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

Answer 2

Usually defined as an outward sign of an inward change. A symbolic act of the application of water to a person either by sprinkling water on the head or immersion in a pool of water. A statement that a person has become a Christian. Some argue that it is absolutely essential for salvation (Roman Church) while Protestants argue it is not (citing the thief on the cross who was saved without baptism).

Answer 3

Baby Gurl,
I agree with parts of what some are saying but NOT all of what anyone has said. To begin with... BAPTISM – The Greek word for Baptism is Baptizmo. It means “to immerse”. Those who were baptized in the First Century just as today were immersed in water.

Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3-4 do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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

John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

Acts 8:38 He commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

NOWHERE in the scriptures are we told that People became Christians THEN WERE Baptized. There were many examples of Baptism in the scriptures. It is an important part of becoming a Christian from what I have read. We are told that we "rise to walk in newness of life" and the Baptism "washes away sins". Why would one believe that it was NOT a part of becoming a Christian? Have a great evening and a wonderful weekend.
Thanks,
Eds

EDIT:
Baptism was NOT a Jewish Tradition. It was begun by John the Baptizer and continued after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

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Answer 4

The word “baptize” comes from the Greek ba·pti′zein, meaning “to dip, to plunge.” (A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott) Christian water baptism is an outward symbol that the one being baptized has made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication through Jesus Christ to do the will of Jehovah God. The Scriptures also refer to John’s baptism, baptism with holy spirit, and baptism with fire, among others.
Christian water baptism—is it by sprinkling or by complete immersion?

Mark 1:9, 10: “Jesus . . . was baptized [“immersed,” ED, Ro] in the Jordan [River] by John. And immediately on coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being parted.”

Acts 8:38: “They both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized [“immersed,” ED, Ro] him.”

Answer 5

It is a commandment that was given to us by Jesus. Mark 16:16. It is an outward sign to the world that demonstrates that we have been crucified with Christ and that we have been buried with Him and that we rose from the dead with Him(Galation 2:20). Basically it is a real demonstration of becoming Born Again. Acts 2:38 says that if we turn from our sins and are baptized in the name of Jesus for the payment of our sins, then God will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, which means, God has removed your old spirit and has replaced it with Himself. That is why baptizing Babies is useless and uneffectual. It is a personal decision, in which a person has to make a decision and a commitment to following Christ.

Answer 6

A washing ritual that the Christians borrowed and modified from their Jewish roots. A quick look through the Old Testament Bible will reveal that the largest portion of Jewish religious law was centered on "cleanliness". Baptism is one of the Christian remnants of those practices and is therefore related to kosher pickles, which for some reason did not get included in the Christian rituals even though there should be little difference in the spiritual value of each...

Answer 7

Baptism is a symbolic action of an inward covenant with make with Christ to take His name upon us and to keep His commandments. Baptism in the Bible was done by immersion and by someone with the priesthood. In exchange for promising to keep the commandments, Christ forgives us of our sins. Although we are only baptized once by proper authority, each week we are given a chance to renew this covenant in the form of the Sacrament. I believe this is comparable to the Eucharist in the Catholic church.

Answer 8

a preist tries to drown people.jking
a preit preforms baptism by putting





'holy' water on a person

Answer 9

babtism is where a person who really believes in Christ is ready to to really commit to it dedicate their lives to God. it's done by putting a person in water and lifting them back up again. it symbolizes Jesus dying and rising up from the dead again.

Answer 10

ceremonial immersion into water, initiatory rite of the Christian Church; purification by submergence.

hope it helps

Answer 11

An outward expression of one's faith in Christ Jesus.