does baptism make sense?

Question

Well the church says that the story of adam and eve is a symbolic story and it never really happened. However we still have to baptise our children to remove the original sin that was made by adam and eve. If the story never happened hence no sin was made why do we still have to be baptised?

Answer 1

Any person who calls himself a Christian must believe what the Bible says. Adam and Eve did exist.

"And Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul." -- Genesis 2:7

"And Jehovah God proceeded to build the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and to bring her to the man." -- 2:18 Genesis


Because Adam and Eve chose not to obey God they lost their privilege to live forever, thus their sons and daughters became sinners, imperfect and ephemeral.

"That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned." -- Romans 5:22


Jesus' sacrifice brings salvation. The baptism is a way to show publicly that a Christian has dedicated his life to God.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." -- John 3:16

"Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, we also should likewise walk in a newness of life." -- Romans 6:3,4


http://www.watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/article_16.htm

Answer 2

Whether the story of Adam and Eve is fiction or not, the message is the same, and it comes from Scripture, so Christians will still adhere to the concepts presented with original sin. I see Catholic baptism as theologically sound, but not necessarily scripturally sound. I believe that original sin exists and is an important doctrinal concept, but the removal of it through baptism would only serve the purpose of "covering" the child up to the age of reason for an assurance of heaven, after which it becomes a roulette wheel of choice for the individual. In other words, I fail to see how baptism would have a lasting effect even though the blessing of oneself with holy water is supposed to be a reminder of the mystical power of that sacrament. At the age of reason, the mystical power is gone, and we are left to our own abilities as God "works with us" to bring us to him.

I think I've already gone too far in my answer to your question, but I believe that baptism is only loosely connected to the story of Adam and Eve. It is much more related to the circumcision of Abraham and God's promise to the generations that would follow him.

Answer 3

What Church said it never really happend?

Even if the story is symbolic, what is symbolizes is real and true. Therefore, original sin would still be an issue. Baptism is still necessary.

Answer 4

Actually, the church does not say the Genesis account is symbolic. Maybe certain religious leaders do, but the church, who are the body of believers in Jesus, do not.

And no, water baptism is not done for the removal of sins. It is done as a public proclaimation of your faith in Jesus and your forgiveness of sin.

The story of Adam and Eve is very much real. The original sin did occur for real. And, death does come to all of us as a result of sin.

Answer 5

Any 'church' teaching that the story of Adam and Eve never happened is NOT teaching the Bible.
Find a church that teaches from the Bible.
Only it contains truth.

Answer 6

Baptizing does not remove sin. Baptizing should be done at an age of accountability after one has confessed and received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Baptism is an outward sign of repentance which means the 'old' life is gone and the new life in Christ is begun. To repent means to change....to turn around. when people have their children baptized they are making the promise to bring their kids up in the church...in the Christian or Cathoic faith...depending on what denomination one belongs to. Read Matthew 3: 1 - 12

Answer 7

Sounds like your church still continues to baptise children as a tradition, rather than for a practical purpose.

Answer 8

Really? Your church says that Adam and Eve are just symbolic? If they do, they're totally wrong...

Answer 9

My church doesn't baptize kids unless they say they have been saved. The story of Adam and Eve is not symbolic.

Answer 10

Sure it happened, but probably not Quite that way.
Original sin is disobedience.
Baptism is only a promise to be obedient.
Church is established to aid and guide us to a closer attainment of wisdom and truth in our quest for God.

Answer 11

Scripture ONLY "makes sense" when it is PROPERLY interpreted. In this case, there are a few major misinterpretations.

First, "original sin" is a lie. Ezekiel 18 makes this very clear. In the text, God presents a hypothetical family of alternating good and evil fathers and sons.

Ezekiel 18:19 “ ‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. 21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. 22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. 24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

25 “Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you? 26 When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. 27 And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. 28 They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. 29 And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.

30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!


Next, baptism is very often misunderstood, as some of the answers here indicate.

Baptism is our point of contact with the blood of Jesus:

Romans 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST Jesus were BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? 4 We 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.

Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have clothed yourselves with Christ.

It IS the point where the BELIEVER becomes "saved:"

1Peter 3:21 and this water symbolizes BAPTISM THAT NOW SAVES YOU also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. IT SAVES YOU BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.