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A Question about Baptism

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givengrace

New Member
I have a friend who goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) She said she was raised in a Southern Baptist church but she believes that a person MUST be baptized before they are saved. As I understand other protestant churches do. Can you give me the Bible reference that they are reading to come to this understanding? I can't understand why they would believe this. Because if it was by something "WE" did it wouldn't take Christ to save us. Thanks
 
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annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
givengrace said:
I have a friend who goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) She said she was raised in a Southern Baptist church but she believes that a person MUST be baptized before they are saved. As I understand other protestant churches do. Can you give me the Bible reference that they are reading to come to this understanding? I can't understand why they would believe this. Because if it was by something "WE" did it wouldn't take Christ to save us. Thanks
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I've never heard of this. When the Scriptures say "believe and be baptized" I think there's a definite order there. If it's the way they say it is, then it would be "be baptized and believe" but I don't see that supported by Scripture. Hmmm......
 
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annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
OK - Just thinking this through - maybe it's that they believe that baptism saves you? Then you'd need to be baptized in order to be saved? Is that maybe it?
 
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SBCPreacher

Active Member
Site Supporter
annsni said:
OK - Just thinking this through - maybe it's that they believe that baptism saves you? Then you'd need to be baptized in order to be saved? Is that maybe it?
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But if that's true, then salvation is based on works, not faith.
 
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
givengrace said:
As I understand other protestant churches do. Can you give me the Bible reference that they are reading to come to this understanding? I can't understand why they would believe this. ... Thanks
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Their key verse is Acts 2:32
Repent AND be baptized for the remission of your sins.
 
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donnA

Active Member
Our local CoC also beleives you have to be baptized to be saved, but that you must live a perfect live also, not that salvation is through Jesus.
 
preachinjesus

preachinjesus

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
givengrace said:
I have a friend who goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) She said she was raised in a Southern Baptist church but she believes that a person MUST be baptized before they are saved. As I understand other protestant churches do.
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Just a point, most of the denoms/churches that hold baptism being part of salvation believe that it is the second part of salvation and/or the seal of one's faith decision.

givengrace said:
Can you give me the Bible reference that they are reading to come to this understanding? I can't understand why they would believe this. Because if it was by something "WE" did it wouldn't take Christ to save us. Thanks
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Mrs PJ grew up in a Church of Christ background (didn't have a choice her aunt and uncle are pretty hardcore CoC.) John 3:5 is one of their stronger verses, also Acts 2:37-38.

Now I completely disagree that baptism is anything but an outward expression of an inward belief and has no salvific qualities to it. Justification is a punctiliar act that is sealed at the moment of redemption purely by atoning grace given through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism, while a precious and necessary step of obedience, is not part of our justification. :)

Too often denomns/churches that advocate baptism as being salvific are proof-texting and not reading the whole of the Scriptures. :)
 
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givengrace

New Member
Okay I got the Meaning of CoC but I wasn't talking about Church of Christ but The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
 
preachinjesus

preachinjesus

Well-Known Member
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They are fairly similiar in their take on this issue which is why some (including myself) mention them. Keep in mind the Disciples of Christ hold to a sacramental theology, which though different from the Church of Christ, will use baptism as the seal of salvation with the initial faith decision entering the covenant. Thanks
 
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Zenas

Active Member
preachinjesus said:
They are fairly similiar in their take on this issue which is why some (including myself) mention them. Keep in mind the Disciples of Christ hold to a sacramental theology, which though different from the Church of Christ, will use baptism as the seal of salvation with the initial faith decision entering the covenant. Thanks
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You're pretty close to describing their beliefs. This link http://www.disciples.org/AboutTheDisciples/Baptism/tabid/160/Default.aspx takes you to a page on their website and, while they don't use the word "sacrament" the theology sounds really sacramental.
 
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