Baptism Question

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Jude --- good question! Here are a few more. I would enjoy hearing comments and more importantly, if the comments are based upon specific Scripture.

Is there any place in Scripture where there are additional baptisms?

Does your church require you to be baptized in your specific church?

Does your church require you to be baptized in your specific denomination?

Does your church require you to be baptized in a particular mode - immersion, sprinkling or pouring?

 

[Frank]

Yelsew:
I do keep it as often as is possible ( Mat. 28:18-20).

 

[Briguy]

Bumpppppppppp -
Jude, I wanted to give you a chance to respond to what I said and the other questions asked of you, here in this thread. If you do not want to respond, please indicate that and I won't feel the need to bring this to the top again. Thanks much,

In Christ,
Brian

 

[Jude]

Originally posted by FriendofSpurgeon:



Does your church require you to be baptized in your specific church?

Does your church require you to be baptized in your specific denomination?

Does your church require you to be baptized in a particular mode - immersion, sprinkling or pouring?

#1 No, but of course, almost all do
#2 No " " " " " "
#3 No

But with Baptism, comes the belief that it is -as was taught in the early church- more than just symbolism--
Q: What is Holy Baptism?
A: Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.

Q: What is the outward and visible sign in Baptism?
A: The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is the inward and spiritual grace in Baptism?
A: The inward and spiritual grace in Baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God's family in the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is required of us at Baptism?
A: It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Q: Why are infants baptized?
A: Infants are baptized so that they can share in the citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.

Q: How are the promises for infants made and carried out?
A: Promises are made for them by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.

--from Book of Common Prayer, pp. 858-859

 

[Briguy]

Hi Jude, I was hoping you would respond to what I wrote. I understand why you quoted the source you did but those answers don't really address what I posted.

I found this interesting:

""Q: What is required of us at Baptism?
A: It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.""

Now that is a protestent answer all the way. The fact is I see in the RCC that there is two standards, one for adults who convert and one for infants. I can't say that I see scripture support for the difference but I do understand the differemce and it makes some sense to me. It is very much the same in the Lutheran church as well. I was just thinking that I am pretty sure that a Lutheran pastor or a RC priest would not baptize an adult who openly said they didn't believe in Jesus as their savior. I may be wrong but don't think I am. Infant Baptism then is different because the infants can't make the choice like the adults can, right?

Jude, please address the last question and my other comments, thanks much,

In Christ our Lord,
Brian

 

[Jude]

Originally posted by Briguy:


...If baptizing in water was the intent here then we go back to what was happening at that time. Baptism was for repentance in some cases, even when the church was just being established (Act 2:38) is the main example. The Baptizing could mean to clear oneself to be open to salvation. If believer baptism was meant then it was an association issue that was such a huge thing in the early church. You proved that you were a follower of Christ by public Baptism. It was a sure way to stand behind Jesus and thus take the persecution that went with it. Baptism was joining the group, "The Way". It was the proof of a changed heart because of what it opened the person up to.

None of what you've said here is wrong, I'd just say 'incomplete' or 'one-sided'. RC's, Anglicans, Orthodox, and Lutherans(?) believe that the Sacrament CONVEYS Grace. This is what the early Church believed as well. Only with the coming of 'humanism' (Renaissance and after) did the kind of symbolism (in Eucharist and Baptism)you describe become the teaching of the "Protestant" churches. Their thinking, put simply, was that we lived in a 'closed universe' and that no miracles were possible. Therefore, no bread could become the Body of Christ, no wine could 'become' His blood. It is merely SYMBOL. And the same with Baptism. Briguy, your view is, whether you know it or not, is severely tainted by the Enlightenment/Rationalism/humanism. Check the Early Church Fathers. You'll see that your view on this subject does not have warrant in their writings/teachings.

 

[freeatlast]

Originally posted by Jude:
Hypothetical situation: Joe, aged 17, responds to the Pastor's sermon on Sunday, and feels he should give his life to Christ. He is baptized the next Sunday. Over the next few months, he begins to 'backslide', and eventually drops-out. He lives the life of a heathen and grievous sinner for the next 15 years. One night, he happens to attend a 'Crusade' in his town, and this night, he is greatly convicted of his sin. This time, with all sincerity, He asks Jesus to forgive Him, He asks Jesus to come in to his heart, and he pledges to really live for Jesus. Question: Does Joe need to be baptized again? (The first time he was baptized, was his faith 'sincere'? If it wasn't 'sincere' was it really a baptism?)

The answer is yes he needs to be baptized. He was not saved the first time which is clear from his practice of sin. You mentioned sincerity. Sincerity is fine, but it cannot get us saved. We need repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then we get saved. many people are sincere about believing the story about Jesus and wanting to be saved and even being sorry about their sin, but unless they have faith with repentance they remain lost in the mist of all the rest of their sincerity.

 

[Briguy]

Hi Jude, When I think of my view I see it in the earliest church fathers of all, the ones who wrote the Bible and got the whole "church body" started. If some later folks disagreed with what the earliest Christians said, I guess that is bad for them but it doesn't change what was first said and written down. I hope that didn't sound conceited because I didn't mean it that way.

I have a follow up question. You said my last post didn't have anything that was wrong in it. Are you saying now that infants have no choice for themselves? that they are incapable of responding to the gospel?

In Christ,
Brian