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Baptism?
- Thread starter Novelist
- Start date
Silverhair
Well-Known Member
One baptism. There is a twofold sense in which this is true. First, there is one baptism by the Spirit, by which those who trust Christ are placed in the body (1Co_12:13). Then there is one baptism by which converts confess their identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. Though there are different modes of baptism today, the NT recognizes one believers' baptism, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. By being baptized, disciples express allegiance to Christ, the burial of their old self, and a determination to walk in newness of life. BBC
There is only one mode possible Scripturally, and that is immersion. That is the only meaning of the Greek noun baptesma (βαπτεσμα) and verb baptizo (βαπτιζω). No other mode was used for the first several centuries of church history. Along in the 3rd century, pouring began to be used for sick people at home, but even then immersion was the norm. Sprinkling and pouring both lose the meaning of the Greek word and the significance of the ordinance as representing the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Many years ago the first foreign missionary from America, Adoniram Judson, left for the field. Sent by the Congregationalists and believing in sprinkling, he boarded a ship with his wife. On the ship he began to study the issue so that when he reached the mission field and partnered with William Carey, the "father of modern missions, he could hold his own. However, on the ship he learned he had to change his position to immersion because the evidence for it was overwhelming. He wrote his mission board and reported his change, then changed his sending agency to the Baptist board.
Many years ago the first foreign missionary from America, Adoniram Judson, left for the field. Sent by the Congregationalists and believing in sprinkling, he boarded a ship with his wife. On the ship he began to study the issue so that when he reached the mission field and partnered with William Carey, the "father of modern missions, he could hold his own. However, on the ship he learned he had to change his position to immersion because the evidence for it was overwhelming. He wrote his mission board and reported his change, then changed his sending agency to the Baptist board.
When I was a Driving instructor- I had a student who was Greek. On day, his mom rode in the back seat during the lesson.
I "just happened" to go by a Greek church. So I asked mom what it said it the cornerstone, and she told me. I then asked and she confirmed she was Greek Orthodox. I then asked why the Greeks immerse their babies. She told me that what the word means - (as opposed to sprinkling) Well, since she is Greek - I assume she is familliar with the Greek Language!
I "just happened" to go by a Greek church. So I asked mom what it said it the cornerstone, and she told me. I then asked and she confirmed she was Greek Orthodox. I then asked why the Greeks immerse their babies. She told me that what the word means - (as opposed to sprinkling) Well, since she is Greek - I assume she is familliar with the Greek Language!