Is Baptism Optional?--Setting The Record Straight.

[Darron Steele]

Is Baptism Optional?--Who Really Believes What.

Okay everyone. For the past two years I have been attending a Church of Christ congregation. My views on baptism differ from most Church of Christ Christians and people.

I hear people who believe 'salvation only upon completed baptism' describe those who disagree with them as so: `They don't believe we have to be baptized at all' and they usually mean just that. I believe that it is a mischaracterization.

Therefore, let me help us all keep the record straight. Please answer these two questions:


1) Do you believe completed baptism is required for salvation?

2) If you answered `No' on question 1, do you still believe that God still commands it and we should do it?

Please do not sidetrack the thread. Please keep your answers simple. This is to help set the record straight.

 

[Darron Steele]

My answers:

To 1: No.
To 2: Yes.

This is not an underhanded trick. I am seriously trying to do something good here.

 

[mojoala]

Yes, when feasible.

 

[MorganT]

Okay everyone. For the past two years I have been attending a Church of Christ congregation. My views on baptism differ from most Church of Christ Christians and people.

I hear people who believe 'salvation only upon completed baptism' describe those who disagree with them as so: `They don't believe we have to be baptized at all' and they usually mean just that. I believe that it is a mischaracterization.

Therefore, let me help us all keep the record straight. Please answer these two questions:


1) Do you believe completed baptism is required for salvation?


2) If you answered `No' on question 1, do you still believe that God still commands it and we should do it?

Please do not sidetrack the thread. Please keep your answers simple. This is to help set the record straight.

1. The answer is NO
2. The answer is Yes

 

[Brother Bob]

Baptism

misunderstood, sorry

 

[MorganT]

Um Bob you obviously cannot read he said in his post that he wanted a yes or no answer and to keep it short. Why some people decide to give a sermon on a yes or no answer is beyond me.

 

[Brother Bob]

sermon

At least a 30 minutes work also.

 

[Darron Steele]

[Post deleted]

 

[mactx]

yes
hmmm it said my message was too short

 

[Briguy]

1. No
2. Up to the person.

Baptism has changed from the early church until now. It was once a sign of true commitment to "the way" and opened a person up to persecution. It was a way of boldy stating you were a follower of Jesus. Now, we join local churches, bearing the name of God/Jesus to show this association. Baptism is fine for a person so lead. Hope that answer wasn't too long. Sorry if it was.

 

[Brother Bob]

1. Depends on which Baptism you are talking about, Holy Ghost Baptism=yes, water baptism= No
2. Yes to the water baptism.
Your questions are not complete enough.

Yes because you will never feel complete until you are baptized in the water and Jesus put it in the church so do it, if possible.

 

[Charles Meadows]

Darron,

I think your answers are correct. We are commanded to undergo baptism after profession of faith. But it is God's grace which saves us and not the ritual of baptism.

My gripe with the hardline CoC is that seeing baptism as absolutely necessary is that it goes back to the OT and righteousness by works. I always cite the example of person who accepts Jesus into his heart and then schedules a public baptism the following week. If he is killed in a car wreck before being baptized is he saved? Of course the answer is yes - his faith was enough for God - the faith which caused him to submit to baptism. But to localize the salvation to the ritual of baptism is to deny that Christ accomplished anything other that a symbolic act on the cross.

 

[Jim1999]

1) Do you believe completed baptism is required for salvation?

No!


2) If you answered `No' on question 1, do you still believe that God still commands it and we should do it?

Yes. It is a step of obedience...no more, no less

Then, the Salvation Army neither observes the Lord's Supper nor water baptism, and they live a godly life, serving the Lord, and I quite enjoy their fellowship. Anglicans have been sprinkled at birth, and they no less love the Lord and serve Him quite well........they believe they are acting in obedience to the word and to the Christ.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[MorganT]

Darron,

I think your answers are correct. We are commanded to undergo baptism after profession of faith. But it is God's grace which saves us and not the ritual of baptism.

My gripe with the hardline CoC is that seeing baptism as absolutely necessary is that it goes back to the OT and righteousness by works. I always cite the example of person who accepts Jesus into his heart and then schedules a public baptism the following week. If he is killed in a car wreck before being baptized is he saved? Of course the answer is yes - his faith was enough for God - the faith which caused him to submit to baptism. But to localize the salvation to the ritual of baptism is to deny that Christ accomplished anything other that a symbolic act on the cross.

Amen brother Amen. I agree with you 100 percent and this is one of the main reasons I left the Church of Christ among others.:thumbs:

 

[genesis12]

1. No.
2. Yes, if possible. If not, don't worry about it.

 

[Darron Steele]

Okay, let me reiterate my purpose in this thread and make it clear.

I have been attending a Church of Christ for two years. In these congregations, it is often alleged that people who do not believe in baptismal regeneration do not believe God commands water baptism at all.

I know that the allegation is NOT true.

I do not serve a denomination or any association of churches. I serve a living Lord and Savior who wants us being truthful.

Because of this, I want you folks to get on this thread and speak up so that it is on record that most here believe God commands us to be baptized in water regardless of role in salvation.

In the future, when it is alleged that non-baptismal regenerationists do not believe water baptism is of great importance to please God, we can simply reference this thread to make the allegation less credible.

In my view, off-topic or lengthy posts work AGAINST you by clouding and burying the matter. Please answer the questions as briefly as you can.

1) Do you believe completed water baptism is required for salvation?

2) If you answered `No' on question 1, do you still believe that God still commands it and we should do it?

 

[God's Word is TRUTH]

okay is baptism required for salvation? yes.

Matt. 28:18-20
one cannot be a disciple unless baptized.

Mark 16:15-16
one cannot be saved without belief and baptism.

Acts 22:16
one cannot have their sins washed away without baptism.

Romans 6:1-10
one cannot have newness of life without baptism.

Gal. 3:26-29
one cannot be a heir of the promise without baptism.

Col. 2:11-13
one cannot be made alive or have forgivness of trespasses without baptism.

1 peter 3:21
one cannot be saved without baptism.

the only way i believe that someone can be saved without baptism is if they come forward and say i want to be baptized in order to obey God's command. and on the way they are killed somehow. they knew they needed to be baptized to obey God, and they had wanted to be baptized in order to fufill God's commandment.

and why do people wait days , weeks, months and even years to be baptized when all the examples in the bible say that people were baptized straightway, immediately?

In Christian Love,

Dustin

 

[God's Word is TRUTH]

okay,(Acts 8:26-40) philip met a eunuch and he was reading from isaiah 53 and its says that philip began to preach Jesus, so baptism has to be a part of preaching Jesus because, on the way the eunuch says here is water what stops me from being baptized? and philip says if you believe with all your heart you may, and he said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. then it goes on to say that they went down into the WATER and he was baptized.

In Christian Love,

Dustin

 

[Briguy]

Dustin, My belief is that the purpose of Baptism has changed since the early church. I could debate the meaning of the verses you used but it is not needed. Baptism no longer serves the same purpose. See my post on page one. I can expand if need be.

In Christ,
Brian

 

[Darron Steele]

Okay, let me reiterate my purpose in this thread and make it clear.

For the first five years of my Christian life, I attended a Baptist church. I have been attending a Church of Christ for two years and am in the process of changing to another good one. In many of the hard-line Church of Christ congregations, it is often alleged that people who do not believe in baptismal regeneration do not believe God commands water baptism at all.

I know that the allegation is NOT true.

Because of this, I want you folks to get on this thread and speak up so that it is on record that most here believe God commands us to be baptized in water regardless of role in salvation.

In the future, when it is alleged that non-baptismal regenerationists do not believe water baptism is of great importance to please God, we can simply reference this thread to make the allegation less credible.

In my view, off-topic or lengthy posts work AGAINST you by clouding and burying the matter. Please answer the questions as briefly as you can.

1) Do you believe completed water baptism is required for salvation?

2) If you answered `No' on question 1, do you still believe that God still commands it and we should do it?

My answers are "no, yes." There is a Church of Christ baptismal regenerationist poster who has posted has posted at length off-topic. Although he may not have this purpose, there is certainly a reason why he would want to do that.

Why the silence among Baptists and other non-baptismal regenerationists? I promise you: in most Churches of Christ, the standards of honesty are lower than most church people are accustomed to, and if you and I do not speak for ourselves, there are many who will gladly speak for you and and for me whatever they want others to think about me and you whether true or not.