On Baptism...

[Dennis Lio]

Almost from the beginning of my salvation days(Nov. 22, 1978) I have felt directed to combat false doctrines and quasi/pseudo-Christian cults (Jehovah Witness, etc.) & that includes the false doctrine of regenerational baptism, the theme of this thread. I want to show newer Christians this doctrine is false, while reminding them that all new
Christians SHOULD be duly baptized ASAP unless it's really impossible for one to be.

***Yes, to SHOW their decision of faith in Christ and acceptance of His free gift of forgiveness thru His grace, death on the cross and His Resurrection. Baptism is not a burden..it is a public display of that person's decision to accept Christ. To put any more weight on baptism than that just isn't correct or fair. It is a Celebration! If baptism is a MUST for salvation, then what do you do with Christ's command to share the Last Supper (Communion) as a Remembrance whenever we Christians meet? Very few churches celebrate Communion every Sunday. Why not?

 

[robycop3]

You can call a duck a chicken, a monkey or an automobile but it’s still a duck. You can call being born of water natural birth all day long but it is still baptism. And despite your pleas to the contrary, John Chrysotom never intimated anything else. I did read the five paragraphs between your quoted text and mine. Judging by your picture, I probably read them for the first time long before you finished high school. Anyway, I just read them again and they absolutely, unequivocally assert that being born of water is not natural childbirth. For example,

I have come to bring a new manner of Creation. I formed (man) of earth and water; but that which was formed was unprofitable, the vessel was wrenched awry; I will no more form them of earth and water, but 'of water' and 'of the Spirit.'

I stand by my original assertion that 100% of the early Christian writers hold that John 3:5 is referring to Christian baptism. That is a fact and you can deny it all day long but denying it doesn’t change what it is. I realize this is difficult for you because it works great mischief to your soteriology but that doesn’t alter its truth.

The human body is , on the average about 65% water.

 

[robycop3]

***Yes, to SHOW their decision of faith in Christ and acceptance of His free gift of forgiveness thru His grace, death on the cross and His Resurrection. Baptism is not a burden..it is a public display of that person's decision to accept Christ. To put any more weight on baptism than that just isn't correct or fair. It is a Celebration! If baptism is a MUST for salvation, then what do you do with Christ's command to share the Last Supper (Communion) as a Remembrance whenever we Christians meet? Very few churches celebrate Communion every Sunday. Why not?

I agree. I believe Jesus included His saving the thief on the cross to make sure we understand that the "regenerational baptism" myth is false, that HE, not baptism, does the saving.

But I fully agree that every new Christian SHOULD be baptized ASAP if at all possible.