What do MJ's believe about baptism?

[theseed]

Matthew 28 (NASB)
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "(18 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_18)) All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "(19 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_19)) Go therefore and (20 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_20)) make disciples of (21 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_21)) all the nations, (22 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_22)) baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, (23 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_23)) I am with you always, even to (24 (http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matt.+28&NASB_version=yes&language=english&x=14&y=10#crossref_162812305_24)) the end of the age."

Yeshua commanded all his disciples to make new discples and baptize them. Do you agree with this? What do you believe about baptism?

As a Baptist (Christian) I only believers in Christ should be baptized, and that it should be done by immersion. There is no forgiveness of sin tied in with the baptism, nor it is necessary to recieve the Holy Spirit. :preach:

[visionary]

Sounds good to me.

[Shimshon]

There is no forgiveness of sin tied in with the baptism, nor it is necessary to recieve the Holy Spirit. :preach:
That would be correct from a physical stand point. The token observance of being immersed in water (mikvah) was a symbol of an inward conviction. But not a means to actual salvation or perfection.

It was observed in every day jewish life. Comon people would enter the mikvah for the purpose of attaining ritual purity. It was used in repentance to remove the impurity of sin. (the pool that Yeshua sent the blind man was a mikvah (yochanan 9:7) as well as the sick man who could not enter the mikvah (yochanan 5:7) It is also used in connection with conversion. And it is the ritual act that divides two periods of time - the period of separation when marital relations are forbidden, because the wife is in the state of "niddah," and the period of union when such relations are not only permissible but regarded as essential to a healthy marriage.

Having said all this. We should remember that the immersion symbolized the filling or immersing of our bodies, our souls with the Ruach HaKodesh. This was the spiritual meaning or intent of this mitzvah. The talmidim were supposed to make other talmidim from all the nations, immersing them in the Ruach as they themselves have been, which gives them/us the Spirit of Truth which teaches us to observe all He commanded, and because of this he is within us now and forever.

Immersion by water = shadow
Immersion by Ruach = object