question about baptism

[BjBarnett]

Hello :wave:

My wife is Baptist and we were having a discussion about Baptism the other day. Well I always thought (and been told by a few of my baptist friends in the past) that Baptist pretty much didnt believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation and that it washes away original sin. My wife believes it does both! and that shocked me lol. So now im wondering if this is a common bapist belief. Thanks in advanced :)

[edb19]

from the London Baptist Confession:

29. Baptism



Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be to the person who is baptised - a sign of his fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into Christ; of remission of sins; and of that person's giving up of himself to God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
Those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects for this ordinance.
The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, in which the person is to be baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Immersion - the dipping of the person in water - is necessary for the due administration of this ordinance.

From my church's (Providence Reformed Baptist Church) website:

Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, gave two sacraments (visible manifestations of the new covenant). One is baptism, the symbolic participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Baptist, we recognize the importance of believer baptism and practice baptism by immersion. Baptism is a once and for all rite of initiation into the body of Christ, a sacrament, a ceremonial washing. It signifies inward cleansing and remission of sins, regeneration by the Holy Spirit and adoption into the family of God. It is a sign by which God seals His pledge to the elect that they are included in the covenant of grace. (Acts 22:16, I Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:5)

Baptism is extremely important - we are instructed by God to practice baptism, however it (water baptism) isn't necessary for salvation. Take for example the thief on the cross - he wasn't baptized but we know from Christ's words that he was saved.

[arunma]

This, I admit, is a bit of an unexpected response. I'm surprised that a Baptist would connect baptism with the remission of original sin. Baptism is practically the only doctrine on which all Baptists agree, and we all agree that it is not for the remission of original sin. That said, I don't want to devalue baptism in any way. I believe it is a highly important ordinance that all Christians must (must, not should) receive. We only do not believe that it is necessary for salvation.

[BjBarnett]

hey guys thank you so much for your responses. You have been greatly helpful. The responses you gave are in line with what Ive been taught by my grandmother (very devout Baptist) and what ive heard when I have attended Baptist churches. I was really caught off guard by my wifes views because of that. Apparently this is taught or atleast in implied at the church she has attended most of her life. While ive been there before I have never actually heard those beliefs taught. But again I thank you!

Anyone else that would like to add some input I would greatly appreciate your responses as well :)

God Bless you have been very helpful

[DeaconDean]

The doctrine on how to be saved is sumed up perfectly in what we refer to as "The Roman Road."

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." -Rom. 10:9-10

Look at verse 10 closely friend, Paul says that:

"...with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

There it is, we must confess Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God, crucified for our sins, risen from the dead by the power of God, lives now with the Father. Confession is made by the mouth unto salvation. Not baptism. Baptism cannot save. Baptism is our "public confession" of our faith and life and commitment in and to Him, and as Paul puts it:

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." -Rom. 6:4

Our Baptism is symbolic of our death with the Savior, in that we die to our old sinful life, and as God raised Him from the dead, we are risen from the dead life we used to live in to a new life in Him. Paul said "newness of life."

Baptism in and of itself, cannot save. Only Jesus can save.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -Acts 4:12

Jesus set the example we are to follow. Jesus went to be baptized by John the Baptist. Notice this closely:

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." -Matt. 3:13-15

If baptism could wash away "original sin" why in the world would Jesus need to be baptized? John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was without sin and said:

"I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" (v. 14)

Jesus was baptized to set the pattern for us to follow. If a person is able to, they should be Baptized. I realize that in certain circumstances this might not be possible, i.e. a person on their death bed, sprinkling would be good substitute in this type of situation. But because He was baptized, we should also.

But hey, that is how I see it. That's my two cents worth.

[Sweet Pea]

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c63/ThenThereWasRED/th_Baptism001.gif

Believer's Baptism is the first ordiance God commands of christians to follow, after they have personally made Jesus their Savior and Lord.
Baptism shows what happens when a person become a christian. We die to self and become a new person in Christ. :)We were therefore buried with Him [Christ] through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6.4; Colossians 2,12) Full immersion symbolizes burial with Christ and rising with Him to a new life.
Some misread scriptures and think that a person must be baptize for repentance. John preached baptism for repentance of sins but that was before Jesus died on the cross for our sins. After Jesus died his blood was what cleanse our sins and a person accepting what Christ done for them and repented of their sins. Baptism shows what happens when Christ makes us a new person inside. :)

[Sword-In-Hand]

Great posts by everyone. Like Arunma said, baptism is very important. It's God's first ordinance to believers. It's an outward show of one's acception of Jesus Christ as Savior. In other words, it let's the world know, "I'm saved!" So it is very important, but the water itself has no saving value.

1st Timothy 2:5 (ESV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Jesus is the only Mediator to God. If water was part of salvation that would make either the water or the pastor part mediator and we can see through this scripture that's not possible at all. One God, one Mediator.

Hope this helps.

[BjBarnett]

thank you everyone for your responses. I really appreciate them and they have been really helpful. Thanks :)

[Robinsegg]

Baptism is the first act of obedience after salvation. It is not salvific, but is the public declaration of salvation. If a person is unable to be baptized after salvation, that fact does not effect that person's salvation.

But, before you can obey anything else God tells you to do (and, in fact, there is debate whether God will call you to do anything else before you submit to baptism), you must be baptised (or at least willing to be so).

Rachel

[BjBarnett]

Baptism is the first act of obedience after salvation. It is not salvific, but is the public declaration of salvation. If a person is unable to be baptized after salvation, that fact does not effect that person's salvation.

But, before you can obey anything else God tells you to do (and, in fact, there is debate whether God will call you to do anything else before you submit to baptism), you must be baptised (or at least willing to be so).

Rachel

thats really interesting. So for example in theory you might not be called to be a preacher if you do not get baptised?

[Robinsegg]

In theory, yes. If you won't be obedient in that issue (part of the Great Commission is to baptise), why would He ask you to do anything else (including preach) before you do so?

Rachel

[missygirlc]

God Tells us that Baptism is the first act of obedience once you become a christian. You can be saved without baptism. But, once you are saved, your baptism indicates that you are identifying yourself with the Body of Christ and that you are obeying God as your first major act as a Christian. Many people get saved and leave out baptism, but that is an important step and many have lived lives that were not the way that God had planned because they were rebelling in their hearts and not getting baptized. Baptism isn't necessary for salvation, but it is necessary for a full Christian walk.

[sportsfreak4]

God Tells us that Baptism is the first act of obedience once you become a christian. You can be saved without baptism. But, once you are saved, your baptism indicates that you are identifying yourself with the Body of Christ and that you are obeying God as your first major act as a Christian. Many people get saved and leave out baptism, but that is an important step and many have lived lives that were not the way that God had planned because they were rebelling in their hearts and not getting baptized. Baptism isn't necessary for salvation, but it is necessary for a full Christian walk.
what about some verses that say be baptized and you will be saved..acts 2:38 mark 16:16