What does baptism do?

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

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Depicts graphically what happened as a result of the Christian's union with Christ (Ro 6:3-4), which comes with faith.
Through faith we are united with Christ, just as through our natural birth we are united with Adam.
As we fell into sin and became subject to death in father Adam, baptism symbolizes our having been raised again with Christ into newness of life.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Paints a picture, you say? Nothing else?

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It corresponds to circumcision (Col 2:11-12).

What did circumcision do?

Xeno.of.athens said:

So, what does baptism do?

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Water Baptism is the Sacrament of New Birth in Christ without which we cannot be saved.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

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1 Peter 3:
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;
angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Baptism acknowledges our reconciliation with the Father by the gracious death of His Son;
and that we now have the opportunity to walk in newness of life.

Romans
5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,
that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him

Baptism, as an act of obedience to the Lord's instructions, acknowledges
our death and resurrection, and clear conscience in our justification by faith.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart,
from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Well, circumcision is not our topic; but, to answer your question - circumcision incorporated a male child into the covenant people Israel. It was both a sign of their covenant with God and a seal of God's faithfulness to them. In short, it did much in every way, as saint Paul remarked in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 3:1-8 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? (2) Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. (3) What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (4) By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, 'So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.' (5) But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) (6) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? (7) But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? (8) And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), 'Let us do evil so that good may come'? Their condemnation is deserved!​

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But our topic is baptism and even though circumcision has a relationship with baptism it is nevertheless not baptism.

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It seems to operate as circumcision operated in the OT.

New Christians may not tap into everything that is available to them to help them experience the transformation:

I do not know of any Christian group, who believe the water itself saves you, since all believe it is God who saves and God is not limited by water.

Water baptism is not a “requirement” for salvation, since God does the saving, but is something Christians get to do in order to help them and others.

I know that I needed everything God could provide to assure me of my conversion, both outwardly and mentally. God wants you to physically feel the experience of what is going on Spiritually.

You would like to add to your conversion a definite time place and physical experience, which God has provided for you.

Adult believers water immersion is to be a physical outward representation of what had or is happening spiritually in the person being baptized. It is mainly to help the individual being baptized to better grasp what is going on, but it can “witness” to others observing the baptism. It has the elements of going down under the water (burying the old man), placing your dependence in another; the person baptizing you (surrendering your life to God), being washed (having your sins washed away), rising out of the water (rising from the old dead body), and stepping forth out onto the earth (a new person). The person is walking out into the hugs of his new family. It is also a sign of your humility, since it is a humbling act anyone can simple allow someone to do to them (so not a work) and since humility has been shown in the accept of charity (God’s free gift of undeserving forgiveness) it should just support and add to the memory of that acceptance. To refuse Christian water baptism when it is readily available might mean you are not ready to handle other responsibility like having the indwelling Holy Spirit and you are hurting yourself.

Christian Baptism replaced John’s Baptism and not circumcision, since circumcision went on at the same time as John’s baptism and it is not in the Bible where, Jewish Christians cease circumcising their boy children after baptism became available. Circumcision was a physical visible daily reminder to all Jewish boys and men that they were a Jew. The indwelling Holy Spirit is our literal daily reminder that we are Christians. The indwelling Holy Spirit replaced circumcision and is for both men and women.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

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Excerpt from my Bible analysis in reply to @Kokavkrystallos : On Acts 2

In Acts 2:37-43, we find Peter's response to the crowd that had been convicted by his preaching of the Gospel during Pentecost. The crowd, which included both Jews and proselytes, heard Peter's message about Jesus, His resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This message led them to feel remorseful for their sins (cut to the heart) and ask, "What shall we do?"

Peter's answer was clear: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. This call to repentance is a crucial aspect of salvation, as it involves recognizing one's sinful nature and turning away from it towards God (Acts 3:19). Baptism is the outward expression of this inner transformation, symbolizing death to sin and new life in Christ.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

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It is through water baptism that we receive forgiveness of previous sins, see Acts 2:38.

There's "...the doctrine of baptisms,..." (Heb 6:2).

There's 3 main Biblical baptisms, immersions.

1 - By The Holy Spirit into Jesus reconcilng us to God (at salvation). By this iimmersion we are a new creature in Christ (ii Cor 5:17).
2- By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit and comes upon us (The Spirit baptism)
3 - By another believer. All 3 persons of the Godhead involved in this, the water baptism, as well.

More details:
1 - By The Holy Spirit into Jesus which reconciles us to God is the baptism at salvation. It's being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ by believing in His death, burial, and resurrection. We become new creatures in Christ. We will tell others of our salvation. (Rev 1:5; Matt 26:28; Mark 1:4-9, 16:16; Luk 3:3; 1 Cor 12:13; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27, II Cor 5:17-18, Rom 10:9).

Spirit and water baptism follows salvation - not in a set order though
2 - By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism) includes when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He endures us with power for service to Him, to be His witnesses, and to keep His Word. (Matt 3:11, 5:16; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 11:16; I Cor 12:13, Luk 24:49, Eph 5:18, Acts 4:31; I Joh

3 - By another believer (water baptism) Following Jesus' example - though His was not because of sin . "... fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," (Matt 3:6-16, 28:18-20; Acts 8:39, 10:47, 22:16; John 3:5).

What do baptism do?

Question: for those who believe in infant baptism and that Baptisim is the entrance to salvation.

If this is correct: is everyone who is baptized as an infant saved? And how does an infant repent?

This argument takes place a lot. But it's not like there's a bunch of Christians who were never baptized and refuse to do so. There are those who argue that it's not necessary for salvation, but most likely they were all baptized early on.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

Click to expand...

Which baptism? The baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or the water baptism performed by John the Baptist? He made it clear that there is a difference:

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Be blessed.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Matthew's gospel ends with what many people call the great commission which reads as follows:

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'​

So, what does baptism do? It seems to be associated with making disciples. And after baptism comes teaching, or so it seems.

Click to expand...

Baptism is an outward testimony that the person has already accepted Christ as Savior - of their own free will. It is saying publically "I have been born again".

Rom 6:1-5 it is claiming to have been buried with Christ in death and risen in the new life of Christ.
It is "An APPEAL to God for a clean conscience" according to Peter - in 1 Pet 1:21 where the person is making an "appeal to God" rather than the focus being on the powers of some sort of "sacramental waters", but that appeal is symbolized in the death burial and resurrection elements of full water baptism by immersion.

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Mark 16:16 "The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved;"

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.

So then it is testifying to the New BIRTH (where BIRTH is applicable to both male and female)

Xeno.of.athens said:

I think baptism may do more than circumcision ever did.

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See Ro 6:3-8.

Xeno.of.athens said:

The one that Jesus speaks of in the passage quoted in toe original post.

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Holy Spirit Baptism.