Can you be a Christian without Christian baptism?

SkyWriting · Aug 4, 2018

FatalHeart said:
There's confusion as to why Jesus had to be baptized. A priest cannot be priest without a calling. At least, in Jesus' case, he had to be called as Aaron was. Now, until then, regardless of a sinless life, his position relied on the choice/grace/power of God, not himself. Remember, Jesus must submit his whole life to God to be perfect, and that means when it comes down to it, Jesus isn't righteous until he is declared to be by God. So, being a man, being in the form of a man, living a man's life, the Son of God had justification to be baptized for repentance because until God called him, he was not going to be the Savior of Israel; he cannot take that title upon himself. Jesus was, of course, still sinless and still God's Son, born of a virgin. But that's why he tells John, "It is right for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." And what happens when he humbles himself completely, repenting of himself though he had done no wrong, acknowledging God's election? The dove comes down and out of heaven the Father declares, "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased"; the ministry begins.

We've ever seen this dove thing happening?

Chinchilla · Aug 4, 2018

Protestantismvsthebible said:
Bible please!

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

SkyWriting · Aug 4, 2018

bcbsr said:
Understand that the word "Christian" is only used three times in the Bible,

1 Peter 4:16
Acts 26:28
1 Corinthians 7:14
1 Corinthians 9:5
1 Corinthians 7:18
1 John 4:20
Philippians 2:29
1 Peter 3:16
1 Corinthians 7:39
1 Corinthians 7:22
1 Corinthians 7:12
1 Timothy 6:1
1 John 4:21

bcbsr · Aug 4, 2018

SkyWriting said:
1 Peter 4:16
Acts 26:28
1 Corinthians 7:14
1 Corinthians 9:5
1 Corinthians 7:18
1 John 4:20
Philippians 2:29
1 Peter 3:16
1 Corinthians 7:39
1 Corinthians 7:22
1 Corinthians 7:12
1 Timothy 6:1
1 John 4:21

Of those the word "Christian" is only used in:

Ac 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Ac 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

So, as I said, only three times.

XRho · Aug 4, 2018

BNR32FAN said:
In the scriptures repentance is typically done before baptism. This is why many other denominations require the person to be at an age where they can understand what repentance is before they are baptized.

I agree. But the Scriptures record a time when 99 if not 100 percent of converts were new adult believers.

BNR32FAN · Aug 4, 2018

XRho said:
I agree. But the Scriptures record a time when 99 if not 100 percent of converts were new adult believers.

One thing I will say is you really do appreciate baptism more as an adult that a child. I was 5 when I was first baptized and I really didn’t know what it was all about. I didn’t experience any life change at all. However I was baptized again at the age of 39 because I had just come to know Christ. It was a truly wonderful uplifting life changing experience the second time. Personally I want my children to experience that feeling.

XRho · Aug 4, 2018

BN, that’s great. I have heard many people speak of that some from my own family. I’m glad you were able to gain something from that. My personal belief is that the sacrament does its job regardless of the ability of the recipient to comprehend what is happening. Thanks for sharing. It is helpful to hear from my Christian brothers and their experiences as much as as possible.

Archivist · Aug 4, 2018

XRho said:
I agree. But the Scriptures record a time when 99 if not 100 percent of converts were new adult believers.

But Scriiture does tell us that entire families were baptized, which would most certainly include children.

Jenniferdiana · Aug 4, 2018

i dont know but something about baptism feels sacred...

XRho · Aug 4, 2018

Jenniferdiana said:
i dont know but something about baptism feels sacred...

I would say because it most certainly is.

XRho · Aug 4, 2018

Amen brother. I agree 100 percent

Saint Steven · Aug 4, 2018

JackRT said:
To my way of thinking baptism is a public ritual celebrating something that has already happened.

Right. A ceremony, like baptism, should be an outward sign of an inward reality.
Could this ever be true for a baptized infant? Where is the inward reality?

Saint Steven · Aug 4, 2018

SkyWriting said:
1 Peter 4:16
Acts 26:28
1 Corinthians 7:14
1 Corinthians 9:5
1 Corinthians 7:18
1 John 4:20
Philippians 2:29
1 Peter 3:16
1 Corinthians 7:39
1 Corinthians 7:22
1 Corinthians 7:12
1 Timothy 6:1
1 John 4:21

In which translation do all these scriptures contain the word "Christian"? (not NIV)

Saint Steven · Aug 4, 2018

oldrunner said:
A lot of good replies here! I like what Oldmantook wrote as probably a fav.

Remember, Jesus showed us the example that we should follow in being baptized. (Mat 3:13-17) God the Father was well pleased in His Son for doing so. This was the beginning of His public ministry and a sign to John that He was the Messiah.

In a similar way, it is beginning of our public testimony that should turn into some kind of ministry-even if only to few people over our life time, and that shows the world we are followers of the Messiah, and have passed from death unto everlasting life by the work of the Holy Spirit- when we trusted in Jesus as our Savior. (Titus 3:4-7)

I believe the Father is well pleased with us as we follow Jesus and get baptized. I know it was a blessing to me when I got baptized after I trusted in Jesus when I was 28! Even hugged the Pastor in the baptistry.

I've back slid several times since then, and never felt right until I repented and turned back to God, but I always knew I was one of the family- because the Holy Spirit never left me and testified to my spirit I was still a child of God. (Romans 8)

But the question is:
Can you be a Christian without Christian baptism?

If someone receives Christ and waits for the next baptismal service three months later, were they not saved until they were baptized? Or were they saved when they received Christ?

BNR32FAN · Aug 4, 2018

XRho said:
BN, that’s great. I have heard many people speak of that some from my own family. I’m glad you were able to gain something from that. My personal belief is that the sacrament does its job regardless of the ability of the recipient to comprehend what is happening. Thanks for sharing. It is helpful to hear from my Christian brothers and their experiences as much as as possible.

God bless you my friend and thank you for your kind words.

SkyWriting · Aug 4, 2018

XRho said:
I agree. But the Scriptures record a time when 99 if not 100 percent of converts were new adult believers.

I wonder where your getting your statistics from.

SkyWriting · Aug 5, 2018

Protestantismvsthebible said:
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!

Not according to scripture:

19For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world
God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship,
so that men are without excuse.

oldrunner · Aug 5, 2018

Saint Steven said:
But the question is:
Can you be a Christian without Christian baptism?

If someone receives Christ and waits for the next baptismal service three months later, were they not saved until they were baptized? Or were they saved when they received Christ?

I think if you do a word study on "believe" , you will find that belief or trust in Christ is what saves us.

Simple that a child can understand. Baptism comes next.
(Jhn. 3:18)

JESUS=G.O.A.T · Aug 5, 2018

Protestantismvsthebible said:
Bible please!

Of course not
Acts 2:38-39 King James Version (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call

Small Fish · Aug 5, 2018

I believe you mean real Holy Ghost filled true Christians. The answer is maybe

In the years past there were those who didn't know better but God overlooked their ignorance and gave them the Holy Ghost anyway.

But...

If you have the Holy Ghost and the Truth of God comes your way you will definitely obey. If you don't I'll say you don't have what you think you have.

Acts 19 is the perfect example of believers who were in ignorance till this point and time.

Acts 19:1

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Can you be a Christian without Christian baptism?

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