Baptism

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

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Baptism is utterly necessary for salvation, but there are many forms of it. If a person becomes a Christian and dies before receiving water baptism their desire counts as a "baptism of desire" historically.

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

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No. The sacraments are efficacious although they also employ physical elements in order better to convey the meaning to us. In the case of baptism, sins are forgiven (or we are assured of them having being forgiven), the recipient becomes a recognized member of Christ's church, and Grace for spiritual growth is received.

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

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In that case--a rather rare one but there are real examples of it happening--the belief of most churches is that the acceptance of Christ and the repentance which accompanies that experience is sufficient for salvation. As you said, baptism itself does not save.

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

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scripture repeatedly tells us to Baptize and scripture tells us that water Baptism is necessary for salvation.

If a person desires to be Baptized but dies before it is done, They recieve the grace of baptism.

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

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Through baptism we receive forgiveness for previous sins.

By the way, Jesus did not command "people to make disciples of others". He commanded his apostles to make disciples of others. When just everyone gets involved in they start making up their own rules. Like telling people they don't need to be baptized.

Baptism makes one christian and the sacrifice of Jesus have power for him. Which is the sacrifice for the sins he did in the past, for future sins there is no sacrifice and every sinner will not enter heaven like is written: 1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

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Well the Bible puts it this way a person believes in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life.

There were a few reasons believers were baptized in The Bible but none were a condition attached to belief to receive Eternal Life.

The believer had already received God's free gift of Eternal Life, when they were baptised. Baptism is/was a discipleship area of the believers life.

There's "...the doctrine of baptisms,..." (Heb 6:2). There's 3 baptisms - prepositions help -

1 - By The Holy Spirit into Jesus which reconciles us to God is the baptism for salvation. Baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ by believing in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(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;18).)

Water and Spirit baptism follows salvation - not in a set order though
2 - By another believer (water baptism) "... fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," All 3 persons of the Godhead endorsed it (Matt 3:13-16). (Matt 3:6,11 ; 28:18-20; Acts 8:39, 10:47, 22:16; John 3:5).

3 - 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 and to keep His Word. (Matt 3:11; 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 John 3:24; Eze 36:25-28; John 14:25-27).

They're different yet
"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." I John 5:7-8

My Baptism. As a trinitarian, they baptized me as a believer in the name of Jesus Christ by immersion in water. Jesus Christ is the name of the trinity (God) according to Acts in how the Apostles baptized. They were never baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And if you look back on the Old Testament using the New, Jesus Christ is God's name in the Old Testament according to the New. Some examples found in older manuscripts support this.

“Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” Jude 5 (ESV)

“as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.” Titus 2:13–14 (NET)

“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:” 2 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

“and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

My baptism identifies me as a believer in his death, burial, and resurrection but is not a means of salvation.

Dave L said:

My Baptism. As a trinitarian, they baptized me as a believer in the name of Jesus Christ by immersion in water. Jesus Christ is the name of the trinity (God) according to Acts in how the Apostles baptized. They were never baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Albion said:

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

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And how did the Apostles do this?

Dave L said:

And how did the Apostles do this?

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What do you mean?

RJ Howard said:

I know that in the Scriptures Christ commands people to make disciples of others and baptize them in His name, but baptism itself doesn't save a person. In Acts 2:38, Peter says to "repent and be baptized" isn't baptism just a sign that a person has been born again?

Suppose a person accepts christ and dies before they get a chance to be baptized.

Click to expand...

Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. If you are not baptized, then you are not fully cleansed and you are not ready to enter into heaven.
Mark 1:4 says John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins
Mark 16:16 Jesus Christ said "He that believes AND is baptized shall be saved:but he that believes not shall be damned.
Jesus Christ was also baptised
May God Bless You

RJ Howard said:

But remember that the thief on the cross wasn't baptized and he went to heaven

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...which, however, has no application to the lives and destiny of the millions of people of more recent times.

That was a very unique situation in which Christ personally honored a dying man's petition. If none of us can replicate that event in our own lives...there's baptism.

Albion said:

What do you mean?

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Baptism in Jesus’ name

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19 (KJV 1900)

“(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” Acts 8:16 (KJV 1900)

“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 10:48 (KJV 1900)

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5 (KJV 1900)

“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.” Acts 2:38 (KJV 1900)

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3 (KJV 1900)

Dave L said:

Baptism in Jesus’ name

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19

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That pretty much tells us the correct baptismal formula, and there is no reason to think that the Apostles who heard their Lord say it right to their faces would disregard it.

“(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” Acts 8:16 (KJV 1900)

“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 10:48 (KJV 1900)

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5 (KJV 1900)

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These appear to refer to the general idea, not to specific wording.

But in any case, when "in the name of" is said, that does not refer to a given name like Dave or Al, but to the authority of someone. For instance, we still understand that "Stop in the name of the law!" means to stop in accordance with the demands of the law. It doesn't mean that the name of someone called "Law" is being shouted out.

Albion said:

That pretty much tells us the correct baptismal formula, and there is no reason to think that the Apostles who heard their Lord say it right to their faces would disregard it.


These appear to refer to the general idea, not to specific wording.

But in any case, when "in the name of" is said, that does not refer to a given name like Dave or Al, but to the authority of someone. For instance, we do the same thing when we understand that "Stop in the name of the law!" would mean to stop in accordance with the demands of the law, not that shouting "law, law" refers to someone's given name.

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How serious is it to claim superior knowledge over the Apostles? Why not throw out ALL of their interpretations?

Where does anyone baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Not once.

Dave L said:

How serious is it to claim superior knowledge over the Apostles?

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I am not reluctant to say that the Bible does indeed have superior authority...and that's where we get "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

Albion said:

I am not reluctant to say that the Bible does indeed have superior authority...and that's where we get "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

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But the Apostles are the Bible and you reject it with zero evidence they ever baptized your way.