Buried with Him In Baptism, Raised with Him through Faith-- Symbolic? Reality?

tall73 · Jul 16, 2026

Romans 6:1-14

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (NKJV)

Colossians 2:9-13

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (NKJV)

Ephesians 2:1-10

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)

2 Timothy 2:11-13

11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

12 If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him,

He also will deny us.

13 If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He cannot deny Himself. (NKJV)

1 Peter 3:18-22

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (NKJV)

Romans 7:4-6

4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (NKJV)

Colossians 2:20 - 3:11

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (NKJV)

Baptism is participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Is this symbolic? Or reality?

tall73 · Jul 16, 2026

Below are a few statements regarding Baptism:

Article 1 The Sacrament Of Baptism

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."5

1227 According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.29 Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the Christian Church the practice of baptism takes on a new and particular significance. It no longer remains merely a sign of moral change and spiritual rebirth. It becomes very specifically the act of a person’s death and resurrection in and with Jesus. Christian baptism is man’s participation in the event of Easter. It is a “new birth by water and the Holy Spirit” into the Kingdom of God (Jn 3.5). The Orthodox Faith - Volume II - Worship - The Sacraments - Baptism

By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38; 16:30-33; 22:16; Rom. 6:1-6; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12, 13.) Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs, Baptism

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. Southern Baptist, Baptist Faith and Message

Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Statement of Fundamental Truths | Assemblies of God (USA)

QUESTION: Can you please clarify the Lutheran view of Baptism and its purpose? Does the child become a Christian when baptized?

ANSWER: Lutherans believe that the Bible teaches that a person is saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The Bible tells us that such “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). Jesus Himself commands Baptism and tells us that Baptism is water used together with the Word of God (Matt. 28:19-20).

Because of this, we believe that Baptism is one of the miraculous means of grace (another is God’s Word as it is written or spoken), through which God creates and/or strengthens the gift of faith in a person’s heart (see Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Cor. 12.13).

Terms the Bible uses to talk about the beginning of faith include “conversion” and “regeneration.” Although we do not claim to understand fully how this happens, we believe that when an infant is baptized God creates faith in the heart of that infant.

We believe this because the Bible says that infants can believe (Matt. 18:6) and that new birth (regeneration) happens in Baptism (John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5-6). The infant’s faith cannot yet, of course, be verbally expressed or articulated by the child, yet it is real and present all the same (see e.g., Acts 2:38-39; Luke 1:15; 2 Tim. 3:15).

The faith of the infant, like the faith of adults, also needs to be fed and nurtured by God’s Word (Matt. 28:18-20), or it will die.

Lutherans do not believe that only those baptized as infants receive faith. Faith can also be created in a person's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit working through God's (written or spoken) Word.

Baptism should then soon follow conversion (cf. Acts 8:26-40) for the purpose of confirming and strengthening faith in accordance with God's command and promise. Depending on the situation, therefore, Lutherans baptize people of all ages from infancy to adulthood.

The LCMS does not believe that Baptism is ABSOLUTELY necessary for salvation. All true believers in the Old Testament era were saved without baptism. Mark 16:16 implies that it is not the absence of Baptism that condemns a person but the absence of faith, and there are clearly other ways of coming to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit (reading or hearing the Word of God).

Still, Baptism dare not be despised or willfully neglected, since it is explicitly commanded by God and has His precious promises attached to it. It is not a mere “ritual” or “symbol,” but a powerful means of grace by which God grants faith and the forgiveness of sins. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod-FAQs about Doctrine

tall73 · Jul 16, 2026

If any of the above statements are not the best representation for a group, let me know and I can update it.

And if others want to post statements from their own church, you may.

Then we can all compare understanding.

The Liturgist · Jul 16, 2026

tall73 said:
If any of the above statements are not the best representation for a group, let me know and I can update it.

And if others want to post statements from their own church, you may.

Then we can all compare understanding.

Thank you for posting this thread my friend!

Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky, another Eastern Orthodox book which I’m more familiar with than The Orthodox Faith, says this about Baptism:

THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF BAPTISM

The Establishment of the Mystery of Baptism

In the first place in the series of Mysteries of the Holy Church stands the Mystery of Baptism. It serves as the door leading into the Kingdom of Grace, or the Church, and it grants access to participation in the other Mysteries. Even before the establishment of the Mystery of Baptism, the Lord Jesus Christ in His conversation with Nicodemus indicated the absolute necessity of it for salvation: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. When Nicodemus expressed his perplexity, How can a man be born when he is old? the Saviour replied that the new birth would be accomplished by water and the Spirit: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:3–6).

The establishment of this Grace-giving Mystery occurred after the Resurrection of Christ. Having appeared to His disciples, the Lord said to them that He had received from His Father all authority in heaven and on earth, and He continued: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:19–20). And to this He added: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). On the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, when after the speech of the Apostle Peter his listeners asked what they should do, the Apostle Peter said to 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 Spirit (Acts 2:37–38). In the same book of Acts are recorded several instances of Baptism performed
“In the same book of Acts are recorded several instances of Baptism performed by the Apostles. Thus, the Apostle Peter baptized Cornelius (chap. 10), the Apostle Paul baptized Lydia and those of her household (chap. 16), as well as the guard of the prison with his whole household (chap. 16).

The Meaning of the Mystery

The mystical, Grace-given aspect of Baptism is indicated in the above-cited passages of Sacred Scripture; Baptism is a “new birth,” and it is performed for the salvation of men (Mark 16:16).7”
“Moreover, setting forth the Grace-given significance of Baptism, the Apostles in their Epistles indicate that in it we are “sanctified,” “cleansed,” “justified”; that in Baptism we “die to sin” so as to walk in renewed life; we are “buried with Christ,” and we arise with Him. Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (that is, Baptism with the utterance of the words instituted to accompany it; Eph. 5:25–26). Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:11). 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). Baptism is called the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). As for the subjective side — the state of soul of the person being baptized — it is indicated by the Apostle Peter, who calls Baptism the promise of a good conscience toward God (I Peter 3:21). Through Baptism at the same time one is joined to the Church.

The Means of the Performance of the Mystery

The comparison of Baptism with a washing by water, with the grave, and other such things indicates that this Mystery is to be performed through immersion. The Greek word baptizo itself signifies “to immerse.” Concerning the Baptism of the eunuch by Philip we read in the book of Acts: They went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip (Acts 8:38). As an exception, the Church acknowledges the Christian martyrdom of the “unbaptized as a “Baptism of blood.” Baptism by sprinkling the Church acknowledges but does not approve, as being not canonical.

The immersion in water is done three times with the pronunciation of the words: “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” in accordance with the commandment given by Christ Himself (Matt. 28:19). Thus was it performed in the ancient Church. The Epistle of the Apostle Barnabas already mentions this, and Tertullian directly indicates that “the manner of Baptism is prescribed,” indicating the words of the Saviour concerning Baptism; Tertullian also testifies to the triple immersion and likewise indicates one particularity: that the one being baptized is asked to renounce Satan and his angels, and then to confess the Faith.

The Liturgist · Jul 16, 2026

From the Syriac Orthodox Shorter Catechism (Oriental Orthodox):

Chapter Six: On Baptism

1 . What is Baptism?
Baptism is the mystery of the Second Birth by water and the Holy Spirit, for the cleansing of sins, for endowment with the life of grace and for adoption as God’s children for everlasting

2. How does one prepare oneself to receive Baptism?
By repentance and faith.

3. How is Baptism given?
In Baptism, the believer is plunged in (natural) water three times and is christened in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the appropriate prayer being sail also.

4. What does the believer promise at his Baptism?
He denounces Satan, his allurements, his deeds and followers, and declares his belief in the Lord Christ and His diving teachings, and in His Father and in the Holy Spirit.

5. Recite these promises:
“I denounce Satan and all his deeds, his services, his worship, his vain pomp, his earthly deceitfulness, and all his followers and adherents.”
“I commit myself to You, Christ our god, trusting all the doctrines, which You divinely entrusted to the prophets, the apostles and the holy fathers, I confess, believe and am baptized in Your Name, that of Your Father, and Your Living Holy spirit.”

6. Why does the believer at his Baptism acquire a godparent?
This is so that the latter may make the promises required at Holy Baptism in the believer’s name. From that time on, the godparent is required to instruct the believer in the duties of his faith and in the practices of Christianity.

7. When is the Sacrament of Baptism received?
The Sacrament of Baptism is taken in infancy, least the child should die and be deprived of the kingdom.

The Liturgist · Jul 16, 2026

tall73 said:
Baptism is participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Is this symbolic? Or reality?

I believe it is a real participation - like the Eucharist, and like the Eucharist, it also places us in with Christ in the event by which the Holy Mystery, the life-giving Sacrament, was ordained: just as in the Eucharist we are present at the Last Supper in communion with Christ our God, the Holy Apostles and all faithful Christians, in Baptism we are with Christ in the Jordan.

Maria Billingsley · Jul 17, 2026

tall73 said:
Romans 6:1-14
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (NKJV)

Colossians 2:9-13
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (NKJV)

Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)

2 Timothy 2:11-13
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself. (NKJV)

1 Peter 3:18-22
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (NKJV)

Romans 7:4-6
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (NKJV)

Colossians 2:20 - 3:11
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (NKJV)

Baptism is participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Is this symbolic? Or reality?

If I may....all scripture above is speaking of the Holy Spirit Baptism not a water baptism. That being said, Paul was addressing a form of free Grace abuse. Those who sinned consciously while maintaining the belief they would be automatically forgiven with no repentance. In other words, they were repentance deniers. As in usual fashion, Paul condemns this by using hyperbolic and symbolic language. He solidified the fact that those who have been given this grace received the " new man" (regeneration) through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We are "partakers of the divine nature " of Jesus Christ of Nazareth therefore, partakers because we have Him dwelling in us through His Holy Spirit.

Be blessed.

Sophia7 · Jul 17, 2026

A statement from American Baptist Churches USA (10 Facts About American Baptists - American Baptist Churches USA):
_____________
3. American Baptists partake of two ordinances: believers's baptism and The Lord's Supper.
Baptism, an act of full immersion following Christ’s example, is undertaken by those spiritually mature enough to understand its profound, symbolic significance: resurrection to new life in Christ. Through The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, the bread and cup that symbolize the broken body and shed blood offered by Christ recall God’s great love for us—just as they did for the disciples on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion.
_____________

Note: Local Baptist churches may use different statements. Since Baptist churches are generally congregational, they may adopt their own belief statements, and individual members within those congregations may have differing beliefs.

We currently attend an American Baptist church. However, I personally no longer view baptism and communion as merely symbolic.

Sophia7 · Jul 17, 2026

tall73 said:
Terms the Bible uses to talk about the beginning of faith include “conversion” and “regeneration.” Although we do not claim to understand fully how this happens, we believe that when an infant is baptized God creates faith in the heart of that infant.
We believe this because the Bible says that infants can believe (Matt. 18:6) and that new birth (regeneration) happens in Baptism (John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5-6). The infant’s faith cannot yet, of course, be verbally expressed or articulated by the child, yet it is real and present all the same (see e.g., Acts 2:38-39; Luke 1:15; 2 Tim. 3:15).
The faith of the infant, like the faith of adults, also needs to be fed and nurtured by God’s Word (Matt. 28:18-20), or it will die.

As I said, I currently attend a Baptist church. However, on several points I don't really consider myself a Baptist. The above quote regarding the Lutheran view of baptism resonates with me because I feel that it describes my own experience. I was baptized as a baby in my dad's Lutheran church. He later became a Seventh-day Adventist, and I was raised primarily in the Adventist Church (and baptized by immersion at age 10), while occasionally visiting my dad's old Lutheran church.

Almost 20 years ago, my husband and I left the Adventist Church. I have since come to view my baptism as an infant as valid, primarily for the reasons cited in the above quote. I believe God used that baptism to create faith in my heart, as that statement says, and I have felt His presence in my life for as long as I can remember, even when I was too young to understand this.

Sophia7 · Jul 17, 2026

The Liturgist said:
Thank you for posting this thread my friend!

Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky, another Eastern Orthodox book which I’m more familiar with than The Orthodox Faith, says this about Baptism:

THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF BAPTISM

The Establishment of the Mystery of Baptism

In the first place in the series of Mysteries of the Holy Church stands the Mystery of Baptism. It serves as the door leading into the Kingdom of Grace, or the Church, and it grants access to participation in the other Mysteries. Even before the establishment of the Mystery of Baptism, the Lord Jesus Christ in His conversation with Nicodemus indicated the absolute necessity of it for salvation: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. When Nicodemus expressed his perplexity, How can a man be born when he is old? the Saviour replied that the new birth would be accomplished by water and the Spirit: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:3–6).

The establishment of this Grace-giving Mystery occurred after the Resurrection of Christ. Having appeared to His disciples, the Lord said to them that He had received from His Father all authority in heaven and on earth, and He continued: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:19–20). And to this He added: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). On the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, when after the speech of the Apostle Peter his listeners asked what they should do, the Apostle Peter said to 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 Spirit (Acts 2:37–38). In the same book of Acts are recorded several instances of Baptism performed
“In the same book of Acts are recorded several instances of Baptism performed by the Apostles. Thus, the Apostle Peter baptized Cornelius (chap. 10), the Apostle Paul baptized Lydia and those of her household (chap. 16), as well as the guard of the prison with his whole household (chap. 16).

The Meaning of the Mystery

The mystical, Grace-given aspect of Baptism is indicated in the above-cited passages of Sacred Scripture; Baptism is a “new birth,” and it is performed for the salvation of men (Mark 16:16).7”
“Moreover, setting forth the Grace-given significance of Baptism, the Apostles in their Epistles indicate that in it we are “sanctified,” “cleansed,” “justified”; that in Baptism we “die to sin” so as to walk in renewed life; we are “buried with Christ,” and we arise with Him. Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (that is, Baptism with the utterance of the words instituted to accompany it; Eph. 5:25–26). Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:11). 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). Baptism is called the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). As for the subjective side — the state of soul of the person being baptized — it is indicated by the Apostle Peter, who calls Baptism the promise of a good conscience toward God (I Peter 3:21). Through Baptism at the same time one is joined to the Church.

The Means of the Performance of the Mystery

The comparison of Baptism with a washing by water, with the grave, and other such things indicates that this Mystery is to be performed through immersion. The Greek word baptizo itself signifies “to immerse.” Concerning the Baptism of the eunuch by Philip we read in the book of Acts: They went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip (Acts 8:38). As an exception, the Church acknowledges the Christian martyrdom of the “unbaptized as a “Baptism of blood.” Baptism by sprinkling the Church acknowledges but does not approve, as being not canonical.

The immersion in water is done three times with the pronunciation of the words: “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” in accordance with the commandment given by Christ Himself (Matt. 28:19). Thus was it performed in the ancient Church. The Epistle of the Apostle Barnabas already mentions this, and Tertullian directly indicates that “the manner of Baptism is prescribed,” indicating the words of the Saviour concerning Baptism; Tertullian also testifies to the triple immersion and likewise indicates one particularity: that the one being baptized is asked to renounce Satan and his angels, and then to confess the Faith.

Thank you for sharing this. I hadn't realized that the Orthodox Church practices baptism by immersion.

The Liturgist · Jul 19, 2026

Sophia7 said:
Thank you for sharing this. I hadn't realized that the Orthodox Church practices baptism by immersion.

Three of them, specifically, that said those who were baptized by other techniques (for example I was baptized by aspersion like most infants baptized in Western churches) can be received by chrismation (some people liken this to confirmation).

Carl Emerson · Jul 19, 2026

A couple of comments on this topic.

It is interesting that other faiths, when considering what is authentic Christianity, consider water Baptism the pivotal issue that identifies this.

Doctors from 'Christian' countries wanting to work in Saudi Arabia are required to be baptised. Many with no history of church attendance applied to the local Anglican Church for baptism for this reason.

In Buddhist countries like Malaysia, Christian converts are often expelled from families at the point of Baptism, not conversion.

Back in the Day, Floyd Mc Clung the well known evangelist who set up safe houses for new converts on the 'drug trail' between Amsterdam and Kabul noticed that spiritual opposition was much more intense leading up to baptism than conversion.

The renunciation aspect of Baptism is what is dreaded by the demonic, and is a most critical step in the life of a believer.

Renunciation (or denunciation) is mentioned only once in the NT and in Greek literally means 'to speak against'. This is more than turning away from sin and repenting, but is a declaration against the spiritual powers that love to fuel sinful action.

Like many aspects of the Christian life, we participate in obedience, not seeing or knowing the impact of our actions on the opposing Spiritual Realm.

tall73 · Saturday at 10:35 AM

Carl Emerson said:
A couple of comments on this topic.

It is interesting that other faiths, when considering what is authentic Christianity, consider water Baptism the pivotal issue that identifies this.

Doctors from 'Christian' countries wanting to work in Saudi Arabia are required to be baptised. Many with no history of church attendance applied to the local Anglican Church for baptism for this reason.

In Buddhist countries like Malaysia, Christian converts are often expelled from families at the point of Baptism, not conversion.

Back in the Day, Floyd Mc Clung the well known evangelist who set up safe houses for new converts on the 'drug trail' between Amsterdam and Kabul noticed that spiritual opposition was much more intense leading up to baptism than conversion.

The renunciation aspect of Baptism is what is dreaded by the demonic, and is a most critical step in the life of a believer.

Renunciation (or denunciation) is mentioned only once in the NT and in Greek literally means 'to speak against'. This is more than turning away from sin and repenting, but is a declaration against the spiritual powers that love to fuel sinful action.

Like many aspects of the Christian life, we participate in obedience, not seeing or knowing the impact of our actions on the opposing Spiritual Realm.

Thank you!

In Colossians we read:

Colossians 1:13-14

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (NKJV)

And this is directly tied to our baptism, and participation in His death, burial and resurrection in which He forgave us all our sins, canceled our certificate of debt, and triumphed over the powers of evil later in the book:

Colossians 2:11-15

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (NKJV)

the principalities and powers are ones that Paul speaks of in other places with the same terms, which are the devil and spiritual forces of evil, as well as death:

Ephesians 2:2

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (NKJV)

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 15:24-26

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (NKJV)

He disarms death and the devil, by forgiving trespasses. Death and the devil, and his minions are still going to be vanquished but they no longer have power over those in His kingdom, due to His victory on the cross, in which He triumphed over the principalities and powers.

Hebrews 2:14-15

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

His victory is compared to a Roman triumph where captives were led in procession as defeated. The powers of darkness are not yet dead, but Jesus triumphed over them, and disarmed them in His death, and in His resurrection, which overcame death. This was a public spectacle in which the evil forces and death were overcome.

We are participating in that death, burial and resurrection in baptism

Buried with Him In Baptism, Raised with Him through Faith-- Symbolic? Reality?

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