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Am I a Christian?

Radagast

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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

You should certainly be baptised, but if you believe, then you are a Christian.
 
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asiyreh

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I'm not baptized yet but if I died tomorrow would I go to heaven? I believe so. Christ for example told the thief on the cross he would be saved.

However Christ did tell us to go and baptize; in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This do, he said, not maybe it would be nice if you did it. We don't keep God's commandments anymore because we are condemned by them but we do them because we love him. Baptism is meant as an outward declaration that you now belong to Christ. This do.

However I am a Christian btw and I'll not have anybody say anything different. :p
 
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St_Worm2

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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

I agree with everything that Radagast just said.

The only thing I would say beyond that is there are a couple of Protestant denominations (and many cults) that do believe Baptism is REQUIRED before you can be saved, but that's not what the Bible teaches (nor the vast majority of Christendom).

Here are some verses that teach us what is required for salvation. Would you say that you are a Christian based upon these?
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" John 3:16

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" John 5:24

"This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day" John 6:40

"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" Romans 10:9-10
Notice a theme emerging .. ;)

One last thing. Have you ever been baptized before? Perhaps as an infant?

Yours and His,
David
 
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HoofingAround

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Baptism is simply a part of the process. But it doesn't "start" your Christianity, belief in Christ does that.

Welcome! Be blessed, my friend and sister in Christ! Praise God!

Everyone has posted wonderful replies, but I especially like the bold sentence above. If you believe in Christ then you are a Christian, the physical baptism is just one part of our new life and it is not a pre-requisite to recognising our faith in Christ through calling ourselves Christian.
 
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jr001

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Thanks for all your replies. Yes I believe that Jesus was the God and I believe in His words and that He is our saviour. There is no doubt in my mind that this is true. So yes I will cal myself a Christian.
I do plan to and want to be baptised, will have to have a word with the pastor on Sunday to arrange this.
Thanks
 
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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

Mark 16:15-18

<<And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”>>

These are all signs of liberation from sin, death: because by accepting Jesus as their personal savior we become free men. Baptism is a Greek word that means immersion, John, herald of Lamb of God baptized in water, but Jesus baptizes with the Spirit.
God frees! completely dissolve the bonds of being, let Him live in you.

I'm doing well on the way to the baptism in water, which is crucial because it has value as a witness to men but also to all the hosts of heaven and God.
We stand dear brother in Christ, and pray God to give us the discernment to distinguish the lies of the devil instead of what comes from God.
:wave:
 
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TheyCallMeDave

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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

Some points....

1. No, Salvation or becoming a Christian, is ONLY based on the shed blood of Christ as payment for your sins and nothing else. God intends salvation as a totally free gift , undeserved, and it must be recieved as such by simple faith that his atonement was sufficient to pay for your sins (and mankinds) . After you get saved, you should get baptized in water which serves as a symbol that you have been washed by the cleansing blood of Christ ; its a testimony that you are now a new Creation in Christ.

2. Id like you to know that its not believing in God that gets you saved, for, EVERYONE on Earth knows intuitively that it takes a personal intelligent Creator to get the creation we have ... even though some refuse to admit it publicly due to pride and wanting to live as they like. The specific steps to be sure you are really saved, are fouind in Romans 10:8-14 and if youve taken these steps sincerely in your heart, then, you ARE currently and eternally saved. Note that it doesnt require your good works or deeds as part of the salvation equation -- just solely on CHrist himself and what he accomplished.

3. Evidence that you have sincerely become a Christian, will be thru a changed life from this point forward . Some fruit you should have as evidence youve been saved are : Serving God and Others faithfully, more love in your heart for the things of God, a turning away from any lifestyle sins you may have as well as a turning away from the things of our Culture by way of philosophies which are destructive to our walk with God, and a desire to be with fellow Christians at a local evangelical Church where the Bible is preached, is encouraged for you to read , where the Gospel of CHrist is taught, and where heart felt praise and worship is given to God.

Does this sound ok to you ?? Regards.
 
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EagleHawk

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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

This is something that I have also pondered jr, so many thanks for asking the question! :)
 
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TheGuide

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Hi

Been having a debate with my husband about my religon. I found God about a month ago but I am not baptised. I call myself a Christian, but my husband says I'm not because I haven't been baptised yet.

Would you say you had to be baptised in order to be a Christian?

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raise him from the dead then you shall be saved. Those are Jesus' words, and regardless of the circumstances of life we face at least that you can be assured of. God is a faith God. Accept and believe without a shadow of doubt.
 
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LilLamb219

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We are all saved in the same way...by grace through faith. Faith grabs onto the truth that Jesus the Christ died in our place for the forgiveness of sins. In baptism we are given faith, but that does not mean that it is the only way we receive it...for it's God's Word that works within us and we have His Word not only in baptism (attached as His promise to the water) but also in scripture as we read our bibles.
 
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jr001

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Is your husband a Christian?


Thank you everyone for your replies, this has made me feel a lot better and more self assured that I am a Christian despite not being baptised yet.

Ace99, no my husband is not a Christian, in fact he constantly mocks my belief in Jesus, which is the basis of the original "debate" lol.
 
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Ace99

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To JR001 I hope this helps about the mocking, and yes you are a christian but when you get baptized you are making an outward sign that your life has changed, there is more to it but that is one of the reasons, anyway A few of the woman in our church are Christians and there husbands are not, I was praying about them and i think god said to me, i have to be very careful about this because i dont fully understand when i hear god and when i dont as i am a new christian to but when i talked to one of the women at church she said she felt this too and she has been a christian for many years, that they feel threatened by it all and threatened by Jesus. The first thing is the women in my church are show a lot of love, this can be hard for a man to take, for example if a man comes to his wife's church and sees a man hugging his wife, or they are smiling at each other, this can and most probably be seen in the wrong way, they will not understand at as a brother and sisterly love, they will see something going on and maybe inside they will be like back of buddy that's my wife, they may struggle with this but not want to kick up a fuss, another thing that could be even harder for them to handle is Jesus, Jesus is your all in all, so in being your god Jesus takes a lot of your time, that the husband may feels belongs to him, it can be very hard for him, it's not like he can take his complaint anywhere, he can hardly go to god and say Hey god, your taking too much of my wife's time up, back off, she's meant to be with me, also even in a non Christian relationship the man does like to lead and this could be hard for him if you've made the decision and not him. If you can imagine how hard it could be for them, they can only talk to his non Christian friends about this what advice could they give, about any of this, if they dont trust Christians where can they turn. I'm not saying any of this is the case for your husband, but as I prayed for the non Christian husbands, I got a real heart for them, I only mention this because he could struggle with a part of this, if he does approach it tenderly, show him christs love even if it may be hard, maybe you could explain to him what christs love is about and what it's done in your life, it may be hard for him to understand, but I do believe if you pray about how to speak to him god will give you the answers, maybe you could ask the guys at your church, if you have one to get along side him, maybe see if he wanted to go to a ball game or whatever your husband enjoys, he may find it easier to talk about any fears if he has any to a male instead of a female. I am praying for you in this whole situation and that christs love working through you will touch his heart, and he will come to see that Christ loves him, and he has no need to be threatened if thats the case. god bless you and your husband.
 
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salida

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(water baptism)
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto 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.

Water baptism symbolizes our committment to Christ but grace actually saves us by faith. If a person didn't get water baptized and died they would be saved. One can be a christian but why wouldn't someone want to be baptized?

(holy spirit baptism)
Acts 2;38, Just pray and you will receive it. He will give you the power to live a christian life. Human effort alone can't do this. This will give you the inner strength to live the christian life.
 
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jr001

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(water baptism)
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto 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.

Water baptism symbolizes our committment to Christ but grace actually saves us by faith. If a person didn't get water baptized and died they would be saved. One can be a christian but why wouldn't someone want to be baptized?

(holy spirit baptism)
Acts 2;38, Just pray and you will receive it. He will give you the power to live a christian life. Human effort alone can't do this. This will give you the inner strength to live the christian life.

I do want to be baptised but I haven't had a chance yet.
 
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