Well my other thread was going well but I would like to make another thread addressing a specific question/issue I am having. How did you know you were ready to be baptized? How were you able to be sure that you were experiencing God and this was not all in your head? Lately, I have been feeling drawn towards reading the bible and wanting to be apart of this lifestyle. I am just unsure as to how to distinguish between my "wanting to believe" and whether God is working in me in some way.
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How did you know you were ready?
- Thread starter SPB1987
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joey_downunder
big sister
When I was baptised I really made sure I was a genuine christian first. Prepare for a bit of theology here.....
*I was fully convinced that Jesus was my Lord and Saviour Romans 10:9
* I believed that all God promised to the Jews in the Old Testament via prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus e.g. isaiah 9:6-7 , isaiah 53
* I believed that Jesus' died for for my sins romans 5:1-11
*I believed He rose from the dead in accordance with the scriptures. An ancient creed helps here. The Nicene Creed
* In response to this I admitted I was a sinner, I need to be saved by God, I changed my whole way of thinking, behaving, worldview from a life that pleased myself to one that aimed to please God. Basically a 180 degree turn.
*I was fully convinced that Jesus was my Lord and Saviour Romans 10:9
* I believed that all God promised to the Jews in the Old Testament via prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus e.g. isaiah 9:6-7 , isaiah 53
* I believed that Jesus' died for for my sins romans 5:1-11
*I believed He rose from the dead in accordance with the scriptures. An ancient creed helps here. The Nicene Creed
* In response to this I admitted I was a sinner, I need to be saved by God, I changed my whole way of thinking, behaving, worldview from a life that pleased myself to one that aimed to please God. Basically a 180 degree turn.
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CryptoLutheran
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman
I was baptized when I was 17, I grew up in an Evangelical/Pentecostal background. Since then, however, I've come to accept the historic, traditional Christian position on Baptism.
In historic, orthodox, traditional Christian teaching Baptism isn't something we do for ourselves, for God, or for the Church (et al), but ultimately something God does for us and so we call it a Sacrament and a Mystery. Baptism is a plenitude of things, not the least of which the normative means by which we are made Christians, but one thing Baptism is not is that it's not a wait until one is ready event.
"As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?'" - Acts 8:36
There is nothing there to stop one from receiving Baptism. The waters of Baptism are for everyone. Everyone without exception. It's God's gift to everyone, because He loves everyone.
-CryptoLutheran
In historic, orthodox, traditional Christian teaching Baptism isn't something we do for ourselves, for God, or for the Church (et al), but ultimately something God does for us and so we call it a Sacrament and a Mystery. Baptism is a plenitude of things, not the least of which the normative means by which we are made Christians, but one thing Baptism is not is that it's not a wait until one is ready event.
"As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?'" - Acts 8:36
There is nothing there to stop one from receiving Baptism. The waters of Baptism are for everyone. Everyone without exception. It's God's gift to everyone, because He loves everyone.
-CryptoLutheran
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I had a very strong desire in my heart to give my life to Christ-and felt very empty inside and gloomy-I was 19-and its been 31 years-I sure don't regret it-I have had life, the holy spirit, inside me ever sense.
Why water baptize?
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. (Its symbolic but this is why-and Jesus did)
Why water baptize?
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. (Its symbolic but this is why-and Jesus did)
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As soon as you believe that Jesus died for your sins.....it is time to be water baptized. Resist the demonic pressure that pulls you in the opposite direction and submit to Christ........
By being baptized into Christ our sins are washed away and the power of the old man is broken. As we come out of the water we stand blameless before God. (1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6)
Water baptism is the equivalent of circumcision under the old covenant. As soon as they were born of the flesh they were circumcised, as soon as we believe and are born of God, we should be baptised. (Col 2:11-14) No parent can do it form you, it has to be your own conscious decision of submitting to Christ.
Its is not an outward show of an inner work (else why would the jailer do it in the middle of the night in the book of Acts) but rather it is an act of obedience by which we come under Christ.(Gal 3.27)
By being baptized into Christ our sins are washed away and the power of the old man is broken. As we come out of the water we stand blameless before God. (1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6)
Water baptism is the equivalent of circumcision under the old covenant. As soon as they were born of the flesh they were circumcised, as soon as we believe and are born of God, we should be baptised. (Col 2:11-14) No parent can do it form you, it has to be your own conscious decision of submitting to Christ.
Its is not an outward show of an inner work (else why would the jailer do it in the middle of the night in the book of Acts) but rather it is an act of obedience by which we come under Christ.(Gal 3.27)
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Thanks for the response. I guess my problem is having a hard time understanding whether I just want to believe or if God is calling me to him.
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When ever you're ready. It's been 20 years since I've accepted Jesus in my life, but I've not been baptized in water yet.
I didn't approve of my home church I guess.
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zaksmummy
Senior Member
Baptism is a ritual immersion for repentance. If you have repented of you sin, ie asked God to forgive you for it, decided to go Gods way and not your own then you are ready to be baptised.
I remember just having an overwhelming desire to be baptised. I became a Christian when I was six, which I suppose is a bit early to get baptised, but when I was 12 or thirteen, I knew that I needed to do - didnt really even know why, I just knew that I had to.
Pray to God and ask him to make things clear for you, and he will, then you will know when the time is right to be baptised.
I remember just having an overwhelming desire to be baptised. I became a Christian when I was six, which I suppose is a bit early to get baptised, but when I was 12 or thirteen, I knew that I needed to do - didnt really even know why, I just knew that I had to.
Pray to God and ask him to make things clear for you, and he will, then you will know when the time is right to be baptised.
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I have heard of this feeling of overwhelming desire before. I have always been told that this is a very emotional feeling and I guess you will just know what it is. It certainly does not seem like it may even be rationalized. I want to thank you for your response.
Do you believe it is possible for God to respond to a prayer from someone like me? I have been told by a gentleman at the church we attend that I just need to ask God to show me he is real. I have tried this before and I felt no different than before. I do not know if there is a possibility that my heart was not in the right place but I really did not feel any benefit from doing this.
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N
Nanopants
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I've been baptized twice: once as a child and once when I returned to the faith years ago. There was no effect, and it's my belief that it is symbolic of being baptized in the Spirit, which is the real baptism.
Communion on the other hand is a more serious matter. Definitely make sure you know what you are doing before that one.
Communion on the other hand is a more serious matter. Definitely make sure you know what you are doing before that one.
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omegadk1
En Masse
I came to understand that within me, there is this quiet voice/feeling/person, that has always believed, but there was always this part of me that had doubts (and still does sometimes). I came to understand, that as I found more things I wanted to do my own way, and not be accountable, I had more doubts. But in other times my heart screamed I believe... I doubted that too... O_0
I eventually came to a place of realizing, "I do believe" told God he could have my life. As I go, I ask him to answer my doubts and questions... and in various ways, he does
I hope that was at least a little helpful... It's late, and I am fighting sleep right now.
I eventually came to a place of realizing, "I do believe" told God he could have my life. As I go, I ask him to answer my doubts and questions... and in various ways, he does
I hope that was at least a little helpful... It's late, and I am fighting sleep right now.
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Man is made in the image of God. God is triune (Father, Word and the Holy Ghost) and so is man. (body, soul and spirit) When sin came in made was fully separated from God and needed to be reconciled in 3 ways.
The soul is reconciled by believing that Jesus died for our sins (1 John 5:1), the body by being baptised into Christ (which also presents us blameless before God) and spiritually by the receiving of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us for victorious life.
All 3 are different and important parts of our restoration. They can happpen in different times and in different order, .(as in Acts 10:47) but they are all necessary for the work of Christ be complete in us
"Go baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
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Baptism was given to help you. You have something wonderful happening to you in being changed into a new living creature. Water believer baptism helps you with a physical symbolic experience to feel what is happening inside of you. You are placing your life into the hands of another (the person baptizing you symbolizes this), you are going down into the cleansing water, you are baring you old self, you are rising wet with water washing your sins away, you come forth to a new family surrounding you and this reminds you of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. You don’t have to wonder “When, how, where, were my sins washed away?” Baptism helps with that assurance.
Don’t worry about that, move on, you are on a road.
God will only do what you allow Him to do (you have to quit trying to do it all yourself), but you cannot be “testing” God, so you have to believe He will.
Don’t worry about that, move on, you are on a road.
God will only do what you allow Him to do (you have to quit trying to do it all yourself), but you cannot be “testing” God, so you have to believe He will.
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The soul and spirit is the same thing. We can kill ourselves spiritually by being unloving. EZiekiel 18. The soul is reconciled by turning from wickedness to righteousness. Ezekiel 18. Jesus did not say we are reconciled to God by understanding why Jesus died. He said we are reconciled by God by loving others and being admited into the presence of God by Him. Matt 25:31 and following.
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CryptoLutheran
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman
In case one is curious what the traditional and more historic Christian position on Baptism is--though also the specifically Lutheran take on it--Luther's Large Catechism is a pretty good place to look. Though, of course, one could also look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church (for the distinctly Roman Catholic position) or look at the official Eastern Orthodox position (and so on and so forth).
The Large Catechism's statement in its entirety can be found here. For a more brief look, the Small Catechism's statement can be found here.
I offer this to help provide a more traditional view of Baptism as Christians have generally understood it for most of Christian history, and also to make sure no misunderstanding arises that those of us who have a traditional and Sacramental view concerning it: namely, we do not view Baptism as a work which we do for God or ourselves; but that it is God's work which He does for us as an act of pure, unmerited, and unconditional grace.
-CryptoLutheran
The Large Catechism's statement in its entirety can be found here. For a more brief look, the Small Catechism's statement can be found here.
I offer this to help provide a more traditional view of Baptism as Christians have generally understood it for most of Christian history, and also to make sure no misunderstanding arises that those of us who have a traditional and Sacramental view concerning it: namely, we do not view Baptism as a work which we do for God or ourselves; but that it is God's work which He does for us as an act of pure, unmerited, and unconditional grace.
-CryptoLutheran
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zaksmummy
Senior Member
God always responds to the prayers of the people who are seeking him, so yes I believe that he can and will respond to you. The key is to keep searching - Jesus said "Seek first the kingdom of God" and thats what you need to do - keep searching, read the bible, keep praying. Whether its a small voice you here, or a passage of scripture you read, God will answer you.
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I was baptized several times as a child. I remember volunteering for it but really didn't have any motivation beyond the spectacle. And the general love of getting wet. And all my friends were doing it too.
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