I'm getting baptised..properly

[MoreCoffee]

Hi all. I asked my mother about 8 months ago to baptise me and for a number of reasons, including my motives behind the baptism I don't feel it's valid. I've asked my pastor to formally baptise me in church. Thoughts on this? I feel that I want a correct baptism with pure motives.

Not meaning to be controversial or anything but is baptism about you and your beliefs or is it about God and his promises?

 

[1watchman]

Remember that baptism is not salvation, but only a stand and testimony to Christ (a right spirit for the mercies of God). It is important to be baptized before reception at the holiness of the Lord's Table, and shows faith and obedience and humility and honor to the Lord.

As to the question about 1 Pet. 3:21, note that the ref. to "save us" means to preserve us, not for eternal salvation; and "...putting away of the filth of the flesh" speaks of sinful living, worldliness, and dishonor to God, and not salvation of the soul ---which is only by the "new birth" as found in Jesus Christ.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Remember that baptism is not salvation, but only a stand and testimony to Christ (a right spirit for the mercies of God).

I am wondering if you would be willing to show me the scripture passages upon which you've based your statement about what baptism is?

It is important to be baptized before reception at the holiness of the Lord's Table, and shows faith and obedience and humility and honor to the Lord.

As to the question about 1 Pet. 3:21, note that the ref. to "save us" means to preserve us, not for eternal salvation; and "...putting away of the filth of the flesh" speaks of sinful living, worldliness, and dishonor to God, and not salvation of the soul ---which is only by the "new birth" as found in Jesus Christ.

 

[1watchman]

I am wondering if you would be willing to show me the scripture passages upon which you've based your statement about what baptism is?

All scriptural ref. to the subject show that, if they are rightly discerned (one can see what sound Bible scholars have shown on this down through history). If you would like to pursue this please feel free to PM me and I can send some papers on it. Look up always!

 

[Hupomone10]

I am wondering if you would be willing to show me the scripture passages upon which you've based your statement about what baptism is?

1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Paul did not include the act of baptism as part of the gospel. It followed the gospel message's acceptance, but was not an integral part of it. The emphasis in that context and verse is apparently 'the cross', not the act of baptizing. Paul went on in that context to explain that he himself had only baptized a few. It was fine by him for them to wait to be baptized by someone else.

As far as salvation, baptism is a temporal act performed in this temporal life; therefore the connection it has is to our standing in regard to this present world - our walk in this world. Not eternal life, which is by grace through faith alone. Perhaps baptism was looked on by the first century church much the way walking forward to the altar today to testify to one's belief in Christ is viewed. It was a testimony before God and men of what you believe and Who you will follow.

Blessings,
H.