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IMB & Baptism on True Baptism

CADude12

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I was baptized as an infant, I guess because my parents were believers. I don't think I need to get baptized again.

IMO, this is just a matter of faith in practice, and thus should be left up to a person's conscience. If a person sincerely believes that his infant baptism was invalid, then - go for it! Otherwise, why make a big fuss about it?
 
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jlujan69

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It occurs to me that if another church considers my believer's baptism invalid simply because the church that administered it does not teach eternal security, then they're rejecting my claim to be a believer as well. To claim otherwise would require some "creative" logical process to support it.
 
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tulipbee

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I was baptized as an infant, I guess because my parents were believers. I don't think I need to get baptized again.

IMO, this is just a matter of faith in practice, and thus should be left up to a person's conscience. If a person sincerely believes that his infant baptism was invalid, then - go for it! Otherwise, why make a big fuss about it?
It is a violation of the Westminster Confession of Faith to be re-baptized:

--------------

WCF 28:7 The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person

(Tit.3:5).



WLC Question 177: Wherein do the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper

differ?

Answer: The sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper differ, in that Baptism

is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our

regeneration and ingrafting into Christ, and that even to infants; whereas the

Lord's Supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to

represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul, and to

confirm our continuance and growth in him, and that only to such as are of years

and ability to examine themselves.

---------------
 
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tulipbee

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I friend of mine posted his message:

All the Reformation dogma on baptism
is the same whether you're looking at
the Belgic Confession ("Continental
Calvinism") or the Westminster Confession
(Scottish Calvinism).

Even the 2nd. Helvetic Confession -meant
as a bridge between Lutheranism and
Calvinism- contains the same doctrine.

This that baptism represents what
God does for us instead of something
we do for God.

Thus, baptism isn't primarily a demonstration
of our faith ...as the Southern Baptist BFM
has it !

That makes baptism about what we do.

It ain't.



Acts 2:38-39 describes baptism as being a
"promise".

It ain't a promise we make to the Lord. But
a promise of salvation He makes to the Elect.

Therefore, as this passage explains, the
promise of baptism is made to ALL of the
Elect ...even covenant children not yet
granted Saving Faith.

"For the promise is for
you and your children
and for all who are far
off, as many as the
Lord our God will call
to Himself" (NASB)

N.B., not 'as many as accept Jesus'.

The Bible nowhere talks about
salvation in terms of us accepting
Christ, or our making a decision
for Christ !

It's "call to Himself".

In salvation, God accepts us ...NOT the
other way around !


From the Calvinist (Reformed and/or
Presbyterian) viewpoint, it's an
Acts 2:38-39 thing: Baptism is a
"promise" God makes to the Elect.
What matters most being our Election
...NOT so much our profession of faith.

If the person isn't elect, then baptism
is totally meaningless for them.

Whereas, if the person is Elect, then
the "promise" God makes in baptism
carries over to when they're eventually
converted.

(Posted by Datar at)
 
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student ad x

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Why is this thread a sticky?
I don't recall this thread in S.R, let alone a sticky thread. :confused:



This thread doesn't need to be stuck IMO.
stirthepot.gif
 
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pilgrim1999

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bump, bump, bump

Anything in particular you want to discuss about this?

I was baptized (immersed) in a congregation of the Wesleyan Church, which is very similar to the Nazarenes. Without going back and reviewing it again, to the best of my recollection it flunks the IMB test on at least two counts.

Like all churches from the Methodist tradition, the Wesleyans accept infant baptism as well as accepting all modes. As I understand it, however, the vast majority in both denoms practice credobaptism and immersion. My pastor at the time told me my sprinkling in the UMC was sufficient. He had to say that as a minister in that denomination. But he did argue for believer's baptism by immersion and I was convinced of the case for it without very much discussion.

Of course it also fails the IMB's test because that denomination does not believe in eternal security. I believed in it at the time, but the IMB guidelines reflect the Landmarkish view that there has to be a valid administrator as well as a valid candidate, valid mode, etc. Thus, according to them, all I did was get wet. But evidently baptism in a liberal SBC church is ok.

Based on the language in the Wesleyan statement of faith, some might wish to argue that their view of baptism is possibly sacramental as well.

I'm open to being shown that my baptism is not scriptural, but I have yet to be fully convinced. If you accept their presuppositions, the deduction necessarily follows. But I've never quite been convinced. And to me, full blown Landmarkism is more coherent than the IMB's policy. Landmarkers don't hesitate to say that paedobaptist churches and perhaps even those who do not demand immersion are not true churches. But those "Baptist Identity" men who defended the IMB guidelines to the hilt often hem and haw around when pressed on that issue.

Can you have a church without baptism? Even many noted non-Landmarkers like Dagg argued that paedobaptist churches were not true churches. IIRC, the Landmark controversy was over the question of whether or not paedobaptist ministers were gospel ministers. Dagg, to my recollection, argues that they are at some length in his Manual of Theology. Other examples could be noted.

IMHO you're also forced to accept some form of Baptist perpetuity as well given those presuppositions.
 
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... very similar to the Nazarenes. ...

A very bold claim !

Even in most if not all movies, Jesus was sprinkled by John, the Baptist.

Why make such a bold claim that the early church did immersed only.

Sounds Romanish while the Catholics have no records of apostolic secessions.
 
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theophilus40

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(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),
(John 4:2 ESV)

Apparently all of the disciples, including Judas, baptized the new disciples. Judas turned out to be a traitor but there is no indication that those he had baptized had to be baptized again. The validity of baptism doesn't depend on the character or beliefs of the one conducting it. It depends on the spiritual condition of one being baptized.

When I was 14 I was baptized by immersion in a Disciples of Christ church because I believed that baptism was necessary for salvation. Outwardly the baptism was scriptural but it wasn't valid because I wasn't actually saved at the time. I was saved about three years later and later baptized in a Southern Baptist church.

I believe that baptism by immersion after salvation is the Biblical method of baptism but I am undecided on whether it should be a requirement of church membership. We should have fellowship with all who are truly born again even if there are things we disagree on.
 
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