What is the point of Baptism?

[classicalhero]

Baptism like circumcision dose not do anything it is a statement but is not needed.

Galatians 5:2-6 NKJV

Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

As we all know that Baptism in one of the two ordinances given to the church, and as such they are a picture of the Gospel, since we baptise with water and Jesus was buried not have dirt sprinkled on him thus our picture needs to closely represent that.(Romans 6:3-4) But also it is a condition of Church membership. (Acts 2:41) Also Baptism is only ever for those who have believed on Jesus and never for the unbeliever. This is what separates Baptist from the vast majority of the Denominations around.

 

[Elvis1234]

The final conlusions I came to after a recent word study I did on baptism:


Just as Christ died, we also die in a sense when we are baptized. We are baptized into Christ's death. And like Christ was risen from that death, so will we be at the second coming. In baptism, we are putting to death our "old man of sin" who was condemned under the law of God. Jesus condemned the sinful flesh in His flesh. Death has no dominion over Him, so it has no dominion over us. We are then dead to sin because a dead person is freed from sin. We no longer have to serve sin after being baptized. We are then no longer under the condemnation of the law, but under the grace of God. Galatians says if we have been baptized into Christ(likely by both water and the Holy Spirit), then we have put on Christ. And if we are Christ's, then we are now children of Abraham, and heirs to the promises God made to him and his children. Colossians 2 talks about being buried with Christ in baptism, which means we are also risen with Christ as He was risen. God has made us alive and forgiven us of all sins, blotting out the law which testified against us, and took it away, nailing the law to the cross.

 

[SeventhValley]

I would like to say in the post you quote I am not saying do not baptize. I am saying it is a statement just like the Lord's supper is memorial. God's real presence is found in faith and love. No baptism or sacrament is needed.

 

[Epecho]

I would like to say in the post you quote I am not saying do not baptize. I am saying it is a statement just like the Lord's supper is memorial. God's real presence is found in faith and love. No baptism or sacrament is needed.

"18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" - Matthew 28:18-20



This is clear from Matthew's account of the Great Commission:

• Baptism is based on Jesus' own authority. He has commanded it. Anything He commands is important. Furthermore, it must be taught and practiced as Jesus wants it to be. Men have no right to change what Jesus has instituted. [Matthew 15:9,13; Galatians 1:8,9; 2 John 9-11; Colossians 3:17; Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; 3:5,6; Revelation 22:18,19]
• It is a fundamental part of becoming a disciple.
• Jesus wants everyone in the world to be taught about it.

Matthew 26:28 says Jesus' blood would be shed for many "for remission of sins."
Acts 2:38 says be baptized "for remission of sins."

Did Jesus shed His blood because people already had remission of sins? No, He shed His blood so people who did not have remission could receive it.
Likewise, baptism is administered, not because people already have remission, but so people who do not have it can receive it.


Here is the purpose of baptism:

• Mark 16:16 - Baptism is required in order to be saved.
• Acts 2:38 - Baptism is for (in order to receive) remission of sins.
• 1 Peter 3:21 - Baptism saves us.
• Galatians 3:27 - We are baptized into Christ.
• Romans 6:3 - We are baptized into Jesus' death.
• Acts 22:16 - Baptism is needed so sins are washed away.

These are all different ways of saying the same thing.

 

[Norman Freebooter]

Yo, here's a story for ya's.
When I was in grade 3 Miss Roberts told me I was going to burn in hell as I had never been baptised. Well, I was quite distraught at the thought of this, even though I had known Christ since day 1. When I got home from school my Mum knew their was something wrong & God bless her, baptised me in the bath. Do I have to be baptised again to be a real Christian ?

Is it enough to have faith & to have gone through worldly frightening experiences were Jesus is indeed your only hope.
Either way I might get baptised again, but in my heart, I will always hold mums baptism as a turning point.

 

[Epecho]

Yo, here's a story for ya's.
When I was in grade 3 Miss Roberts told me I was going to burn in hell as I had never been baptised. Well, I was quite distraught at the thought of this, even though I had known Christ since day 1. When I got home from school my Mum knew their was something wrong & God bless her, baptised me in the bath. Do I have to be baptised again to be a real Christian ?

Is it enough to have faith & to have gone through worldly frightening experiences were Jesus is indeed your only hope.
Either way I might get baptised again, but in my heart, I will always hold mums baptism as a turning point.

It is not enough to be simply frightened into baptism
If you were not baptized for the remission of sins then you were not baptized for the right reason (Acts 2:38).

Did you understand what sin is and what sin does (Isaiah 59:1-2)? Did you understand what repentance is and what you were to repent of?

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

Did you understand what godly sorrow is? Fear is not the same thing as sorrow.

For a more thorough explanation of these things and to answer some of your questions, please watch this video:

What Must I Do To Be Saved? | TheTruthAbout.net

 

[98cwitr]

Water baptism seems to be to me like wearing a wedding ring when you get married. Its an outward and public display. The real Baptism is the baptism of Spirit where a person is reborn. Water baptism does nothing and means nothing if the person is not reborn.

 

[SeventhValley]

Water baptism seems to be to me like wearing a wedding ring when you get married. Its an outward and public display. The real Baptism is the baptism of Spirit where a person is reborn. Water baptism does nothing and means nothing if the person is not reborn.

 

[classicalhero]

I would like to say in the post you quote I am not saying do not baptize. I am saying it is a statement just like the Lord's supper is memorial. God's real presence is found in faith and love. No baptism or sacrament is needed.

Well what you should have added at the end of the sentence is that it isn't need for salvation, hence the confusion. Baptism just shows outwardly what has happened inwardly. But being baptised is necessary for church membership.

 

[Norman Freebooter]

Thanks, I did not think about being frightened into Baptism. I see what I will do.Thank you.
I guess I'll be reborn.

 

[Norman Freebooter]

We are Baptists, my parents were 60s- early 70s types & I missed out on being Baptised. I think in a way it helped me, cause I with my Orthadox friend read the New Testament when we were 13, although I'm sure did not understand.
I will get Baptised & start contributing.
Thank you.

 

[episkopos]

Water baptism is a command to anyone who becomes born again. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16)....

Water baptism is a DIRECT act of obedience to Christ’s instruction.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16)...

Baptism is not for church membership, but an open declaration of our new stand in Christ. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). When you are baptized you are openly declaring that you have by faith “put on Christ” so that men may see Christ in you...

We identify with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in baptism. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: thatthat 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” (Romans 6:4). The lowering of the convert completely under the water pictures Christ’s death; the submersion of the convert speaks of His burial and the raising of the convert from the water signifies His resurrection.

Excerpt From: "Basic Theology." Dag Heward- Mills.iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright