So, I'm getting baptized on Saturday

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Spela

New member
Sep 26, 2022
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#1
Hi
A few months before I've posted that I'm getting ready to be baptized. I got into immersion program at my church and now it's the time. Everything is ready, but I'm so nervous, because it's going to be a big crowd (I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up. But I'm also really happy and excited.
 

HopeinHim98

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2023
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#2
Hi
A few months before I've posted that I'm getting ready to be baptized. I got into immersion program at my church and now it's the time. Everything is ready, but I'm so nervous, because it's going to be a big crowd (I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up. But I'm also really happy and excited.
That's wonderful. How long have you been born again?
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
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#3
Hello @Spela, always remember what a spiritual blessing (gift) your baptism will be to all of your brothers and sisters in Christ who are able to be there to witness it and to be part of it with you :)

Also, if you have not done so already, tell your pastor (the one who will be baptizing you) about being nervous, and ask him if he would mind helping you during the baptism (if that becomes necessary), though I believe that you will find it such an exciting and wonderful moment in your life that your anxiety will simply disappear :giggle:

Praying for you!

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

Numbers 6
24 The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#4
Hi
A few months before I've posted that I'm getting ready to be baptized. I got into immersion program at my church and now it's the time. Everything is ready, but I'm so nervous, because it's going to be a big crowd (I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up. But I'm also really happy and excited.
Hello Spela,

Welcome to the CC Forums.
I understand how you would be nervous about public speaking. That's normal. Most people are when they aren't experienced at it. Did they ask you to give a testimony of your salvation?

I'm a public speaker and I found that it always helps to know what you want to say. A little preparation goes a long way.
If you want my advice, I will gladly share a couple points that will help you relax and at least not worry nearly as much.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
7,926
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#5
Hi
A few months before I've posted that I'm getting ready to be baptized. I got into immersion program at my church and now it's the time. Everything is ready, but I'm so nervous, because it's going to be a big crowd (I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up. But I'm also really happy and excited.
This link is a one minute video explaining baptism. The person in the video is non- denominational/ independent Baptist who baptizes the same way.
Baptism explained
 
Oct 6, 2022
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#6
I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up.
What is important is getting what is described in Romans 6:7

Romans 6
2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.









Note these conditions that were conjunctive with baptisms in Acts

Acts 2
38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.


The same thing is in Hebrews 6:1-2 where the foundation of the doctrine of Christ is described (btw, everything in these two verses is important).

Hebrews 6
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.







it is one who (in bold)

Mark 16
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Who is saved from being (in bold)

Mark 16
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.






further, if Jesus meant this
Matthew 1
21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

when He said "saved" in Mark 16:16 (sōthēsetai, which can mean more than one thing such as "healed" in Luke 8:50 or "saved" in a soteriological sense in Romans 10:13), then you also see the importance of baptism for deliverance from sins in Mark 16:16 through the Lord Himself. It would also explain how Paul could warn people who had the Holy Spirit to not get in bondage to sin again in Romans 6:12 if it is strictly

Mark 16
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

that gets saved from sins, and why, even though Cornelius had the Holy Spirit first in Acts 10, he still got baptized.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#8
Who has the Holy Spirit in them, saved or lost people?
Acts 10

Peter first preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his men. Whoever believes in Him shall have remission of sins. That is exactly what happened. As soon as they believed in Jesus (without any good works at all), they were not only remitted of all sins, but they received the Holy Spirit. They were saved without baptism.

"And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

Baptism is not required for salvation or obedience to the hundreds of other commands. Baptism is simply the first command given AFTER salvation as one walks with the Lord in His family. We are all in a family. We did not do any works to be born into that family. However, we aren't still in diapers if we were obedient to potty training. Later there were more difficult requirements to follow as a member, but none of them had to do with being born. When you are born again, John 3:3..., there was but one requirement, but that was not works of any kind.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Believe on the Son of God and Him alone.
☕🙂📖
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
7,926
3,317
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#9
Hi
A few months before I've posted that I'm getting ready to be baptized. I got into immersion program at my church and now it's the time. Everything is ready, but I'm so nervous, because it's going to be a big crowd (I'm afraid of public speaking) and I'm a little afraid of messing something up. But I'm also really happy and excited.
I'm happy for you too.
☕🙂👍
I posted above to explain the testimony of Cornelius. He was not trusting in any good work like baptism or obedience to the law, which is turning from sins. He trusted Christ, because Jesus was punished and died for our sins so we won't have to suffer in hell. On the third day He arose and lives that we may have everlasting life as His gift to us.
That is when he got saved.

Baptism is explained in the short video I posted for you. You may have already learned all of that. Now it's time to write out your own testimony. You may post it here as a blessing to others or keep it in a special journal. Whatever you choose to do, this will make Saturday's baptism much easier. The more you explain to others, friends and family of how you got saved, the easier it will become. When that day comes, you can take a note card with just highlights to refer to if that helps. You probably won't need it though.
 
Oct 6, 2022
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#10
Baptism is not required for salvation
Mark 16
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.


That, imo, necessitates baptism (without defeating the purpose of saying "and is baptized").

Granted, "sózó" (to save) in its various forms can mean various things. Cornelius received the gift of the Holy Spirit before being baptized, and I believe was thus a child of God (Galatians 4:6), however if the Lord Jesus Christ meant this by "saved" in Mark 16:16 (Click to expand, note the bolded)



Romans 6
2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
then Mark 16:16 could still be true despite Acts 10:44 if having the Holy Spirit and being a child of God in itself does not necessarily mean you have been (in bold)

Romans 6
4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.


which would explain why it says "through baptism" rather than something else
and would explain why Cornelius was (in bold)

Acts 10
47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.


and why the 12 disciples with John's baptism in Acts 19:1-7 got baptized and not just hands laid on them (which is not faith alone btw), etc.


Even if Jesus did not mean "freed from sins", baptisms are clearly necessary for freedom from sins (Romans 6:4) and if we do not get freedom from sin

Romans 6
20For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness. 21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.


(notice "saved" in Mark 16:16 and "freed" in Romans 6:7 both

a) require baptism
b) result in what can be described as 4982 sṓzō (from sōs, "safe, rescued") – properly, deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sinand into His provisions (safety).



"Whoever believes and is Baptized will be freed from their sins" would also seem to fulfill this, which sounds like it, imo,

Matthew 1
21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”)















further,

Peter had the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)
Galatians 2
11When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.


the Galatians Paul is talking to here had the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2-5, Galatians 3:26-4:7, Galatians 5:25)
Galatians 5
2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.


These Romans had the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15) was Paul not warning them?
Romans 6
12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.


Therefore, if Cornelius was freed from sins before baptism, despite "through baptism" in Romans 6:4, then it is not because he couldn't do the three bolded things immediately above^.

(Also note that Galatians 4:6 implies that one is a child of God before they receive the Spirit, getting the Spirit as a result of sonship - would you argue that they first became freed from sins when they became sons?

Galatians 4:6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” )
Baptism is simply the first command given AFTER salvation
It is, in fact, this

Romans 6
4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

which is important, because

Matthew 13
40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.