Baptism should accompany confessions of faith

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ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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#1
Apr 21, 2021
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#1
In the New Testament churches, confessions of faith were always accompanied by baptism. What happened? How did we get away from this practice? I'm not saying getting wet saves us; we're saved by the Lord through faith. But how and why did we get away from the practice of baptizing together with confessions of faith?
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

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I think it is because people started preaching that it is not necessary. Why get wet if you don't have to?
It seems to me that some people see it as a badge of honor.... "no, I haven't been dunked, because it's not necessary"

Never mind all the scripture references pointing to the absolute importance of it... nearly all references to being added to the kingdom include immersion...
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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Everlasting-Grace said:
I was going to ask the same.. I do nto know of any church that does nto baptize
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The question wasn't why don't churches baptize; but why is it very often the case people don't see the importance to accompany a confession of faith with baptism, immediately, as it was practiced in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we see the two go together; when there was a confession of faith there was a baptism. They didn't wait weeks, months or years after someone's confession of faith to baptize them.

I've heard many reason why people think it's necessary to wait. But if that's the case, why didn't the New Testament believers wait.
 
SomeDisciple

SomeDisciple

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There are likely some that want to use baptism as a spectator event they can put on the calendar, and have attendees and what-not. That's not really what it's for, though.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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SomeDisciple said:
There are likely some that want to use baptism as a spectator event they can put on the calendar, and have attendees and what-not. That's not really what it's for, though.
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Good point. Any idea how this tradition got started?
 
Magenta

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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ResidentAlien said:
Good point. Any idea how this tradition got started?
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Possibly as a way to help encourage and build up the church.

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

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#9
Oct 24, 2012
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#9
hornetguy said:
I think it is because people started preaching that it is not necessary. Why get wet if you don't have to?
It seems to me that some people see it as a badge of honor.... "no, I haven't been dunked, because it's not necessary"

Never mind all the scripture references pointing to the absolute importance of it... nearly all references to being added to the kingdom include immersion...
Click to expand...
Get water Baptized not for membership or to get others to like you as is done
rather as a good conscience between God and you. Go into your Shower privately with the conscience between God and you. If you are called by God spiritually to go into public, then go if not then do not with any wrong motives. I noticed the Cornelius's house getting saved without water Baptism as seen by Peter Back then. Even entered illegally to a Gentile house back then. Amazing God saves: people do not, as is promoted they do by religion(s) and still do not do it, God does, did and does to this day until the end, God's call again not anyone else's
This is Just what
I see presently after a long walk off a short pier daily. I got water Baptized for the wrong reasons at first. Now I am Spiritually Baptized by God, not people as the Cornelius house was back then too, thank you
As I see God decides as by whatever one's motive is to be saved or not. that is all folks, God loves us all y'all to me at least
1 John 2:1-2, 12
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

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#10
Dec 18, 2021
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#10
ResidentAlien said:
The question wasn't why don't churches baptize; but why is it very often the case people don't see the importance to accompany a confession of faith with baptism, immediately, as it was practiced in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we see the two go together; when there was a confession of faith there was a baptism. They didn't wait weeks, months or years after someone's confession of faith to baptize them.

I've heard many reason why people think it's necessary to wait. But if that's the case, why didn't the New Testament believers wait.
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I got baptized a year later 40 some years ago. I know my church has big baptism events 2 times a year.. they make it a ceremony as the people give their testimonies. and I have seen people come to Christ in these events.

I really do not see a problem.
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

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#11
SomeDisciple said:
There are likely some that want to use baptism as a spectator event they can put on the calendar, and have attendees and what-not. That's not really what it's for, though.
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is this true? Is it not to allow a person to give an open testimony? Can God not use this to bring others to himself?
 
Magenta

Magenta

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#12
Everlasting-Grace said:
is this true? Is it not to allow a person to give an open testimony? Can God not use this to bring others to himself?
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I wonder that any in good conscience can speak against baptisms being performed openly within the church body.
 
Aaron56

Aaron56

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#13
Jul 12, 2021
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#13
I've re-baptized believers because they were initially dunked for denominational membership. After learning that it has nothing to do with membership they wanted to be baptized into Christ's death.

I also insisted that believing fathers baptize their own believing children.
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

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#14
Jan 18, 2016
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#14
homwardbound said:
I noticed the Cornelius's house getting saved without water Baptism as seen by Peter Back then.
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aside from your rather disjointed reply... the whole household of Cornelius WAS baptized, at Peter's insistence, apparently, immediately. ... this was immediately after the Holy Spirit fell on them, in order to convince the Christian Jews of the fact that Gentiles were acceptable to God....

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the [ae]message. 45 All the [af]Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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#15
Apr 21, 2021
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#15
Everlasting-Grace said:
I got baptized a year later 40 some years ago. I know my church has big baptism events 2 times a year.. they make it a ceremony as the people give their testimonies. and I have seen people come to Christ in these events.

I really do not see a problem.
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Obviously large numbers of people don't have a problem with it. But what do you think Jesus would have us do? Should we follow the teaching of God's word and the examples given us, or human tradition. Whether people "come to Christ at these events" is irrelevant really. I saw a lot of people come to Christ after 9-11, does that mean we should fly airplanes into buildings?
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

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#16
ResidentAlien said:
Obviously large numbers of people don't have a problem with it. But what do you think Jesus would have us do? Should we follow the teaching of God's word and the examples given us, or human tradition. Whether people "come to Christ at these events" is irrelevant really. I saw a lot of people come to Christ after 9-11, does that mean we should fly airplanes into buildings?
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Did Jesus tell people to get baptized immediately?

I did not see that command..
 
K

Karlon

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#17
Mar 8, 2023
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#17
baptism is a "public" announcement that someone has gotten saved, a sort of confession.
 
Bob-Carabbio

Bob-Carabbio

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#18
Jun 24, 2020
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#18
ResidentAlien said:
In the New Testament churches, confessions of faith were always accompanied by baptism. What happened? How did we get away from this practice? I'm not saying getting wet saves us; we're saved by the Lord through faith. But how and why did we get away from the practice of baptizing together with confessions of faith?
Click to expand...
Wouldn't know.

I was Saved in my bedroom on a Wednesday night, and then baptized the following Sunday night, which changed NOTHING (Except my wet clothes). I wasn't any more "Saved" after the Baptism, and the Holy Spirit was ALREADY INDWELLING (which is what changed me).

BUT HEY!!!! The Baptist Church said I should be dunked, so I was.

One of the AG CHurches in Red Oak, TX has a "Splash Party" recently, where about 150 folks were baptized.
 
Pilgrimshope

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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#19
ResidentAlien said:
In the New Testament churches, confessions of faith were always accompanied by baptism. What happened? How did we get away from this practice? I'm not saying getting wet saves us; we're saved by the Lord through faith. But how and why did we get away from the practice of baptizing together with confessions of faith?
Click to expand...
baptism in Jesus name is something you only do if you believe the gospel it is an action of faith confirming the promise

foret Peter preaches Jesus to them

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:37-41‬ ‭KJV‬‬


What I mean to say is , the whole act of baptism is a confession of faith in Jesus whose name we’re being baptized into his name. The order is repentance and belief which leads to the one who actually does believe to get baptized in his name
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

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#20
Jan 18, 2016
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#20
Everlasting-Grace said:
Did Jesus tell people to get baptized immediately?

I did not see that command..
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Well, there's this....
Jesus said...
19 [g]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 [h]follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you [i]always, to the end of the age.”

and Peter teaching the crowd at Pentecost...
“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

and when Paul was saved...
18 And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
 
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