S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Bible is very clear about baptism. There are two points we all need to understand. (1) Baptism is to take place after a person has received Jesus Christ as Savior, trusting in Him alone for sal...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

D W Supporter

No. Immersion in water is not a requirement before or after receiving Jesus as Savior. If you were baptized in a form other than by immersion, it makes no difference, since baptism is not required. 

If you want to be re-baptized by immersion, then by all means, do so. Just don't think that you are doing it in order to be saved or to keep you from becoming lost. 

www.booksie.com/Don_Watson

October 18 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

Each of the seven sacraments have different effects:

1. Baptism brings you into Christ's family.
2. Eucharist feeds you with Christ himself.
3. Confirmation sends you out as an apostle to the world.
4. Marriage places you in a covenant with your spouse.
5. Holy Orders places you in covenant with God.
6. Confession gets your sins forgiven.
7. Last Rites prepares you for death.

If a person is already baptized, then a second baptism is unnecessary, since he is already in Christ's family. 

The question should be "Is my baptism valid?"

Speaking for Catholics, we have guidelines for a baptism to be valid:

1. The recipient is unbaptized.
2. The minister uses water.
3. The minister speaks the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
4. Baptism can be pouring, sprinkling or immersion.
5. The minister has the intent of baptizing the recipient.

October 19 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Water baptism was a requirement for the believing (Messianic) Hebrews, along with repentance (changing their mind) that Jesus Christ was their promised Messiah. We today are saved by God's grace through our faith in what Jesus Christ did on the cross on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and nothing of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9).

During God's dispensation of grace today (Ephesians 3:1-2), we are baptized into the body of Christ immediately upon having faith in Jesus Christ alone being our savior (Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 4:30). Baptism occurs by the Spirit, not by man.

Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). All our sins, past, present, and future, were nailed to the cross so that we are no longer burdened with the anguish of being unable to live up to God's requirements for salvation. Jesus Christ was perfect on our behalf, and received the punishment that we deserved (Romans 5:8). God was in Christ on the cross reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). Our job is to reconcile ourselves to God through faith in Jesus Christ and what His finished cross-work means for us, believing the gospel that saves today:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

When we believe this, we are sealed with the holy Spirit until the day of redemption, and thankfully not just until we sin again (Ephesians 4:30)…which we will most likely do as humans (Romans 7:22-25) KJV. Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us the righteousness of God in (2 Corinthians 5:21)! The Spirit can now work effectually through us as we have finally removed the focus of ourselves and our iniquities and placed our focus on Jesus Christ and the cross (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Water baptism will not get our sins forgiven. Turning from sin will not get our sins forgiven. Confessing our sins will not get our sins forgiven. Humbly asking for forgiveness will not get our sins forgiven. Crying a scalding hot bucket of tears and begging God to forgive us will not get our sins forgiven. Our sins were forgiven nearly 2,000 years ago (Colossians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:19), and salvation occurs at the moment of belief in this, the gospel of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Nothing that we ourselves do in the flesh can assist in what Christ has already completed for us (Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:10). It's literally how we accept Jesus Christ as our savior from this present evil world (Galatians 1:4).

Break the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1) and live in peace by accepting God’s free gift (Romans 5:18) through faith in what Christ accomplished on the cross for you (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). You've been blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), as believers instantly become members of the church, which is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:24).

November 16 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report