Baptism

[JimR-OCDS]

Early Christians received "three" sacraments, when coming into the Church.

First was Baptism, second was laying on of hands, known as Confirmation, and third was receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, in the Eucharist.

Infants were Baptised from the very first Christians on, as shown in the Bible.

"She was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15). he was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33). And in his greetings to the Corinthians, Paul recalled that, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).

Furthermore, Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11

[Guest gun_44]

I disagree with the views of the infant baptism. People need to look at the whole picture of what this is teaching our children and what it has taken from them. Baptism is a testimony of one's faith....and admittance to the powers of our Lord and wanting to follow in his steps. I believe the one fault is that certain religions teach their young children that baptism leads them to heaven...and that they are saved through their baptism. This would lead one to believe that they do not have to ask for forgiveness of their sins because they are already saved. This can be detrimental to the eternal life of young people. And it doesn't stop there. This thought is then taken into parenthood and passed down to their children. Other religions have infant baptism and then are "confirmed" later in life. I believe that this is backwards and that the faith and understanding must be in place before baptism should occur. I wish there was clarity on this issue but it could be argued to the nth degree. I pray that all of you accept Jesus Christ as your savior and that we all teach the world of his wonderful love and grace for us.

As we must always remember....

Psalm 118:8: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

[dwinkjr]

Early Christians received "three" sacraments, when coming into the Church.

First was Baptism, second was laying on of hands, known as Confirmation, and third was receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, in the Eucharist.

Infants were Baptised from the very first Christians on, as shown in the Bible.

"She was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15). he was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33). And in his greetings to the Corinthians, Paul recalled that, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).

Furthermore, Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11

[JimR-OCDS]

Early Christians received "three" sacraments, when coming into the Church.

First was Baptism, second was laying on of hands, known as Confirmation, and third was receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, in the Eucharist.

Infants were Baptised from the very first Christians on, as shown in the Bible.

"She was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15). he was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33). And in his greetings to the Corinthians, Paul recalled that, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).

Furthermore, Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11

[Guest hubertdorm]

By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God.

The practice of baptizing infants basically rests on two beliefs

1) Baptism is for the remission of sins

2) The sin of Adam is passed through inheritance

Thus, a newborn is actually born in sin and separate from God. The Protestant teaching of Total Depravity is similar. It is therefore essential to remiss the sins of the newborn, that if it should perish it will not be cast into condemnation. Since the belief is that baptism remises sins, infants are baptized.

What happens if a baby dies before it is baptized?

As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.

With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.

I do not believe in original sin, so I don't believe that baptizing infants accomplishes anything to that degree. It's nice for parents to dedicate their babies to the church of God, but this can be done without baptism.

[Budman]

If baptism is necessary for salvation, would the Apostle Paul have proclaimed:

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." 1 Corinthians 1:17

Or would this same great man of God have stated:

"I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;" 1 Corinthians 1:14

John the Baptist's message was:

"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2

After people repented, then they were...

"... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matthew 3:6

Listen to what the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip as they discussed the subject of baptism:

"And 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? And 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." Acts 8:36-37

The Bible teaches that baptism should occur after salvation, not as a requirement for salvation. When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answered:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house... And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." Acts 16:30, 31, 33

First, they believed, then they were baptized. Baptism always follows salvation! Here's another example:

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8

In Acts chapter two, Peter preached. When he finished:

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

Again, they were baptized, not to become sons of God, but because they already were sons of God.

When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, first came salvation, then baptism:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12

Soon after in that same passage, Simon, a deceiving sorcerer, followed the same path:

"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..." Acts 8:13

Just before his death, the thief on the cross next to Jesus put his faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously, he was never baptized, but he still went to paradise. Why? Because salvation is through faith in Christ, not through baptism.

warm regards

-bud

[Budman]

I would like to add that Jesus was baptized when he was an adult.

If baptism is necessary for salvation, why wasn't Christ baptized as an infant as an example? After all, infant mortality was quite high in those times, so the sooner the better, right?

warm regards

-bud

[Work in Progress]

It is the blood of Jesus Christ alone that takes away our sins; baptism is an act of obedience whose true significance is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God (Rom. 6:1-4).

Amen, Horizon!

[Guest hubertdorm]

The blood of Jesus or the grace of God?

The blood of Jesus or faith?

The blood of Jesus or the resurrection of Jesus?

There are a lot of "only's" that are essential to our salvation. The only crime of accepting that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins is taking the bible literally. In any case, I would say the purpose for baptizing infants has been covered.

[Imamom]

I am glad to see this topic. I was baptized as an infant, confirmed as a youth and have partaken in the service of communion. However, lately I have been struggling with it all.

Please let me state that I have no problem with the thought of infant baptism, though I have recently asked my pastor for more clarification.

I have a strong desire to be baptised as an adult. I want to be immersed. It's not that I denounce my baptism or confirmation, it's that I have realized that I have nat taken these actions as a personal experience. These actions were taken 1. (baptism) of my parents choosing and 2. (confirmation) in obedience to my parent rather than God.

I think that if I were more mature when I was confirmed that I would not be struggling with the issue at this time. I simply feel that I have not of my own desire gone before christ in baptism.

I will continue to read in this thread as you call it in the days to come.