Re baptism?

[Joe Schmidt]

Hello, When I was 6 years old I prayed to God and asked him to forgive me of my sins and save me. I tried witnessing to people and living holy for about a year but kind of fell away after that. When I was 11 one of my close friends got baptized so I thought I probably should too, so I did. I wasn't really living my life for the lord but thought it was just a thing that Christians do, I didn't feel much of a change after and honestly it didn't impact me all that much. Now I'm really studying the word and getting educated. I was watching a video and it said that if you willingly get baptized but don't turn your life around you will certainly go to hell. I'm really worried about it, what should I do? I believed I was saved for sure but now I'm not so sure because of what I've done. 

[RustyAngeL]

3 hours ago, Joe Schmidt said:

Hello, When I was 6 years old I prayed to God and asked him to forgive me of my sins and save me. I tried witnessing to people and living holy for about a year but kind of fell away after that. When I was 11 one of my close friends got baptized so I thought I probably should too, so I did. I wasn't really living my life for the lord but thought it was just a thing that Christians do, I didn't feel much of a change after and honestly it didn't impact me all that much. Now I'm really studying the word and getting educated. I was watching a video and it said that if you willingly get baptized but don't turn your life around you will certainly go to hell. I'm really worried about it, what should I do? I believed I was saved for sure but now I'm not so sure because of what I've done. 

The only thing that is going to send you to hell Joe is totally rejecting Jesus.  Not taking Him as your Savior.  If you have asked Him to be the Lord of your life there is nothing with getting baptized again.  I did.  I was saved when I was 15 and got baptized shortly after.  Years later after I moved out to California and got into another church that really preached the word I grew.  I felt like I wanted to be baptized again.  My first church  was wonderful too but this church just brought into a whole walk with the Lord.  Go for it.

[enoob57]

Many people are confused when they find the old man still present within themselves and the ease of living old worn
habits... baptism is a testimonial witness to others that you have believed Jesus and have Invited Him into your being!
No one can determine that The Holy Spirit is within you but you- hence the question when you have no one around
are you alone? We have to realize that the spiritual birth is a real entity of being and the relational aspect is directly
connected to God's Word and growth therein... you cannot grow if you are not immersed daily within the Word to grow!
Do you have a hunger and passion to know God? Do you have a war within you of flesh and spirit? Do I really believe so
that I cannot deny His presence? These are questions you must seek out within you and if you find He 'IS' not there
then cry out to Him to save you and be baptized in obedience to His desires and right to your living.  Love, Steven

[MorningGlory]

19 hours ago, Joe Schmidt said:

Hello, When I was 6 years old I prayed to God and asked him to forgive me of my sins and save me. I tried witnessing to people and living holy for about a year but kind of fell away after that. When I was 11 one of my close friends got baptized so I thought I probably should too, so I did. I wasn't really living my life for the lord but thought it was just a thing that Christians do, I didn't feel much of a change after and honestly it didn't impact me all that much. Now I'm really studying the word and getting educated. I was watching a video and it said that if you willingly get baptized but don't turn your life around you will certainly go to hell. I'm really worried about it, what should I do? I believed I was saved for sure but now I'm not so sure because of what I've done. 

Hi, Joe, and welcome to Worthy. I'm thinking that, at age 6, if you prayed for repentence well......that's remarkable.  Then at 11 you were baptized?  How old are you now?  You sound like you are a serious believer. You can pray for the Lord to forgive you as often as the need arises.  Personally, I have prayed hundreds of times for that.  He will forgive you as many times as it takes, just call on Him.

[Joe Schmidt]

Thanks guys, I'm 15 turning 16 now. I'm in the word and fight daily against lust etc. I have an open relationship with God and confess my sins to him daily. I believe he lives in my and I'm saved. The only thing I'm worried about is when I was baptized I was not really interested in reading the word, was not trying to fight my flesh, and really wasn't being a good testimony (still a struggle but I'm working on it). The day I got baptized I got a call before from a lady from my church, she was my aunday school teacher. She said that I didn't seem to be growing and was asking why should I be getting baptized? She said I'll leave it up to you and God and left it to that. I definitely believed in God and thought I was saved forsure but really wasn't bearing any fruit. I decided based on my prayer when I was 6 that I should be baptized because it was something God wanted me to do and thought it might help me live a less sinful life. So I went ahead and got baptized but didn't really feel any different and it didn't change my life all that much. Now I don't know that God will accept me because I made an open confession of my faith but never really honoured his commands.  

[Ezra]

10 hours ago, Joe Schmidt said:

The day I got baptized I got a call before from a lady from my church, she was my aunday school teacher. She said that I didn't seem to be growing and was asking why should I be getting baptized? 

Welcome Joe,

Your Sunday school teacher did you much harm.  She had no business suggesting that only those who are *growing* may be baptized. Indeed, it is the exact opposite in Scripture.  Those who repent and believe must be baptized immediately (or almost immediately), even though the day before they were rank sinners.  

Study the conversion of the apostle Paul (Acts 9).  He was baptized three days after he met Christ, but he was an enemy of Christ, and killing and persecuting Christians, a few day before that, and was on his way to commit more murder and mayhem.

Baptism is the first step towards Christian growth. So just confess your sins to God, and believe that He has forgiven you, and will give you grace to grow. Once again you can see why it is so critical to know the Scriptures for yourself. Your SS teacher should have known better.  If she's still around, you may want to teach your teacher from Scripture.

[FresnoJoe]

Welcome~!

~

Step

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Psalms 116:12-13

By Step

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-23

~

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

[Joe Schmidt]

Thank you so much every body. Now that I've read your replies and read a few long articles I'm sure I have not blasphemed the Holy Ghost and I'm not worried about this at all anymore. I will continue in my walk with the lord and studying my bible. I've learned The "unpardonable sin" is just a different way of rejecting Christ. No matter what they've done if they are ashamed of their son and are willing to repent he will forgive! If you have "fallen away" as the bible talks about you will no longer have a desire to serve Jesus. Now I know that even though I may feel that I was baptized a little too early it is just a starting place in your walk. I sincerely appreciate all your help. God bless you. 

[johnc5055]

Hi Joe, not sure if you are still following this. Something I discovered after several years of being Christian is that there is no act on my part that could cause me to be saved. I’m not sure why I didn’t pick that up sooner, it’s plain to see in scripture. I guess it’s just human nature to think I have to “do” something to get something. Baptism is a work. It is an important work; one we are all called to do but still a work – something we do. Some people sprinkle, some people dunk, some people skip it altogether and go to heaven anyway (the criminal on the cross next to Jesus comes to mind). We are not saved because of anything we have done or could do, we are saved because of what Jesus did. Our works glorify God but they cannot save us. Eph 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.” If my salvation is a gift from God, then how can I earn it? That wouldn’t be a gift but rather a reward; the bible doesn’t say that. The work that earned my salvation happened over 2000 years ago without my intervention. It is not within my power to undo that work, only to accept it or reject it of my own free will.

[JohnD]

On 3/27/2016 at 7:07 AM, Joe Schmidt said:

Thank you so much every body. Now that I've read your replies and read a few long articles I'm sure I have not blasphemed the Holy Ghost and I'm not worried about this at all anymore. I will continue in my walk with the lord and studying my bible. I've learned The "unpardonable sin" is just a different way of rejecting Christ. No matter what they've done if they are ashamed of their son and are willing to repent he will forgive! If you have "fallen away" as the bible talks about you will no longer have a desire to serve Jesus. Now I know that even though I may feel that I was baptized a little too early it is just a starting place in your walk. I sincerely appreciate all your help. God bless you. 

I get the impression Joe has left the building.

But if you are still watching this thread, I wish to reiterate what others have said... water baptism is not required for salvation. It is an outward sign of an inward transformation from unbelief to belief in Jesus Christ.

The Bible verses that seem to say baptism is a requirement for salvation are in fact referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit (not water). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the inward transformation from unbelief to belief in Jesus Christ... which is essential for salvation.

John 3:16–18 (AV)

16 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.

John the (water) Baptist himself contrasted water baptism with the baptisms of the Holy Spirit (salvation) and of fire (judgment).

Matthew 3:11 (AV)

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

We can do nothing to be saved. Our faith merely activates the pre-paid salvation in our account. Like activating a credit card. Until you activate it, it is useless to you. And even our faith is a gift from God:

Ephesians 2:8–10 (AV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are HIS workmanship.

BUT now that we are saved, we are to get to work serving Christ. Not to stay saved... but to serve him who saved us for all eternity...

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (AV)

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.