Water baptism
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The word baptize comes from the from the Greek word βάπτειν, which means "to immerse". For two thousand years, Christians have been immersed in water to demonstrate their obedience to the words of Jesus, who instructed his followers to be baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The Bible records that the apostles baptized all new converts in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as this is the common name of the person of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism symbolizes a Christian's participation in Jesus' death, burial, and resurection. It demonstrates submission to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and is also an acceptance of the promise of eternal life. Anyone who has not been baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as instructed by the scriptures and demonstrated in the Book of Acts, must be baptized or rebaptized in this Name: "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
Why must Christians be Baptized?
Jesus commanded it.
Baptism was taught and practiced by Jesus' Disciples (the Apostles)
The Apostle Peter said this doctrine was applicable to all Christians - in every century.
Baptism is God's instruction for us. It is not wise to reject this instuction
Baptizm is identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Should Christians be Immersed?
Full Immersion is the only Biblical method of Baptism. The Greek word for baptize (βάπτειν) means to fully immerse something in a fluid. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states that the word is derived from bapto, meaning to dip, and was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another. Vine's also sets forth the noun form as follows: "baptisma ... baptism, consisting of the process of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip)." Consider also the following scriptures:
The fact that baptism is to be by full immersion is further validated by its being likened biblically to a burial.
In what Name should Christians be baptized?
Christians shoudl be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Mat. 28:19) The Name, singular, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians should therefore be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, which is in the Name is the Lord Jesus Christ. The words 'Father', 'Son', and 'Holy Spirit' are not names (or one Name), but are titles reflecting various attributes of God. The following scriptures record actual baptisms in the New Testament:
Baptizing in the name does not merely mean doing it in the authority of. It means invoking the name; it means speaking the name aloud. In the 'great commission,' Jesus said, "In my name they will drive out demons...they will place their hands on sick people." The apostles did this by invoking the name, speaking aloud his name. The same should be done at water baptism.
Is rebaptism necessary for someone that has not been immersed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
File:Baptism Brazil.jpg Baptism in Brazil, where the majority of the population are baptized as infants. Christians who have only been baptized in the titles of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit should be repabtized for the following reasons: 1) It is clear from the Bible (Acts 19:1-5) that people that were baptized incorrectly were commanded to be rebaptized:
2) God wants us to obey his commandments as stated in I John 2:3-5:
3) Refusing God's invitation to baptism means that He has no obligation to give you the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, and having been given the Keys to the Kingdom by Jesus, answered the people who asked "What shall we do?" with the following commandment in Acts 2:38:
If a person does not obey the scriptural pattern of conversion by repenting, then baptizm in Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by immersion, God has no obligation to give them His Holy Spirit. 4) No one has the authority to supersede the Biblical example of Water Baptism Peter, who Catholics consider to be the first Pope, was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus (Mat. 16:19). Jesus told Peter to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Mat. 28:19), and Peter then went out and preached that everyone must Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). Peter was not disobeying Jesus, but knew that the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:8 says that But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. This means that even if the Pope himself tells you not to be baptised by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that message is a different gospel than the one that Peter and Paul preached. 5) All Churches agree that baptism according to the Bible is necessary. In the article "Are Catholics Born Again?" by Bishop Robert H. Brom (San Diego), it states:
While not supporting the various Protestant interpretations of being born again that are discussed in Bishop Brom's article, it is important to note that Bishop Brom states that many Protestants have abandoned this biblical teaching, substituting man-made theories on regeneration. However, the Catholic church, is guilty above all other religous organizations and Christian denominations of abandoning biblical teaching for man-made theories - including their method of water baptism. Baptism by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Biblical way to be baptised. If you have not been baptised by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you should be rebaptised.
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