Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Terra | 31780 | ||
Hi, I would like to know if baptism is just a symbol and if you don't get baptized will you still go to hell for believing truly that Jesus died for our sins? |
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2 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Robert Nicholson | 31781 | ||
Hi Terra: It is not what I think or my interpretation of the Bible, but what did the Lord Jesus say? In Mark 16:16 Jesus says "He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned" Notice that the emphasis is upon believing or believing not. In order to be saved we must believe that "Jesus died for our sins" upon the cross. It is not simply believing about this great truth, but accepting the truth as revealled by the Spirit of God through his word that "Jesus took my place on the cross, he bore the wrath for my sins and I simply rest my all upon him for eternity. Jesus said "verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" John 5:24 When we trust in Christ he changes us by his Spirit and makes us alive spiritually to him. We are immediately placed in the family of God through adoption forever. Nothing can separate us from that eternal relationship. What about baptism? It is a command of the Lord Jesus which he expects of those who have trusted him. Matt. 28:19 In Acts 2:41 we read "that they which gladly received (believed) his word were baptized. In the days of the early church it cost something to identify with the rejected Christ. The early believers were baptised by immersion which proclaimed to the world that they belong to Christ and that with his help they intend to live for him by his grace throughout the rest of their lives. I believe that baptism is a symbol of sanctification, that is, being set apart for Christ. To live a baptised life "we are to reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:11 Since baptism is a command of the Lord Jesus, a believer can please him by obedience to his word in the waters of baptism. The most important thing in our life is to put our trust in Christ. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12 Praise his name forever! Standing on the promises of God! Robert |
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3 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Kyblue | 31788 | ||
Excellant answer Robert! I understand baptism to be an outward proclamation that symbolizes our inward change to live for Christ. Although, baptism is not mandatory for a person to have eternal life it is exactly what Robert said, obedience to our Lord. We are saved by trusting and believing in our Lord Jesus and not by any other thing. v/r Bill |
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4 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Curtnsally | 31831 | ||
Agree that these answers are great. I would add this: Baptism is a sign of God's promise. There were those who were baptized by John before they knew Christ. Their faith was based on God's promise. Thus, as Christians, we also baptise our children, placing them under God's covenant (just as Jews in OT times circumcised their children to place them under the covenant of Abraham). This is a sign of God's promise. Some say that children should only be baptized when they reach an age of understanding. But God's promises have never been dependent upon our understanding. We accept this sign as of a promise of salvation through Christ, a sign that points toward Christ. As others have pointed out, it is not a substitute for Christ. His only Curt |
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5 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Kyblue | 31890 | ||
Curt, although I respect your views on the baptism of children I do not necessarily agree. I believe that a person should be baptised under "free will" and if we choose (as parents) to have our children baptised, then they themselves are not making that decision under their own free will. God's promises are not dependent on our understanding as you stated; however, I think it should be added that although we may not understand His promises, we must have faith to partake in them. He promised us eternal life - if we have faith in His Son. He promised us blessings - if we have faith in Him. Look back at to all of Jesus' miracles... each one was accomplished among those who had faith. These miracles are the same as all God's promises - first we must have faith. Now, if a child does not have faith and is baptised, then does that not make that child's baptism worthless? I am sure some can argue that an early baptism of a child is a covenant between God and the parent to raise the child in a Godly home. However, if we are already Christians then we should not have to make "another" covenant with God to do the correct things and raise our children in Godly ways because we should have already made that covenant with Him when we chose to be Christians. Bottomline, I feel that a person should be baptised under their own free will, which personally symbolizes their dying with Christ on the cross and being resurrected into a newness of life to walk with Christ the best they can while on this earth. If a person doesn't come to the baptism by their own will then they themselves haven't really made a covenant with God, have they? v/r Bill |
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6 | Is BAPTISM a SYMBOL? | Mark 16:16 | Curtnsally | 32012 | ||
I have considered your position with great interest, but must say that I respectfully disagree. God's promise is not dependent upon us. It is made unilaterally. Jesus died and rose at the will of God, not because we first had faith, but because God chose to offer His gift of grace to us. Thus, baptism is a sign of God's promise to us, not a sign of our promise to God. When we repent, accept the gift of grace and receive the Holy Spirit, it is then that WE have accepted God's gift. Baptism is like the Christmas card that comes with the gift. It expresses the love of God for us in His unilateral grace. Just as salvation is not dependent upon grace plus works, neither is baptism (which points to God's grace) dependent upon our actions. A person (child) can be baptized as a sign of God's promise to us, and their will has nothing to do with that promise. Acts 16:33-34 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. |
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