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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 | 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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2 | 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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