Bible Question:
Believers who practise infant baptism understanding it to be a Scriptural practice, or recognise their infant baptism, are welcome as members Do you agree? Is It right? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Cariad! Part 1 of 3 Following is an except from one of my previous posts on baptism: "Peter said, ‘Ananias, how can Satan have so possessed you that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land? While you still owned the land, wasn’t it yours to keep, and after you had sold it wasn’t the money yours to do with as you liked? What put this scheme into your mind? You have been lying not to men, but to God.’ (Acts 5:3-4) Clearly, Peter never heard Jesus say that the Holy Spirit is God--well not in those precise words! But Peter and the rest of the disciples did hear Jesus say that the Holy Spirit, whom the world cannot receive, will come to the believers and will make his abode, along the Father and the Son, in us! Peter believed that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit is God! The flawed view that exacts that Biblical text must reveal everything in the particular formula and the precise wording that we seek has curtailed our spiritual growth and has limited us to the finite understanding of the Scriptures. This is why there are those who profess to be “Christians” while simultaneously rejecting Christ as their Lord since they seek to divorce Christ from His Divinity. Still, that same flawed view keeps others from believing in the Holy Trinity--their main argument is that the word “trinity” is not written in the Bible! This fallacy is so entrenched in their minds (and possibly egos) that they refuse to accept any Biblical teachings that demonstrate that God exists in three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! (John 14:16-17, 23; Matthew 10:19; 1 Corinthians 12:3, 12:4-11...) As attested by the hundreds of denominational congregations (and the number keeps rising) our finite understanding seeks to adapt the Bible to the world's doctrines; sadly, those young in the Faith digest anything that is professed as innovative--regardless of the reason behind the phenomena or the lack of adherence to the Word of God. It seems that all reason/logic is thrown out and that the mere pursuit of novelty is its own reward! We may not want to believe what the Word says and the Scriptures may not reveal everything in an unabridged format, but, if we yield our will to God’s, the Holy Spirit, Wisdom and generosity combined, reveals to us everything we need to know--as He desires us to come to understanding! 1 Corinthians 15:29 Otherwise, what are people up to who have themselves baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, what is the point of being baptized on their behalf? (Personal Bible) New International Version (NIV) 29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? New American Standard Bible (NASB) 29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Amplified Bible (AMP) 29Otherwise, what do people mean by being [themselves] baptized in behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? New Living Translation (NLT) 29If the dead will not be raised, then what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again? King James Version (KJV) 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? English Standard Version (ESV) 29Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? I am not a linguist nor do I have access to copies the original text (scrolls), but from reading 1 Corinthians 15:29 (which ever version you prefer) I can only conclude that there were believers being baptized on the behalf of their dead loved ones; and, again from this verse, I surmise that the Apostles were not only aware of this particular practice but they did not prohibit the performance of these baptisms since the Biblical passage speaks on the assertion of the resurrection and not against the practice of baptism on behalf of the dead!" |