Error is one of the spirits mentioned in the Bible.
There are possibly hundreds of instances of these baptismal errors in various places of Christian worship.
Such inaccuracy must be corrected using reliable guidelines found in the Bible.
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Before one can become a Christian, the repentance message must first be received (believed). Choosing baptism over repentance goes against what the Bible teaches.
One criterion for baptism is total repentance of sin.
Being erroneous equates to being ignorant. False beliefs about the doctrine of baptism are more harmful than acts made against other subjects.
1) That Baptism Is A Prerequisite To Repentance. (This is undoubtedly intentional ignorance).
2) That Baptism Is To Be Performed Through Waters Spray (Scripture forbade this kind of baptismal practice).
It is therefore essential that I address these two erroneous beliefs in this post.
The last name of John the Baptist reveals a lot about his destiny on earth. John was the first person in the New Testament to preach and administer water baptism. He baptized our Lord Jesus in the Jordan River.
One of the two erroneous beliefs about baptism is presented here.
1) THAT BAPTISM IS A PREREQUISITE TO REPENTANCE.
(This is undoubtedly intentional ignorance).
(This is undoubtedly intentional ignorance).
I'd like to make something clear. "Repentance" and "baptism" are words that appear frequently in the New Testament.
It's comparable to asking which of food and water is more vital to life. Of course, water. Humans can go for days without food but not with water.
The reason for this is that the human body was not created to survive without water. In baptism, the same principle applies.
Before one can become a Christian, the repentance message must first be received (believed). Choosing baptism over repentance goes against what the Bible teaches.
One criterion for baptism is total repentance of sin.
Let's take a careful look at the scripture here: Mark 16:16; He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Water baptism is a sign of identification with the Lord Jesus, whereas salvation is a gift from God.
You are aware that there is nothing you can do to merit salvation which the Bible teaches is a gift from God.
You are aware that there is nothing you can do to merit salvation which the Bible teaches is a gift from God.
Even baptism is not a way to obtain it. It's without cost. Take advantage of it while you can.
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The following Scripture passages perfectly sum up everything.
Romans 10:9; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:9; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The above verse centers on confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and believing all of Christ's teachings to be true and infallible.
Acts 2:41; Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
What happens next after repentance? Baptism! This explains the proper baptismal approach. A means to repentance is not baptism. It is an after-repentance experience.
We must follow the Lord's instructions who directed us to be baptized once we repented.
We must follow the Lord's instructions who directed us to be baptized once we repented.
2 Corinthians 5:17; Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.
2) THAT BAPTISM IS TO BE PERFORMED THROUGH WATERS SPRAY. (Scripture forbade this kind of baptismal practice).
The act of water baptism serves as a metaphor for dying and rising with Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye rise with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life. In an illustrated concept the components of burial and resurrection are explained.
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Gently push the candidate into the water, one hand supporting the nose and wrist and the other hand holding the back. This explains how doing so symbolizes being buried with Christ, and lifting out of the water signifies being raised with Christ into a new life of faith and righteousness.
Can a spray or splash of water even come close to the example above? Was Jesus Christ's baptism in the Jordan River a spray or a splash of water? Whose example are we to emulate?
In the Bible, John the Baptist's method of baptism by immersion is explicitly described. It explains how the Holy Ghost descended onto Jesus as He was coming out of the water (the Jordan River).
The Lord Jesus accepting John's baptism was significant. It proves that immersion was an acceptable pattern.
Mark 1:9; And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mark 1:10; And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN FROM THIS?
* Baptism is an outward thing of our inner faith in Christ as Christians.
* Baptism is a declaration in front of the world that we are no longer up for it because we have received Christ Jesus.
* Baptism should not take place before repentance.
* The act of being baptized can symbolize both leaving the world and coming back to the Lord.
* Baptism represents our resurrected life in Christ and the death of our former selves.
* Baptism is an outward thing of our inner faith in Christ as Christians.
* Baptism is a declaration in front of the world that we are no longer up for it because we have received Christ Jesus.
* Baptism should not take place before repentance.
* The act of being baptized can symbolize both leaving the world and coming back to the Lord.
* Baptism represents our resurrected life in Christ and the death of our former selves.
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All Verses are from the King James Version of the Bible Unless Otherwise Stated.