Forgiveness

[Mark]

Please note: If God demanded that in order to be saved, one must be baptized in water, then God would be a respecter of persons. Many people cannot be baptized either because of physical reasons or the unavailability of water.

Good points! Another question which opens another can of worms for many is the method of baptism. If a person cannot be baptzed by immersion for any reason, can they be "sprinkled" with water? If not, why? Is there a formula? I know that the scriptures usually specify that a person "came up out of the water" which would indicate they were immersed. Just something else to discuss.

[sheep wrecked]

(06-02-2009 11:40 AM)Mark Wrote:  Please note: If God demanded that in order to be saved, one must be baptized in water, then God would be a respecter of persons. Many people cannot be baptized either because of physical reasons or the unavailability of water.

Good points! Another question which opens another can of worms for many is the method of baptism. If a person cannot be baptzed by immersion for any reason, can they be "sprinkled" with water? If not, why? Is there a formula? I know that the scriptures usually specify that a person "came up out of the water" which would indicate they were immersed. Just something else to discuss.

To qualify - I do not believe that believers are required to get baptized. I think NT baptisms were "transitional" as people became aware of the new covenant in Christ's blood.

Having traveled the full tour on baptism - I was sprinkled as a baby and then fully immersed in my 40s, my conclusion on the matter is that it is individual as far as method goes, but not necessary. Obviously, the infant baptism was not what baptism actually signified in the NT, so I am not sure how that is missed. I know that Catholic's use infant baptism as a salvation issue and others use it as a baby dedication type of thing. My own "sprinkling" was Calvinistic, which meant I was "elected" for salvation at the time of "accountability". All that stuff is not scriptural of course.

Whether one gets baptized or not is between them and God. Most churches require it for membership. I guess it depends on how important it is to each person.

Here are the references to baptism and what it means according to Paul and Peter. Please note that it is possible that we could view this as spiritual, not necessarily literal. The reason for this is the 1 Peter text which shows that baptism was a sign, but the literal washing of sin is in Christ - which the NT shows us many times [the "like figure" I believe is Christ, although there are other understandings of this]

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.

Col 2:11 In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.