Bible Questions Answered:
“I was baptized at an early age, in a church, today, that I would not call Christian.” My question, should I be baptized again now as a believer?”
Elisha/ Dallas, Texas U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Some would say, no, but they would “not,” be in accord with the word of God.
Bible Text;
Acts 19:3-5 NLT
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Johns baptism:
Matthew 3:11 KJV
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire:
The Apostle Paul, re-baptized these Corinthian believers.
Please remember that though baptism is commanded by our Lord, yet it in itself “is NOT a means of salvation!” It is a means of "confession," confession of our faith, in believing in the finished work of Christ!
I Peter 3:18,20-22 KJV
18 For Christ also hath 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:
20 ...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.
21 The like figure (The Ark) where unto even baptism doth 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:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
In Noah's day, eight individuals entered into the Ark, by faith. Once in the Ark, they were saved from God's judgment.
One must be of the “faith,” before partaking of baptism. Baptism does not save, but a persons belief-and-confession, that by Christ's victory over sin on the cross, we may have victory as believers, victory over death and, judgment.
The Ark of Noah's day was the “symbol-of-faith,” for eight people, it was their public confession and reliance upon Almighty God, for their salvation.
Today, Baptism, is a "symbol-of-faith," for we believers, it is our public confession and reliance upon Almighty God, for our salvation.
Romans 6:4 KJV
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.
Think for one moment, if baptism saved us, what a terrible shame God's son had to come to earth, suffer and die, for nothing!
How preposterous!
Romans 5:8,9 KJV
8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works (Secular, or Righteous, ed.), lest any man should boast.
Concerning baptism, be sure also to read the blog....
