Posts Tagged ‘baptism’
Is baptism required to go to heaven?
Question: If you don’t get baptized, do you not go to heaven? Answer: Assuming you are talking about responsible adults, consider the following: Can the disobedient enter heaven? “But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does…
Read MoreDoes Romans 4:9-12 indicate that we are saved prior to baptism?
Question: Can you explain why Romans 4:9-12 does not indicate that we are saved prior to baptism? I am not sure how to put the answer into words for an acquaintance that insists that he was saved prior to baptism regardless of clear passages of Scripture. Thank you! Answer: When a person argues against what…
Read MoreHow can baptism be necessary when everyone doesn’t have access to water, someone to baptize them, or haven’t practiced it for centuries?
Question: I have been researching the role baptism plays in the Christian experience. I ran across your web site (along with many more) on the subject. I understand that your church believes that baptism is necessary for salvation. The first question I have regarding your views is an entirely practical one. If an area or…
Read MoreCan you explain all these similar phrases about dying with Christ and dying to sin?
Question: What do these phrases mean? I have been crucified with Christ I am dead in Christ I have died to Christ I am dead to sin I am dead in sin I am resurrected with Christ Answer: Let’s examine each phrase in the statement in which it was given: I have been crucified with…
Read MoreDid Paul really receive the Holy Spirit before his baptism?
I was just reading your answer to 1/24/2008’s question about Paul receiving the spirit before he was baptized. I could be mistaken, but I have never gotten from that passage that Paul received the Spirit before baptism. Ananias told Paul that he would receive his sight and then be filled with the spirit. Then, his sight was…
Read MoreWhat are the citations for Luther’s quotes on baptism?
Question: Appreciated your article on “Is water baptism a work?” but could you cite your references to Luther’s writings? I’d never before heard that he wrote these things. The references would be valuable. Answer: “What does Baptism give or profit? It effects the forgiveness of sins …” Martin Luther, “The Small Catechism,” in The Book of…
Read MoreHow far should a person’s past be checked before baptizing them?
Question: When you have an open Bible study with a family, and they come to the knowledge of the truth, and you find out that a previous marriage has taken place earlier in years, and show them the truth of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and they feel like they are in a scriptural marriage, but…
Read MoreI want to attend a different church than my parents. What do I do?
Question: I have a question and it is very important to me. I’m eleven years old and I have accepted Jesus into my heart, so I am a Christian. But, here’s the problem. I really don’t like my church. We visited one, and we went there for about six weeks, but then we went back…
Read MoreHow was John’s baptism different from Jesus’ baptism?
Question: I have some questions about John’s baptism. I’ve read about how it was a fulfillment of prophecy to prepare the way, but I’m really confused about what that really means and what the point of John’s baptism was. I am curious about a few things: What does “preparing the way” mean for John the…
Read MorePaul was filled with the Spirit before he was baptized, so wasn’t he saved before baptism?
Question: I figured I would just point out two significant points in the Bible. Acts 10:43-48 clearly illustrates that one can have the Holy Spirit before baptism. The passage also says “whoever believes in shall have remission of sins.” Once you have the Holy Spirit in your life you are saved. Also, you mentioned when Paul was saved.…
Read MoreThe “Name” of Jesus
by David Smitherman via Plain Talk, July 1983 Jesus has a “name” that is above every other name (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9) but that “name” is not just an arrangement of letters to spell that word: J-E-S-U-S is not this name. It is much more than a title or designation. In Scripture, “name” is often equivalent…
Read MoreDoes true faith mean the command to be baptized does not save a person?
Question: I guess I would not mind seeing the other side of my argument. It is simply this: true faith saves you. I could go in-depth of what I mean if you would like me to, but I guess I just want to hit on the issue. I believe that baptism has absolutely no part…
Read MoreHow can I convince a friend that baptism is required for salvation?
Question: A friend and I are currently studying with an individual who is stuck on the fact that baptism is, in his view, clearly not required for salvation and praying Jesus into your heart will do fine. We go round and round and just when he starts to agree with us and we think we…
Read MorePlease explain the “baptism of fire”
Question: Please explain the “baptism of fire.” Thank you. Answer: The concept of a baptism of fire comes from a statement made by John the Baptist. “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the…
Read MoreObjections to the Essentiality of Baptism for Salvation
by Abraham Smith The Bible is very clear in its teaching on baptism’s role in our salvation. It is an act of obedience that is required of us by God “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). The Bible does not teach that baptism is “an outward sign of inward grace.” Neither does the Bible…
Read MoreAnswering Arguments Against Baptism
by Dan Gatlin Brethren have long pointed out that “preaching Jesus” means preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 8:35-36). Paul warned the Corinthians that when “we preach Christ crucified” some would stumble and others would consider it foolishness (I Corinthians 1:22-23). While many in the denominational world agree that belief (John 8:24), repentance…
Read More“Baptism is an Elective”
by Larry Ray Hafley Truth Magazine, June 16, 1977 “The great church history writers state that baptism misunderstood and misapplied became the major factor of separation in the early church which Jesus formed. Apparently the much mention of baptism in the New Testament overworked the minds of some ceremonialists to the point of declaring it…
Read MoreCan you help me answer some arguments that baptism isn’t necessary?
Question: I still haven’t been baptized since repenting again and coming back to the Lord a year ago. I’m just patiently waiting, you see, for my pastor to preach the truth. I know God wants me to be in that church because every time I wanted to leave, the pastor ends up preaching Scriptures based…
Read MoreAre Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit three manifestations of the same one Spirit?
Question: I see that you believe in the water baptism and the necessity of that being the remission of the sins that are forgiven. I note that in the Book of Acts, and God showed me this at 16 years old, that the apostles always baptized in the name of Jesus. The power of heaven…
Read MoreDoes regeneration and being born again mean the same thing?
Question: Does regeneration and being born again mean the same thing? Answer: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom…
Read MoreDoesn’t John 3:16 prove that you can be saved without baptism?
Question: Hi. I was reading your article on “Can a man be saved without baptism?” and was wondering (as a young bible student) what about John 3:16? “… Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall not perish but have everlasting life.” This does not indicate that baptism is a requirement of salvation, but…
Read MoreAre you born again?
Question: What I would like to know is are you a born again Christian church as in John 3:3? Jesus said no one will enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again so are you? Answer: No one can be a Christian without being born again. For more details, see the article “Are…
Read MoreIs it true that the purpose of baptism is not for salvation?
Question: Could I be baptized in a pool if I wanted to? One more question and I promise I will leave you alone: Would you agree with me if I said: “the purpose of baptizing is not for salvation, but for a public testimony of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ”? Is the only requirement…
Read MoreAm I doing the right thing by getting baptized again after being baptized as a child?
Question: I am getting baptized in a couple of days and I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. The problem is that I was baptized as a toddler in a Catholic Church. I am not Catholic and the baptism meant nothing because I lived a life of pure sin until the…
Read MoreHow does a person become a new creation?
Question: In his letters the apostle Paul said that the person who receives the gift of faith becomes a new “creation” ( a new person). How does he understand this change or transformation? How exactly does the person become this “new creation”? Answer: The Bible doesn’t discuss people receiving a gift of faith. There is…
Read MoreCould you explain this answer I got concerning Acts 2:38?
Question: I was writing the NIV translators, who are intermixed with IBS, about the “for the forgiveness of sins.” I got a regular response, but I am writing to him some more on certain verses. I also wrote the NASB guys but haven’t gotten a response yet. Anyway here is the letter I got. He…
Read MoreWhere does the Bible parallel the use of the laver to baptism?
Question: Hello, I am trying to finish up my paper, and I remember learning about the basin or laver bowl stand for the tabernacle in Exodus chapter 30, but I can’t remember where it says it relates back to baptism. It might be in Hebrews. I was wondering if you had any information on this,…
Read MoreWhat about the argument that “for the remission of your sins” is plural and refers back to repentance in Acts 2:38?
Question: Hello again. An argument that I have addressed with my friend, but I thought you might like, is about baptism. The argument is that if it says in Acts 2:38 “for the remission of your sins” instead of “for the remission of sins” then it is personal and it is referring back to repent…
Read MoreDo you have to know that baptism is for the remission of sins in order to be forgiven?
Question: The question I pose is, “Does one have to have the knowledge that baptism is for the remission of sins, for such to occur?” I understand that if one is taught by one who knows the truth, this would not even be a question. However, I can not logically see the command that one…
Read MoreWhat if a person can’t afford the fee for a baptismal service?
Question: I am worried if one cannot get baptized just because they cannot afford to pay for the service and just because they have no money to afford a baptism. If that is the case, would that person be exempt from the requirement for baptism and still be saved? Answer: Fee? What fee? There is…
Read MoreWas the Ethiopian eunuch baptized in a pool or a river?
Question: Was the Ethiopian Eunuch baptized in a river or in a pool? (Acts 8:36-38) Answer: “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”” (Acts 8:36). We know the eunuch was traveling down a road going from…
Read MoreWas my husband saved at his first or second baptism?
Question: My husband had been baptized at around 13 years old. He said he thought he got baptized because he knew his mom wanted him too. I am sure he knew some of what was right and wrong but was not privy to a lot of Bible teaching. (He was later baptized from the heart…
Read MoreAren’t Acts 2:38 and Matthew 26:28 different in some Greek texts?
Question: I read your Acts 2:38 in comparison to Matthew 26:28. Problem is the King James version agrees it’s the same in Greek, but the Nestle makes it more personal where it could read “for the remission of your sins”. Even though I don’t think that matters because it makes it more personal with the…
Read MoreShould I get baptized again?
Question: I read your answer about re-baptism. For a time now I have struggled with about being re-baptized. When I was originally baptized, it was done the proper way by immersion in the name of the Father, of the Son, and Holy Spirit for the purpose of becoming saved. But since then I fell away from…
Read MoreThe Baptism of Cornelius
Text: Acts 10:34-48 I. Groups who believe in the direct operation of the Holy Spirit in their lives today will cite the conversion of Cornelius and his household as proof A. Some will go so far as to state that a person is not really saved unless they experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. B. It…
Read MoreCircumcision Proves the Necessity of Baptism
by Kent Heaton The apostle Paul appeals to the “saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse” to discharge the philosophies of men and embrace Him who has the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1). The church at Colosse had been troubled by the teachings of men that distracted from the glory of…
Read MoreAre You a Born Again Christian?
by Steve Dewhirst What other kind of Christian is there? Jesus told the night-visitor Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” When Nicodemus expressed his puzzlement, the Lord explained, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5). This rebirth…
Read MoreHow Salvation Comes to Man
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:1-6 I. Matthew 7:6 A. We don’t often think about whom we talk to about the gospel, but not everyone will be receptive to the message. B. Jesus is basically saying don’t waste your time. Not only will the message be rejected but the messenger will also be attacked. C. But consider…
Read MoreWhat was the purpose of John’s baptism?
Question: As part of our mid-week bible study, we have been discussing John the Baptist and how he prepared the way for Christ. I understand John’s mission and the importance of baptism, but was it also used to prepare the people for the conversion (burial) into Christ? What was the significance of baptism by John…
Read MoreAre children being baptized just to claim growth?
Question: I appreciate your words on the subject of “accountability.” I have met brother Al Diestelcamp at Sycamore and receive his paper “Think…….” While I am considered of the “traditional” camp, I am also searching to make sure that I am not just accepting the traditions of men. In the past year, I have been…
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