What about a person who doesn’t repent until after his baptism?

Question: Dear brother, Thank God for your good work. Please, if an unrepented person who concealed his sin then gets baptized and he later comes to his senses, what must he do? Or when the church finds out, what must the church do? What I understand, based on the steps to salvation, Acts 2:47 and…

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Jesus’ Baptism

by Terry Wane Benton Jesus had no sins, and John was baptizing people who needed their sins washed away. When Jesus requested that John baptize Him, John “tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” Baptism is for sinners who want their sins remitted,…

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You Must Be Born Again

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/08/You-Must-Be-Born-Again2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 3:1-22   I.         I had a fellow ask me if I had been born again.             A.        In particular, he wanted to know how I came to believe such a thing.             B.        When I replied with I John 2:3-6; 4:6; 5:2-3, he became quite upset             C.        He wanted to know how I was…

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Baptism Is Not My Work

by Edwin Crozier Today’s reading is John 9. by James Tissot Just like Jesus commands those who would be spiritually healed to be baptized, washed in water (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:21), Jesus commanded the blind man to go wash in the…

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Were any saved without baptism in the Christian age?

Question: Was there anyone saved after the dispensation of Christ in the New Testament that was not baptized? Answer: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me'” (John 14:6). Children are born without sin (Ecclesiastes 7:29) and are not held…

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I became a Christian but sinned before I was baptized

Question: Hello, I recently became a Christian. I think it was at the end of January or the first part of February that I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I wasn’t able to be baptized until April. But before then, I had a few bumps in the road. I committed three acts of…

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Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize

by Terry Wane Benton What did Paul mean by this statement in I Corinthians 1:17? Preaching the gospel is what leads to people being baptized (Mark 16:15-16). You could read the whole Old Testament, including the Law of Moses, and it will not command you to be baptized. Only the gospel will lead people to…

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Clapping in Worship

by Gardner Hall Is it wrong? If so, why? The last few years have seen the introduction of handclapping in congregations of the Lord, including a few that have opposed institutionalism. Though motives are often praiseworthy, serious questions are raised by the practice. Is it presumptuous? Is it practiced because God wants it? Or rather,…

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Is It Possible to Preach Christ and Not Preach Baptism or the Church?

by Donald Townsley via Guardian of Truth, December 15, 1988 From time to time men set forth the doctrine that we should “preach Christ” and leave the controversial subjects of the plan of salvation and the church alone. Some say, “just preach the man and not the plan”; others say, “preach Christ and not the…

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How to Become a Christian

by W. Frank Walton “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Corinthians 5:17). The Bible says salvation from sin is only in Christ (Acts 4:12). The most important commitment you’ll ever make is deciding to become a true Christian. What “steps”…

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Notes on Examples of Conversion

Where Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Result At Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Acts 2:38 Acts 2:38, 41 Forgiveness of sins Acts 2:38 Added Acts 2:41 Acts 3:12-26; 4:2,4 Acts 4:4 Increase in number Acts 5:14 Added to number Acts 5:42 Increasing in number Samaria Acts 8:4-8, 12 Acts 8:12-13 Acts 8:12-13 Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:30-35…

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Notes on Things that Accompany Salvation

Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Obey Commanded Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6 Commanded Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20 Commanded Acts 10:48 Commanded Philippians 2:12 To come to God John 6:45 To please God Hebrews 11:6 To gain times of refreshing Acts 3:19 Brings joy in heaven Luke 15:7 To be confessed before God Matthew 10:32-33 To…

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Does it matter if you are baptized facing forward?

Question: I just started going to a church of Christ and love it. They’re a real loving congregation. I was just baptized. I’m new to all this but have OCD and am particular. I find it odd that they baptized me forward while I was on my knees. I’m new to all this and felt…

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I want to be baptized, but how can I find a true believer to do it?

Question: I recently came across the fact that baptism is a necessary step for the forgiveness of sins. If this interpretation is true, it means that I’ve never met a Christian in my whole life. Most people I know who are or claim to be a Christian were baptized because they knew God commanded it.…

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Baptized but Not Converted

by Fred Shewmaker Years ago in a home Bible study, the couple with whom we were studying complained that the words I was using were too big. Being somewhat inexperienced in home Bible studies, I was surprised by their complaint. The words about which they were complaining were all words found in the Bible. I…

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Isn’t a baptized person a member of the local congregation?

Question: I am a bit confused. My understanding has always been that if an individual were visiting us, and they obeyed the gospel while here, I would direct them to a sound church in their area. They would not be a member of the local church here, although they obeyed the gospel here. If I…

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Can you explain whether people are saved in these four scenarios?

Question: The gospel was preached to four people who accepted the Word and wanted to be baptized. The first person confessed his drinking habit and asked to be baptized but will gradually stop the drinking later. Can he be baptized to become a Christian? Why or why not? The second person hides his sin with…

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An Inquiry into Baptism

Sprinkling, Pouring, or Immersion, Which Shall It Be? by Jefferson David Tant Introduction Since the Bible teaches that baptism is an essential part of my relationship with Christ (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-5, etc.), then it behooves me to make sure that my baptism is pleasing to the one who has given the ordinance. …

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When Is a Baptism Valid?

by Matthew Bassford Seven or eight years ago, I got a call from a brother in St. Louis who asked me to study with his mother.  I set up the study and began, as I usually do, by asking her questions about her religious background.  She explained that she had been brought up in a…

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Views of Mark 16:16

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ViewsOfMark16.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 16:14-20   I.         Jesus had just one meaning in mind when he spoke Mark 16:16.             A.        It isn’t for men to put their own spin on Jesus’ words – II Peter 1:20-21             B.        Not that this has ever stopped people from trying             C.        God doesn’t author confusion – I Corinthians 14:33             D.        But…

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If I get baptized, does that mean I wasn’t saved before?

Question: Hello, I am a teenager, and I have a few questions I’d like to ask. I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church. I said the sinner’s prayer (or something like it) when I was 6 or 7 years old. I wanted to follow God (I think), but I never got around to being…

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Baptism and the Faithfulness of God

by Matthew W. Bassford Whether most Christians think about it or not, their entire belief system is based on the premise that God is faithful. God’s faithfulness is what makes it reasonable for us to trust in Him and devote our lives to doing His will. We know that if we keep our covenant with…

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Is baptism for the remission of future sins?

Question: When one is baptized into Christ by water baptism, is it for the remission of past sins only? Or is baptism for all sins (past, present, and future sins)? Answer: “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and…

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How could Jesus’ baptism save before his death?

Question: I am a member of the Church of Christ. My son-in-law has decided to follow the Baptist teachings. I have done much study on baptism since his decision. I have studied many questions on your site. I am perplexed by your responses on one set of verses: John 4:1-2. You seem to say in…

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Does a confession need to be taken before baptism?

Question: We are having a problem with words in our congregation. When you baptize someone should you say the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins?” Or should you just immerse them and say nothing? Also, our preacher does not…

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The Passing of Billy Graham

by Dan Gatlin Billy Graham passed away today. Some may not be familiar with what he taught. He said, “I believe baptism is important, and I have been baptized. But I think we violate the Scriptures when we make baptism the prime requirement for salvation … Paul’s central theme was Christ and His saving power.…

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Why is the religious world so against baptism?

Question: I stumbled upon this Christian site, which I believe is owned by people who are Restored Church of God. I saw an article where they tell people how to be saved. A lot was actually good material. It talked about the necessity of repentance and believing, along with Scriptures, but when it came to…

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Bible Baptism

by Foy E. Wallace Bible Banner – 1948 The basic principle of all obedience is understanding. “He that heareth the word and understandeth it” (Matthew 13:23). “Go preach the gospel — he that believeth (the gospel) and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16). Believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is not…

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What must I confess before I am baptized?

Question: Let me start off by thanking you for all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago I prayed to God asking for guidance in finding the true church of which I can become a part of so that I may further my understanding of the gospel. I firmly…

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What must I confess before I am baptized?

Question: Let me start off by thanking you for all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago I had prayed to God asking for guidance in finding the true church of which I can become a part so that I may further my understanding of the gospel. I firmly…

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Do you all believe the only way to be saved is through baptism?

Question: I was reading more on the La Vista Church of Christ website, and I was a little confused about something. Do you all believe the only way to be saved is through baptism? Answer: I have a question for you: Can a person be saved by ignoring what God commanded to be done? For…

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Burying the Living

by Jonathan Perz Do you believe in a doctrine that endorses burying the living? Baptism is likened to a burial (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). Now, if we are saved (i.e., made alive – Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:1, 5) before baptism, then aren’t we actually burying the living when we are baptized because we have already been…

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Does someone have to repent of all their sins before baptism?

Question: Does someone have to repent of all their sins before baptism or can they repent of the ones they struggle with most? Answer: If you were poisoned and you were going to die and someone offered you the cure to save your life would you take it? There is a catch with the cure,…

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Six Questions About Baptism

by Matthew W. Bassford This lesson was prompted by a series of questions passed to me by one of the young people in the congregation.  They are all very thoughtful, and they are all on the subject of baptism. I think publicly exploring the topic is important.  Others may be grappling with the same questions,…

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Can I be forgiven if I sin after I was baptized?

Question: I was baptized a few months ago, and I turned myself into the name of the Lord. Everything has been going well. I feel alive and well again. I’ve been talking to a very special girl (she is baptized as well). The other day I met up with her, and we ended up kissing,…

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Since only males were circumcised, how did females enter the Old Covenant?

Question: Brother, This question came up in a recent Bible study. We were covering the book of Romans, the last few verses of chapter 2. Circumcision came up. After a little discussion, a sister in Christ asked how women made a covenant with God under Mosaic Law, since circumcision was the sign of the covenant.…

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