Posts Tagged ‘baptism’
Even after being baptized, my sister refused to leave her lesbian relationship
Question: Good afternoon, I need help. My sister in Christ was baptized. She has started a relationship with another woman. I’ve taken her over to Leviticus chapter 18 and studied with her about this. But she refuses to end the relationship. She’s married to this woman and needs a place to stay. I’ve prayed about…
Read MoreHow many times does a person need to be immersed during a baptism?
Question: I want to know if it is necessary to say “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” during a baptism? And is immersion valid if it is done once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son and once in…
Read MoreDid Jesus receive the Holy Spirit when he was baptized?
Question: My question is about Jesus and him being baptized. Did he receive the Holy Spirit during his baptism? Answer: When Peter said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), he…
Read MoreConfusing Mercy with Justice
by Matthew W. Bassford The other Sunday, I was approached by one of the younger sisters at church. She had a couple of questions. They involved hypotheticals that many of us have encountered before. What about the tribesman in the Amazon jungle who never gets to hear about the gospel? What about the man who…
Read MoreIf I don’t remember making a confession, do I need to be baptized again?
Question: Hello! First and foremost I want to offer my appreciation for your website and the encouragement it brings to many. I have been struggling with doubts about my personal salvation over the last few years and was hoping you could bring me some clarity/advice on what my next step should be. I want to…
Read MoreWas John’s baptism able to save people?
Question: Good morning sir, I have been reading about the baptism of John and how he came to make a way for Jesus to come to be accepted, but I am confused about whether his baptism was able to save people before Jesus’ baptism in Acts 2:38. If someone baptized by John died before Jesus’…
Read MoreDo all Christians become saints in the same way?
Question: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (I Corinthians 1:2). Could you use this verse to explain to someone that all…
Read MoreIsn’t Acts 2:38 under the Old Covenant?
Question: Hello, I have a question for you. Isn’t Acts 2:38 still under the Old Covenant? I notice that everyone saved after Acts 2:38 was told to just believe. Acts 2:38 was intended for those Jews who were under the Old Covenant and it is the last we see of water baptism until the New…
Read MoreShould baptism be denied if the person has not fixed all known sin?
Question: Hi, I am a member of the Lord’s church having had my sins washed away, and I also actively evangelize. I read the topic below and have been studying this and have a few scenarios. If a person is in an unscriptural marriage, must the person divorce before becoming a Christian? My questions, based…
Read MoreWhat if I didn’t repent before baptism?
Question: Hi. I was on your page and I have a question. I was baptized again 2.5 years ago because I was baptized for the wrong reasons the first time. ( pleasing others, etc). Before my second baptism, I didn’t repent of my sins. I remember thinking, well I’m going to continue in sin afterward,…
Read MoreWhy Were They Baptized so Soon?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Why-Were-They-Baptized-so-Soon.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 16:25-33 I. When you read through the book of Acts, an odd fact seems to stand out — everyone is in a big hurry to be baptized. A. They don’t wait for another meal, or sleep on the idea, or wait for another day to go by. B. Those who…
Read MoreBaptisms of the New Testament
Baptisms of the New TestamentBaptisms of the New Testament – Part 2Baptisms of the New Testament – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:1-6 I. How is it that Paul talks of one baptism in Ephesians 4:5 when the New Testament speaks of more than one? A. Baptism means immersion 1. You can have different…
Read MoreSince baptism is like circumcision, then isn’t it unnecessary?
Question: I would like to know, is it really important for a grown person to be baptized? If you feel like you are renewing your inner spirit man and reading the Bible and spending alone time with God, then isn’t that enough? It’s the same as what Paul describes circumcision and uncircumcision. Why is it…
Read MoreThe New Birth of Water
by James E. Cooper in Biblical Insights, Vol. 5, No. 2, Feb. 2005 Question: “Does ‘born of water’ in John 3:3,5 refer to baptism? Answer: Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” and “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom…
Read MoreDoes everyone who was baptized have eternal life?
Question: Hi, From the topic of “The Thousand-Year Reign”, you stated that baptism is the first resurrection. John also states that second death will not have an effect on those who take part in the first resurrection. Then does that mean all who were baptized will have eternal life? But what about those who are…
Read MoreWas baptism only for the Jews?(2)
Question: Good morning brother, I recently had a discussion with a brother in Christ who said that the book of Acts was addressed to the Jews because they killed Christ. He mentioned that the question asked after their hearts were pricked, “what shall we do” applied to those Jews that were assembled. He said that…
Read MoreIs baptism necessary for salvation?
Question: Hello! I am from Brazil, and I am seeking salvation. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sins on the cross and rose on the third day for my justification. I am sorry for all my sins. I would like to ask you: Is baptism by immersion necessary…
Read MoreNotes on Does God Think Baptism Is Necessary?
Despite having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized – Acts 10:48 All, including Paul, were baptized into Jesus and into Jesus’ death – Romans 6:3 They were baptized in order to be able to walk in newness of life – Romans 6:4 They were baptized…
Read MoreBaptism: Necessary for Salvation
by Allen Dvorak It is virtually undisputed truth that man is saved by divine grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). However, some have concluded from this fact that there is nothing that man can or must do for his salvation. It is frequently argued that “water baptism can’t possibly be necessary for salvation because it is…
Read MoreWhy Baptize Infants?
by Whit Sasser “Baptizing” infants is practiced in the Roman Catholic church and some of the Protestant denominations as well. But why would one need to subject a baby to such? They are not sinners. Sin cannot be inherited (Ezekiel 18:20). Sin is not passively received but a violation of God’s will (I John 3:4).…
Read MoreHow can someone with aquagenic urticaria be saved?
Question: How can people with aquagenic urticaria be saved? If these people that suffer from this disease were immersed in water would most likely die. This disease can be traced back before 500 B.C. Although a very low percentage of the population has this disease, one would think that the total number of people who have…
Read MoreCalling on the Name of the Lord (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Calling-on-the-Name-of-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-21 I. Most linguist will tell you that one difficulty in translating between two languages is dealing with idioms A. An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean what is literally said, but native speakers understand them without much thought B. Examples from English are” 1. “It’s raining cats and…
Read MoreCan a man who lived for many years with a woman be baptized?
Question: This happened over 20 years ago. A husband and his wife, who were idol worshipers and uneducated day laborers, who lived in a slum with their little children. Suddenly the husband left his wife and married another girl. Seeing the state of the woman, a young man who was not married and who also…
Read MoreCan a person be baptized who is living with someone but not having sex?
Question: Can a person be denied baptism if he is living with his fiancée but isn’t committing fornication because they saw the error of their ways Answer: Paul declared “that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20). If a person realizes that fornication is sinful, then why is…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreJesus’ 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,…
Read MoreYou 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…
Read MoreBaptism 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…
Read MoreWere 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…
Read MoreI 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…
Read MoreChrist 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…
Read MoreClapping 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,…
Read MoreIs 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…
Read MoreHow 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”…
Read MoreNotes 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…
Read MoreNotes 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…
Read MoreDoes 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…
Read MoreI 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.…
Read MoreWhat if a person does not go completely under the water at the same time? Is it still a baptism?
Question: What are your thoughts concerning baptism when a finger or knuckle or possibly someone with long hair doesn’t all get under at the same time or under at all? It seems like that could happen accidentally with no knowledge of it or could also be noticed by the baptizer. It seems like it’s still…
Read MoreBaptized 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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