Posts Tagged ‘baptism’
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…
Read MoreCan 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…
Read MoreAn 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. …
Read MoreWhen 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…
Read MoreViews 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…
Read MoreIf 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…
Read MoreBaptism 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…
Read MoreWhy didn’t I have a desire to study and go to church after I was baptized?
Question: Is the act of baptism because of not wanting to go to hell the result of repentance? I can’t say that I had a strong desire to live godly before my baptism, but at the same time, I can’t say that I was planning on continuing to sin or do evil things. I know…
Read MoreIs 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…
Read MoreHow 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…
Read MoreDoes 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…
Read MoreThe 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.…
Read MoreWhy 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…
Read MoreYour site showed me how wrong I was. Yesterday I was baptized for the forgiveness of my sins
Question: Good morning brother Hamilton, I am a 23-year-old male. Recently I have been doing a lot of research and searching the Scriptures. I had stumbled upon scriptures, like Romans 9, and eventually ended up taking the stance of predestination and faith alone. It was not that I wanted to, but I did not know…
Read MoreBible 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…
Read MoreWhere should I go from here? I’m an alcoholic, my wife has left me, and I doubt my baptism
Question: To start off, I was baptized at the church of Christ I attended. Before that time I was getting really bad into drugs, and my drinking was off the charts. I don’t remember what I knew of Christ, just that I needed to be baptized to enter Heaven. I managed to give up drugs…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreDo 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…
Read MoreBurying 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…
Read MoreDoes 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,…
Read MoreSix 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,…
Read MoreCan 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,…
Read MoreSince 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.…
Read MoreBible Truth About Baptism
by Matthew W. Bassford via His Excellent Word, November 14, 2016 I’d gotten some feedback about my recent preaching on evangelism that I felt merited sermons of its own. One of them was last week’s sermon. This week’s sermon is another. Basically, some of the ladies were asking the age-old question, “But what do I say?” …
Read MoreYour article contained the answers I was looking for
Question: Hello, I am going through some trouble right now. I have been dating my girlfriend for a year now and have been trying to ease her into the church. She has not been grounded in any denominational doctrine, but she still has some trouble accepting the truth. Recently, she had asked me to visit…
Read MoreWould a person be saved if he hadn’t gotten around to being baptized before he died?
Question: If someone was a believer, repented, and followed Jesus’ teachings, and was planning on getting baptized eventually but never got around to it before they died an accidental death like a car crash, would they still be saved? Answer: That would be up to God. I can’t judge the motives, but someone saying they…
Read MoreCan I get baptized even though I’m still living with my boyfriend?
Question: I have been with my partner for 19 years, but we are not married. I started going to church three years ago, but my partner isn’t a believer. Some in the church say that in the eyes of God we are married and, therefore, I should be baptized. However, others say I should be…
Read MoreIs Knowing that Baptism Is Essential to Salvation Essential to Salvation?
by Gary Eubanks This question may seem a bit obscure and requires a moment’s reflection to digest, but it actually addresses a very common and familiar situation. Anyone who knows much about Evangelicalism knows that at its heart lies the concept of salvation by faith alone. For Evangelicals, salvation comes at the point of belief…
Read MoreWhat is the proper thing to say as you are baptizing someone?
Question: Hi Jeff, I read an article that asks what does someone says before they baptize someone else. It almost answered my question but not completely. I have always been taught that it is not a proper baptism unless the proper things were said. After taking their confession and then preparing them for baptism, it…
Read MoreI went back into sin after my baptism. Does that mean my baptism was invalid?
Question: Hello, I just had a question. I was baptized at about 19 years old. I knew what I was doing, which was to live a different life, to be baptized and turn from my old self. I thought that when I came up from the water, I would be a new perfect person, and…
Read MoreBaptism started out in water, but it has changed
Question: This message is in regards to water baptisms. In the early stages, John the baptist and Jesus’ disciples were performing water baptisms. Some preachers are teaching the brethren, “except you be baptized in water you cannot be saved.” The elders of Jerusalem settled the issue of salvation when they wrote an epistle to the…
Read MoreIs it right to refuse baptism for a person who has multiple wives?
Question: Please preacher, is it biblically right to ask a person if he is customarily married or not, or whether he has two or more wives before such a person is baptized? If he fails any of the questions above, can you refuse to baptize such a person? Answer: In many African nations, there are…
Read MoreWhat Does Baptism Have to Do with Salvation?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/WhatDoesBaptismHaveToDoWithSalvation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 5:1-14 I. Leprosy is a terrible disease. A. It is a bacterial infection that causes skin lesions and nerve damage B. It has only been curable since the early 1980’s. C. So it is no wonder that a commander in Syria’s army would go great lengths to be cured. D. Yet…
Read MoreIf we have sex one more time before our baptisms, will God forgive us?
Question: Hi, I recently converted to Christianity and so did my girlfriend. We both have been in a very sexual relationship before we found God. We have been trying hard not to do anything sexual, but we messed up once, felt horrible, and asked for forgiveness. We’re getting baptized soon, and we’re both excited. We…
Read MoreCan I get forgiveness of my sins before I am baptized?
Question: I have accepted Jesus as my Savior but there is this little detail: I am not baptized. My family is not Catholic, so I wasn’t baptized, but I truly believe in God and have been praying a lot lately for His forgivenesses. Is it okay if I’m not baptized? Will I still be forgiven?…
Read MoreI keep finding sins in my life. Do I need to get baptized again?
Question: Brother Hamilton, This has been bothering me for a while, so I am going to explain my situation. I was baptized as an infant and grew up knowing all about Jesus and what is expected of a Christian. However, as a young adult, after studying the Bible, I realized my baptism was done wrong.…
Read MoreShould I wait until after I get married to be baptized?
Question: Hi, I am in the process of getting baptized and being confirmed as a Catholic. At the same time, I am engaged and my fiance and I live together. We will be getting married next year. Should I wait to be baptized after we are married? Answer: To be clear upfront, I’m not a…
Read MoreWould you baptize someone you think is living in sin?
Question: Hey Brother, Would you baptize an individual who you think is still living in sin or is setting a bad example? For instance, if the individual is living with a girlfriend but claims that they do not have sex and sleep in different rooms. Answer: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to…
Read MoreI just realized I never was properly baptized
Question: Hello, A couple of members of the church of Christ in my neighborhood suggested to me two Sundays ago that I should be re-baptized. After subsequent research (especially through your website), I was forced to admit that I was never properly baptized. I was baptized at only 10 weeks of age! Even before I…
Read MoreThe Action of Baptism
by Steve Wolfgang via Truth Magazine XIX: 27, pp. 421-422, May 15, 1975 The subject of the “action” of baptism quite evidently concerns itself with the nature of the act. It raises the question, “Exactly what is ‘baptism’?” This is a question that should be of obvious importance to every professed believer of the Bible. To those…
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