Posts Tagged ‘baptism’
Did Peter have the Jews baptized to make a public statement?
Question: Reading online the transcript of a sermon by a man named John MacArthur in which he preached on Peter’s sermon at Pentecost and the reaction to it, I was a little surprised to see how flimsy the argument put forth was regarding the role of baptism in salvation. With no reference to any other Scripture and…
Read MoreSalvation by Grace
by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October, 1952. In Titus 2:11-13 we read: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and…
Read MoreI left God and have not been a faithful wife. How do I get baptized?
Question: I have known about God all my life. I used to go to church with my parents. It has been a long time since I have been to church. I forgot about Him for a while; I lost faith and stopped praying. I got married two years ago. A couple of weeks ago I…
Read MoreFor if you must be physically immersed in water to be saved, then the blood and Jesus Christ has no power
Question: As a Nazarene Pastor, I wonder about what you have written. As a Christian, I can not judge your salvation. Unless you truly believe that it is the water and not the blood of Christ that saves you. I have read your web site. I am impressed with your research. I was surprised at…
Read MoreI got baptized for selfish reasons. Do I need to get baptized again?
Question: I was baptized according to the Bible when I was 14. I’m now 20 years old. I have been faithful in the church. However, recently I have been questioning the motive behind my baptism. Now that I look back I knew Jesus had died on the cross for my sins and that when I…
Read MoreCan I baptize myself?
Question: Hi, Thanks for a good website I have learned a lot from reading questions and answers! Is it possible to support your website financially? I want to ask if you would pray for me so I can get out of my sin. As a person, I used to be confident, but I’m not that…
Read MoreDo you have to be baptized by the person who led you to Christ?
Question: Good day sir! Sorry to bother you again, I just wanted to ask: Must you be baptized by the person who led you to Christ or it can be administered by anyone provided he believes in Christ Jesus and done through immersion? Answer: Paul led many to Christ, but he mentions that he only…
Read MoreDoes the Didache prove that pouring was an acceptable substitute for baptism in the early church?
Question: Does the Didache reflect that the early church allowed the pouring of water over the head three times as a legitimate alternative when immersion wasn’t possible? I’m certain that many people will try to use this as an argument that sprinkling is an acceptable form of baptism, but it seems pretty clear that it was…
Read MoreCan someone live a holy life without undergoing baptism?
Question: I kindly wanted to ask: Can someone live a holy life without undergoing baptism? Answer: Can someone claim to be holy while disobeying God’s command? “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,…
Read MoreI was baptized, but I seem more lost than I was before
Question: Hello I read a post that a young boy was sad about sinning and kept returning to the sin that he hates doing. I was baptized as an adult several years ago, but after that, it seems that I’m lost even more than before being baptized. I would like to get up one day…
Read MoreIs repentance required before baptism?
Question: I do have a question: Acts 2:38 says repentance comes before baptism. So does that mean a baptism is invalid if there was no repenting prior to it? In my case, when I was baptized, I just believed what the preacher was saying about Jesus was true, and knew Jesus said we had to…
Read MoreHow could the men at Ephesus be disciples before they were baptized?
Question: First of all, I would like to thank you for the La Vista Church of Christ website. I love how you attach a link to the Bible verses you quote. I have studied many of the topics you have and I have learned a lot. Thank you again! Second of all, I have recently…
Read MoreBelief, Baptism, and Signs Following – Still Today?
by Larry Ray Hafley Here is the text of Mark 16:15-20: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In…
Read MoreDoes a person in an adulterous marriage have to get divorced first before he can be baptized?
Question: The following scenario has been presented to me by another person for my thoughts and guidance on it: I have a tough situation. A man I’ve known most of my life was baptized the other day. This man was in adultery. The church went ahead and baptized him. I don’t know all the details…
Read MoreIs the efficacy of baptism in our faith in God? Does that mean faith is more important than baptism?
Question: What is meant by Colossians 2:12, “in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead”? Is it teaching the efficacy of our baptism lies in our faith in God? If so then one of the faith only might say that “Faith…
Read MoreDoes the Holy Spirit come to us at our baptism?
Question: Jeffrey, Thank you for your wonderful work in teaching the Bible and for your web site. I have become much stronger in the faith as a result of your help. I have come upon a statement that I am not sure is correct: “At baptism God sends His Spirit to dwell in us. He…
Read MoreI believe I am saved, but I haven’t been baptized yet. What happens if I die before I am baptized?
Question: I recently turned my life to God. I’m on your website all the time learning about what things to do and not do. I’m also reading the Bible. I don’t know everything in the Bible, so I’m currently educating myself. I’ve come to be a bit confused since I have a hard time understanding…
Read MoreYou’re Right! You Don’t HAVE to Be Baptized.
by Jason Smith I have had many discussions about the subject of baptism with people, and it never fails that sometimes during the discussion, they just deny what the scriptures say about the topic. They at times just say, “I deny what you are saying about baptism,” ignoring the fact that all I am doing is…
Read MoreDoes the Holy Spirit come to us at our baptism?
Question: Jeffrey, Thank you for your wonderful work in teaching the Bible and for your website. I have become much stronger in the faith as a result of your help. I have come upon a statement that I am not sure is correct: “At baptism, God sends His Spirit to dwell in us. He marks…
Read MoreIs it important that the person doing a baptism be a Christian?
Question: Dear brother Jeff, I am so glad I came across your website some two years back, and have never stopped coming ever since. I’m a 19-year-old young man, brought up in a God-loving family who were guided by the grace of our God to be added into His church. Since this is my first…
Read MoreWhere in the New Testament does Jesus say that you must be baptized in water?
Question: I am curious. Where in the New Testament does Jesus say that you must be baptized in water? Answer: These types of questions are based on a false precept that only statements in certain sections of the Bible are legitimate. In this case, it is an attempt to eliminate what the apostles wrote as…
Read MoreWhy did Paul say he was not sent to baptize?
Question: Good morning, First, I would like to say thank you for your work and effort in spreading the gospel. I really enjoy reading things from your site. I’m writing about baptism. I once wrote a pastor about baptism. I was having difficulty believing it was necessary for salvation. I don’t know why. I guess…
Read MoreDoes baptism add you to the Lord’s church no matter who does the baptism?
Question: I’ve read some of your stuff on baptism. I believe you said if a person is baptized in a denomination, and they understand the true meaning of baptism, they are okay. So are you saying they are added to the Lord’s church regardless of the church they were baptized in? I thought baptism added…
Read MoreDoes baptism add you to the Lord’s church no matter who does the baptizing?
Question: I’ve read some of your stuff on baptism. I believe you said if a person is baptized in a denomination, and they understand the true meaning of baptism, they are okay. So are you saying they are added to the Lord’s church regardless of the church they were baptized in? I thought baptism added…
Read MoreMy father won’t sign a form to let me be baptized. What should I do?
Question: Hi, I have accepted Christ six months ago and attend church regularly. I have also participated in a Basic Doctrine class required for baptism and membership in my church. When I brought back a form on the Baptism and Membership Encounter Weekend Event to ask for permission from my parents. My mum agreed but…
Read MoreYour article on why water baptism is necessary for salvation helped me in a discussion with some Bereans
Question: Mr. Dvorak, I wish to thank you for this excellent summation of why water baptism is necessary for salvation! I could have looked all the Scriptures up of course, but this was concise and perfect. You see, sir, I began to feel the need to explain what my beliefs were on Facebook. I have several dear…
Read MoreWhy didn’t you tell the girl with the Muslim father that she could be saved without baptism?
Question: Hello, I just discovered your website’s “questions and answers” page and felt that of the few that I read, the answers were extremely factual and reliable, though I must admit, with one exception! I just finished reading the one from a girl whose father is a Muslim, though she states she is a Christian and though she believes she is supposed to be baptized, she doesn’t know…
Read MoreWhat Hinders Me From Being Baptized?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013Spring8WhatHindersMeFromBeingBaptized.mp3 by Lance Blackburn Lessons for Our Time
Read MoreHow can people say that baptism is unnecessary? Where did this idea come from?
Question: How can some people say it is unnecessary to be baptized in order to be saved? Where did this idea come from? Answer: I suspect the roots of this come from a desire to claim that loved ones were saved even though they did not obey Christ. Early on there were those who changed…
Read MoreWhat if you didn’t know something was sinful before you were baptized?
Question: Hello, I have been baptized recently and but my mom has not yet. I have been trying to encourage her to get baptized and she has said that she wants to be baptized soon. However, I recently read some things on your website about repenting before being baptized that make me wonder if this…
Read MoreSpiritual Junk Food
Spiritual Junk Food – Part 1Spiritual Junk Food – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 2:8-23 I. There are always those who will try to destroy the work of God, offering up human derived philosophies to override God given truth – Colossians 2:3-4, 8 A. While sounding plausible, they are in fact empty -…
Read MoreDo you need to be baptized in order to go to heaven?
Question: Hello, I have a couple of questions, but I hope I am not bothering you in any way. Do you need to be baptized in order to go to heaven? If so, what other things must you do? Do you need to be baptized to be a Christian? Can you be a Christian if…
Read MoreI decided to be baptized, but I’m not getting married for two years and we’re having sex. Can I ask for forgiveness after we get married?
Question: I have decided I will be getting baptized this Sunday. I have been very conflicted lately because my fiance and I have decided to be intimate, but I know it is a sin before marriage. I keep having these thoughts that if I repent once we are married everything will be okay, but that…
Read MoreIs My Baptism Valid?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Periodically, someone will approach me concerning his baptism. A. Doubts have crept into his mind as to whether his baptism was valid – whether he really was a Christian or only pretending to be one. B. Generally those with doubts were baptized young in life. Events have happened that show them they are…
Read MoreAre exceptions made for those who are unable to be baptized?
Question: If we are told that to be saved we must be baptized by being dunked in water, how or what allowances do you make for the sick, bedridden, old, or too young, who cannot go into the water and dunk their head? Answer: The argument is flawed because it seeks to find some exception…
Read MoreI want to be baptized but my dad won’t let me
Question: In Spanish class, we had a test. This guy asked me for the answers; he is an upperclassman. I knew it was a sin, and I didn’t want to do it, but I did anyway. I feel stupid and hate this blasphemous sin I have committed. Only now did I realize I could have…
Read MoreIf I quote the early Christian writers on the necessity of baptism, does that make my argument better?
Question: I found a whole list of early church fathers, Ante Nicene fathers who said baptism is necessary for salvation and it’s a regeneration. I got Irenaeus, Tertullian, Ambrose, Justin Martyr, Clement, Cyprian, and the list goes on. Can I use these men and their quotes to back up the Bible and the apostles? Most…
Read MoreI’m not sure I understood the purpose of baptism when I was baptized. Should I do it again?
Question: I was baptized when I was eleven years old (I am sixteen right now), but I am not sure that I completely understood what the purpose of baptism was. It was my choice to be baptized, but at that age, I was aware that baptism brings me to God, but I was not aware…
Read MoreBy One Spirit … Baptized Into One Body
by Terry W. Benton “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Corinthains 12:13). What does “by one Spirit” mean? The Holy Spirit is the element we are immersed in? Holy Spirit is the agency…
Read MoreAre the baptisms in the New Testament Spirit baptisms or water baptisms?
Question: I have been studying with a co-worker of mine and apparently, we are getting nowhere fast. Our discussions consist of mostly the importance of baptism. He knows the Gospel and believes that it is vital to believe in it for salvation’s sake, but he doesn’t believe that baptism is an essential part, only that…
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