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. They did it with the mindset of if it’s commanded, I’ll do it, even though they lacked understanding.<\/p>\n
I know that God says come to Me with the faith of a child or like a mustard seed. Will it still count? Or are they lost since it was said by a preacher who doesn’t interpret the Bible correctly?<\/p>\n
My family didn’t fully understand but had the interpretation that it was necessary and believed it was, but were baptized in a church that didn’t believe it was necessary. They themselves still thought it was necessary and are secure in their faith. They gladly accepted the fact that it was for forgiveness when I told them but said they’re confident in their salvation and are currently in between churches. There is no church of Christ in their area, and they don’t plan on getting rebaptized because they are secure in their faith. Are they still saved? And can I be?<\/p>\n
I still want to be baptized and have recently turned my life around, but I can’t be happy or joyful about it. I am having trouble finding a church and due to the reputation of many churches of Christ, I know that a ton of them are really hateful, culty and filled with wolves in sheep’s clothing. I’m trying to have faith that God will lead me to a correct baptism, but I’m worried it won’t be authentic if I’m not baptized by a true believer.<\/p>\n
I have OCD, by the way, so maybe it’s just my worries. I know God has a lot of grace. But I know I won’t even be excited when I get baptized because I’m so traumatized by the fact of everyone I know is going to hell. I feel like I’m constantly on the edge of a panic attack and have been praying for God to take my life after I get saved, so I don’t have to deal with the pain or mess up and lose my salvation. I regret it after but the feeling always comes back. I feel dead inside and keep breaking down and try not to get angry at God, but the thoughts keep creeping up. I also feel like I’m under demonic attack. I keep seeing the same numbers and getting sleep paralysis where I hear and see stuff moving in my room every time I sleep on my back. I can’t function at work some days and can’t even be happy that I stumbled upon the truth. I still want to be saved regardless and continue because I know Jesus says we have to be willing to leave family, but I’m worried I’m a reprobate because that sorcerer in Acts was denied salvation because of his bitterness, and every example in the Bible people were joyful in their conversion. I’m just in so much pain and heartache and feel like God hates me.<\/p>\n\t
In an effort to get you an answer in a timely manner and not repeat too much, I hope you won’t mind if I point you to some prior material that answers parts of your questions.<\/p>\n
In regards to is baptism required, see:<\/p>\n
You are correct that some people are baptized without truly being converted. See:<\/p>\n
Yet, because some people get a driver’s license without ever learning to drive well, does that mean that I should not get a driver’s license? If you are convicted of the truth taught in the Bible and someone else you know was not, why should that stop you from obeying God? Suppose you never are baptized for the right reason. Will that save others? Will that cause others to be lost? Or is it only a matter of your own salvation?<\/p>\n
It seems you are concerned about who does the baptism; yet, the Bible doesn’t mention any requirements on the person doing the baptism. The baptism has to be done by the authority of God (Matthew 28:19-20), so typically a faithful Christian knows the proper way to conduct a baptism. See:<\/p>\n
If you let me know what town you are near, I’ll let you know what churches in your area ought to be good congregations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-2440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-baptism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10970,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/notes-on-does-god-think-baptism-is-necessary-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":0},"title":"Notes on Does God Think Baptism Is Necessary?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2019 death - Romans 6:3 They were baptized in order to be able to walk in newness of life -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Notes","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33526,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/where-are-gentiles-commanded-to-be-saved-by-baptism\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":1},"title":"Where are Gentiles commanded to be saved by baptism?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had not visited this site in a while, and ran upon it, along with\u00a0our correspondence, recently.\u00a0 I noticed that your last comment has an interesting conclusion, and I quote \"You claim that the Philippian jailer was not baptized\". This claim never was, nor ever has been made by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55130,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/baptism-is-an-elective\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":2},"title":"“Baptism is an Elective”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":787,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-man-be-saved-without-baptism\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":3},"title":"Can a man be saved without baptism?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 12, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Brother Lipscomb: Do the Scriptures say that no one can be saved without baptism, or is it only an inference? If an inference, are not all creeds founded on inferences? I have been reading your paper [The Gospel Advocate] for some time, and I like it very well. Lipscomb's Answer:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35978,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-wonder-if-i-falsely-remember-being-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":4},"title":"I wonder if I falsely remember being baptized","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Some say it is absolutely wrong to be baptized more than once and to not do it.\u00a0Some say it is an outward sign to others, and one can be baptized more than once for various reasons.\u00a0I have even read that water baptism is not necessary for salvation, which I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35795,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-exceptions-made-for-those-who-are-unable-to-be-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":2440,"position":5},"title":"Are exceptions made for those who are unable to be baptized?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"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? 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