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Bit of confusion about my baptism.

A

aquamarinesky54

Member
:help
Hi, I have a bit of a situation pertaining to my baptism. I'm going to need to lay some background information down on this first. This will be kind of long, sorry. My mother had the misfortune of letting herself fall in love with a non-believer and cheater. I wasn't baptized as an infant because of my father.

And his cheating manifested itself later into the marriage. There was quite a bit that she didn't know. He left, but at one point wanted to come back when the new woman didn't work out. She tried her best to forgive and make the marriage work. But it didn't.

A while after he left for good, we started going to a Roman Catholic church, and I was eventually baptized. I was 12 and really didn't think about what I was doing. I saw no harm in it if it made my mother happy. I was way too big for the bowl-thing used for babies and the priest had no choice but to splash water on my forehead. :lol It was embarrassing back then but funny now.

We moved plenty of times and haven't started going to church regularly until last year. We've never really felt like we learned much about the Word in a Roman Catholic setting. We felt a bit like there was too much religion separating us from learning, personally. But we've found a Christian church that's led by such an anointed, amazing pastor. We're learning so much.

This church believes infant baptisms are fine, but that full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means to accept Christ is best. They provide this service monthly. I know my mother's going to do it. I probably will too. It depends on whether what I did was acceptable in God's eyes or not.
 
I'm a little confused about your post. I don't see any issues here. If you have become a born-again believer on the Lord Jesus, then you should be baptised.

It doesn't matter that you were or were not baptised as an infant. It doesn't matter if you have previously been baptised as a Roman Catholic.

Once you have the Spirit in you, and you profess it to your church family and to the public by being baptised.

Read about the "rebaptisers". Google it, you'll enjoy it.

I was baptised last May, even though I WAS baptised as an infant. For me, as a baptist, I regard baptism as symbolic of a Spiritual rebirth that has already occured. This is known as "believer's baptism. I was advised by my pastor to read about the "rebaptisers", and I found it very helpful.

I personally viewed my baptism as a sort of reconcilliation with the chuch, too. Like a submission to the the authority of the church. Read Acts 10:44-48 and specifically note the tone of Verse 48:

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:48)

I'm glad you've found a good, solid church that honors the Word.

Welcome to God's family, and welcome to the forum. :wave

-HisSheep
 
aquamarinesky54 said:
I was way too big for the bowl-thing used for babies and the priest had no choice but to splash water on my forehead. :lol It was embarrassing back then but funny now.
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Haha, yeah that's funny, like this .... :bath




aquamarinesky54 said:
This church believes infant baptisms are fine, but that full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means to accept Christ is best. They provide this service monthly. I know my mother's going to do it. I probably will too. It depends on whether what I did was acceptable in God's eyes or not.
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I think I understand your concern is whether your previous mode of baptism was acceptable to God.

"Baptize" in Greek means "to submerge in water", and it certainly cannot include sprinkling, pouring or splashing water on forehead.


Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.



By fully submerging in and out of water, we are sharing in Christ's dying, burial and resurrection, which sprinkling, pouring or splashing water on forehead will not likely achieve. Believers in the Bible all got baptized through full submergence into water and nowhere do we find instances of baptism by "sprinkling, pouring or splashing water on forehead'.


Go for it and make the Lord proud of you ! :thumbsup
 
aquamarinesky54 said:
:help
Hi, I have a bit of a situation pertaining to my baptism. I'm going to need to lay some background information down on this first. This will be kind of long, sorry. My mother had the misfortune of letting herself fall in love with a non-believer and cheater. I wasn't baptized as an infant because of my father.

And his cheating manifested itself later into the marriage. There was quite a bit that she didn't know. He left, but at one point wanted to come back when the new woman didn't work out. She tried her best to forgive and make the marriage work. But it didn't.

A while after he left for good, we started going to a Roman Catholic church, and I was eventually baptized. I was 12 and really didn't think about what I was doing. I saw no harm in it if it made my mother happy. I was way too big for the bowl-thing used for babies and the priest had no choice but to splash water on my forehead. :lol It was embarrassing back then but funny now.

We moved plenty of times and haven't started going to church regularly until last year. We've never really felt like we learned much about the Word in a Roman Catholic setting. We felt a bit like there was too much religion separating us from learning, personally. But we've found a Christian church that's led by such an anointed, amazing pastor. We're learning so much.

This church believes infant baptisms are fine, but that full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means to accept Christ is best. They provide this service monthly. I know my mother's going to do it. I probably will too. It depends on whether what I did was acceptable in God's eyes or not.
Click to expand...

You were baptised as a kid!:lol Sprinkling of water?:dunno :shrug Perhaps they never had plenty of water in those days!!!;)

This church believes infant baptisms are fine, but that full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means to accept Christ is best
Click to expand...

Not just that: ...full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means to accept Christ is best - but,
...full body immersion baptism as an adult when you know full well what it means [to be baptised] "to accept Christ" is what baptism is all about.

You didn't upset God. He didn't penalise you:) Now that we know what Baptism means - let's do what the bible says

:saluteWelcome to CF.net:bounceball
 
Is infant baptism valid? Jesus said "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" Mark 16:16. Note, it reads "believeth AND is baptized shall be saved" , the infant is incapable of believing, thus useless to baptize them. Note again Phillip and the eunuch in Acts 8. The eunuch asked "see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Phillips answer was: "If thou BELIEVETH with all thine heart thou mayest." Note again, belief precedes baptism, infants and small children are incapable of believing making infant baptism (?) invalid. Note again, Acts 2. The people after Perter's sermon asked: "men and brethren what shall we do?" Peter's answer was "repent and be baptized every one of you." What have infants done to repent of? Nothing. Baptism is for those capable of believing and repenting.
 
Webb said:
Is infant baptism valid? Jesus said "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" Mark 16:16. Note, it reads "believeth AND is baptized shall be saved" , the infant is incapable of believing, thus useless to baptize them.
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True.

Infant baptism is a church tradition based on the erroneous interpretation of scripture that thinks you are saved simply because you have been baptized, not knowing that it went without saying that a person would get baptized when they turned to God in repentance--the two being synonymous with each other in the tradition of John's baptism.

Baptism is for those who have repented, having changed their mind about sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come. I'm betting you (aqua) probably didn't do that when you were an infant.
 
Aqua, now that you believe and have repented in your own conscious mind it's time to make "the pledge of a good conscience toward God" (1 Peter 3:21 NIV1984) in a public water baptism in obedience to Christ's command.
 
I think Peter said "repent and be baptized---for the remission of sins", Acts 2:38. Thats the Divine order. Repentance and baptism are not the same.
 
Webb said:
I think Peter said "repent and be baptized---for the remission of sins", Acts 2:38. Thats the Divine order. Repentance and baptism are not the same.
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Webb, please dont' start with this again.

At the time, it was a given that a person who repented got baptized. To repent was synonymous with getting water baptized. Thus the meaning of everyone who repents-and-is-baptized will be saved. There was no other teaching that somehow, now, with the appearing of Christ, Peter has to point out that now one is to repent...and then also be baptized to turn to God (as if they weren't already spoken of as one, ie. John' baptism).

We know from the whole counsel of the Bible that his teaching was NOT intended to be some kind of legalistic, divine order of things through which a person is saved. That doctrine does not rightly divide the Word of God.
 
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You are continuing to confuse John's baptism with he baptism of the new covenant. Repentance is not the same as baptism. Oh, yes, yet again.
 
Webb said:
You are continuing to confuse John's baptism with he baptism of the new covenant. Repentance is not the same as baptism. Oh, yes, yet again.
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You're not understanding the argument. Changing your mind about Christ (repenting), and being water baptized are indeed two different things. But because of John's baptism, it went without saying that to 'repent' meant being water baptized, such that to be water baptized was in effect repenting--the two being inextricably connected. The error of your belief being that Peter was suggesting the two have separate functions and both must be done in the order specified in a legalistic manner for one to be saved.

You'll have to understand the difference between 'repent-and-be-baptized', and 'a) repent...then b) be water baptized' to understand this.
 
When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus into our hearts we are also receiving the promise of God that his Spirit will come and dwell in our hearts and teach us of all things we need to learn. The baptism that Peter was talking about was a Spiritual rebirth through the word of God. Some people think it is being dunked or sprinkled with water the way John the Baptist did as he was the forerunner of Jesus and there is nothing wrong with that for it is an outward appearance to man that you have received Jesus and the Holy Spirit into your life, but Jesus himself never baptized with water for the baptism of Jesus was for receiving the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) that helps us to know the will of the Father.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
 
Baptism, which is an English word for mikvah-ritual immersion, was a practice in Judaism as part of the purification rituals of the Levitical laws that one had to be immersed in water to be clean before they could come before God. John the baptizer was continuing in this law to have those Jews be pure before the coming of the Lord for their remission of sin, not for forgiveness of sin as only God can forgive us. Jesus as being born a Jew was also under the Levitical laws and had to continue in the observance of this purification of immersion even though he had no sin, but as an outward appearance as a sign that he was truly the Messiah as the Holy Spirit (dove) fell on him that day. In order for the selected disciples to be part of Christ ministry they too had to be purified before God per the purification ritual to be made clean. There is no record of Jesus baptizing anyone other than the disciples as he sent them out to baptize others in His name, but even if Jesus did baptize anyone in water it was per the purification law.

In John 3:23, 24 this is talking about John the baptizer (Jesus cousin) and not John the selected disciple as John the baptizer was not yet cast into prison and was still practicing the purification ritual. We know that Jesus came to fulfill the laws and this ritual of purification was one that was fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4 after Jesus ascended up to heaven and ushered down the Holy Spirit that made an end to that law as it was now fulfilled and they were now to be baptized in the Holy Spirit as they were now immersed in the Spirit and commissioned by Christ in Matthew 28:18-20. There is nothing wrong with full immersion today if one chooses to be immersed as it is only an outward appearance, but has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin.

Heb 9:22 and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Eph 1:7 in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Luke 1:76 and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luke 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
 
"we started going to a Roman Catholic church, and I was eventually baptized. I was 12 and really didn't think about what I was doing."

Since I was born into an Italian Family, naturally I was "Bapized" as an infant at ST Peter, and Paul's Cathedral in Boston, MA. like any self-respecting Italian baby would be. I didn't think about what I was doing either - In fact I probably hadn't even found my left ear yet, and wasn't thinking about ANYTHING. SO I'm still on the "books" as a "Catholic". No big deal. I never had much to do the the Catholic church - although when I was little I used to like to go there because it was shorter, and they rang a little bell toward the end to let you know it was ALMOST time to leave and get lunch.

When I was 20 in 1962, After a nervous breakdown (As they were called in those days), terminally depressed, 2000 miles form home, and suicidal, I Finally became a Christian, and 4 days later was baptized AS A BELIEVER at Greenwood Baptist in Pasadena, TX. ANd EVERYTHING changed.

The earlier Infant baptism didn't matter one way or the other, and was of no "Spiritual value" at all. And the Opinion of the Catholic Church, and their records are simply unimportant. I was a NEW CREATURE in Christ (like all Christians are), and the Bible instructs a Believer to be Baptized. SO I was.

If you've become a Christian Also, then you should be Baptized in obedience to the Word. Simple as that. It's NOT a "Sacrament" - just a Biblical "ordinance" to be obeyed.

When you are a NEW CREATION in Him, you don't have to give ANYTHING in the past a "Second thought". Just move ahead with HIM into your new life in the Spirit.
 
Bob Carabbio said:
"we started going to a Roman Catholic church, and I was eventually baptized. I was 12 and really didn't think about what I was doing."

Since I was born into an Italian Family, naturally I was "Bapized" as an infant at ST Peter, and Paul's Cathedral in Boston, MA. like any self-respecting Italian baby would be. I didn't think about what I was doing either - In fact I probably hadn't even found my left ear yet, and wasn't thinking about ANYTHING. SO I'm still on the "books" as a "Catholic". No big deal. I never had much to do the the Catholic church - although when I was little I used to like to go there because it was shorter, and they rang a little bell toward the end to let you know it was ALMOST time to leave and get lunch.

When I was 20 in 1962, After a nervous breakdown (As they were called in those days), terminally depressed, 2000 miles form home, and suicidal, I Finally became a Christian, and 4 days later was baptized AS A BELIEVER at Greenwood Baptist in Pasadena, TX. ANd EVERYTHING changed.

The earlier Infant baptism didn't matter one way or the other, and was of no "Spiritual value" at all. And the Opinion of the Catholic Church, and their records are simply unimportant. I was a NEW CREATURE in Christ (like all Christians are), and the Bible instructs a Believer to be Baptized. SO I was.

If you've become a Christian Also, then you should be Baptized in obedience to the Word. Simple as that. It's NOT a "Sacrament" - just a Biblical "ordinance" to be obeyed.

When you are a NEW CREATION in Him, you don't have to give ANYTHING in the past a "Second thought". Just move ahead with HIM into your new life in the Spirit.
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very good
 
Jethro methinks it you who are not understanding. John's baptism is not under consideration. John's baptism is gone, past, fulfilled and voided. Its the baptism of the great commission we are talking about, the baptism of which the context says: belief+baptism = saved (mk.16:15,16), the baptism of which the context says: repent + baptism = saved.
 
Hey aqua,
Im glad to hear that youre wanting to get baptized,and also displaying some thought in the process.Many blindly rush into it at the recommendation of friends and family and never even stop to consider why theyre doing it.

I agree with your preacher on the fact that prior to fully knowing and understanding the decision to follow Christ that baptism doesnt make much sense.Its almost like buying a car to put in the driveway,and not even knowing what its for much less how to operate it.

As a child,none of us are aware of the meaning or purpose.Likewise,its useful to note that in no instance was this performed on a child or infant in the bible.All the baptisms that I recall involved people who had heard the gospel and followed the immediate call afterwards to be baptized.

Some even suggest that baptism itself is not necessary,that its purely symbolic.I strongly disagree with that considering what is stated in Romans 6.Clearly the bible states that we are buried with Christ through baptism unto death;that like as Christ was raised up from the dead,even so we should walk in newness of life.

On a side note,its curious that a church would only offer baptism on a monthly basis.As youll note in the bible,baptism was always regarded with urgency..repent and be baptized,etc.I would suggest being baptized as soon as possible.I try not to be the doom-and-gloom guy,but you never know what today or the next holds in store for us.The sooner the better.
 
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