Baptized later in your adult life

[CassCounty]

Congratulations!! This truly brought a tear to my eyes. Try to make God proud with everything you say and do. There are so many lives you will touch throughout your lifetime.

[Bill]

That's awesome! Congratulations.

On the question of Christian baptism, my understanding is that any Christian can baptize somebody. Pour a small amount of water on one's head and say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" and it's done. My children do not attend church, I baptized both of my grandchildren in that way shortly after their births.

[SaltwaterSlick]

That's awesome! Congratulations.

On the question of Christian baptism, my understanding is that any Christian can baptize somebody. Pour a small amount of water on one's head and say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" and it's done. My children do not attend church, I baptized both of my grandchildren in that way shortly after their births.

Bill can you explain the purpose of that baptism you gave your grandchildren? It is my belief from Scriptures that Baptism is a response to having accepted Jesus as your Savior. Jesus himself when He started His ministry was Baptized by going "into the water" and was immersed, not rubbed on the head. He told His Disciples to go and do likewise.

What were the ages of your grandkids? Had they accepted Jesus as their Savior? It is my belief that Baptism comes AFTER salvation, not before. It is a public profession of faith as an outward sign to all after having once inwardly accepting Jesus as your Savior. How can an infant do that? Jesus was 30 years old when He was Baptized and began his ministry.


I've always wondered how that infant baptism worked and what the purpose of it is.
Thanks!

[Bill]

You ask an interesting question. I read it while in Prague on ‘a vacation of a lifetime’, read a bunch of articles on Google, thought about it on the flights home, and now think I can respond. I’m doing a bunch of cutting and pasting.

Branches of Christianity that practice infant baptism include Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Oriental Orthodoxy. Among Protestants, several denominations practice infant baptism including Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Moravians, and United Protestants.

So while I’m Catholic, I was raised Presbyterian so infant baptism is what I’m familiar with.

Christ himself did not say at what age to baptize- He said to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ... [and] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20).

I found a good article written by a Presbyterian that explores the differences in beliefs between adult and infant baptism.

https://www.opc.org/new_horizons/NH00/0007c.html

I think it comes down to what different churches teach what baptism means.

“Those who advocate believer’s baptism (as an adult) and not infant baptism is because they have a different understanding of baptism. In their view, baptism is principally a testimony given by the person baptized, first in word and then symbolically in water. Since an infant cannot give a testimony, a genuine infant baptism is an impossibility.

On the other hand, Catholic Christians believe that baptism makes someone a member of God's family. Further, the Catholic Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation".

With that belief, should an infant die, being baptized allows God to give it’s soul salvation.

Does that explain it?


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[SaltwaterSlick]

Yes Bill and thank you. I’d sure like to see the Scriptures where baptism makes someone a member of God’s family and where it is necessary for salvation. I’m well aware that “churches” and denominations teach infant baptism but I have never been able to find where the Holy Scriptures (God the Father through his Son Jesus Christ) taught that. Do you have a reference that I could look up and do some reading/studying on? And thanks again! Hope you guys had a great time! I was in the Soviet Union when Gorby was there. Actually met him. Would love to visit again.

[Witchgrass]

You ask an interesting question. I read it while in Prague on ‘a vacation of a lifetime’, read a bunch of articles on Google, thought about it on the flights home, and now think I can respond. I’m doing a bunch of cutting and pasting.

Branches of Christianity that practice infant baptism include Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Oriental Orthodoxy. Among Protestants, several denominations practice infant baptism including Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Moravians, and United Protestants.

So while I’m Catholic, I was raised Presbyterian so infant baptism is what I’m familiar with.

Christ himself did not say at what age to baptize- He said to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ... [and] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20).

I found a good article written by a Presbyterian that explores the differences in beliefs between adult and infant baptism.

https://www.opc.org/new_horizons/NH00/0007c.html

I think it comes down to what different churches teach what baptism means.

“Those who advocate believer’s baptism (as an adult) and not infant baptism is because they have a different understanding of baptism. In their view, baptism is principally a testimony given by the person baptized, first in word and then symbolically in water. Since an infant cannot give a testimony, a genuine infant baptism is an impossibility.

On the other hand, Catholic Christians believe that baptism makes someone a member of God's family. Further, the Catholic Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation".

With that belief, should an infant die, being baptized allows God to give it’s soul salvation.

Does that explain it?


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Not being argumentative (please don’t take it that way) but I do not understand the infant baptism.
If I held my Atheist neighbor underwater, and said some vows over him, does that save his soul?
Again, I’m not arguing that, just don’t understand it.
I am Baptist btw.

[rolylane6]

If I held my Atheist neighbor underwater, and said some vows over him, does that save his soul?

Might depend on how long you hold him under. Try it and see...lol just kidding!



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[bigdaddy590]

Baptized later in your adult life

Kactus,

I was “baptized” when I was 11. Later when I was 17, I realized that when I was younger I didn’t really understand the gravity of the commitment I was making so I was baptized.

I often think about the first century Christians. It is obvious by the letters the apostles had to write to them that knowing everything (which in reality never happens) isn’t essential to salvation, which begs me to ask what is.

In Acts 1 and 2 we have an example of people who knew about Christ but weren’t followers of him, and it seems like the “knew” about him but didn’t know who he was or why he did it. Peter preached a few critical things:
1) Jesus was the son of God
2) Jesus was appointed by God
3) lawlessness put him on the cross
4) he defeated satan when he arose
5)Christ was the messiah that came to was us of our sins

“When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do? ” “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
**Acts *2:*37-*38 *HCSB

So these people understood who Jesus was, what he did for us, and that they were partakers in the lawlessness. When they understood this they by implication believed, they repented, and were baptized. And Peter told them the reason for repenting and being baptized “for the forgiveness of sins”. (Also see 1 Peter 3:19-21)

“So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.”
**Acts *2:*41 *HCSB

When they were baptized they were added to the church. We see this testimony all through the book of acts believe, repent, confess, be baptized.

Some will say “but works can’t save us so baptism can’t save us”. Absolutely 100% agree. Doing a cannon ball in the pool and dunking myself in water can’t save me, but being baptized into Christ after I know who he is, what he has done for me, and that without him I have no hope of salvation does. It puts away the old man and buried him in the grave of baptism, and redirected from that water walks a new man, born again, committed to living for Christ.

“Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
**Romans *6:*4-*11 *HCSB


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[SaltwaterSlick]

Kactus,

I was “baptized” when I was 11. Later when I was 17, I realized that when I was younger I didn’t really understand the gravity of the commitment I was making so I was baptized.

I often think about the first century Christians. It is obvious by the letters the apostles had to write to them that knowing everything (which in reality never happens) isn’t essential to salvation, which begs me to ask what is.

In Acts 1 and 2 we have an example of people who knew about Christ but weren’t followers of him, and it seems like the “knew” about him but didn’t know who he was or why he did it. Peter preached a few critical things:
1) Jesus was the son of God
2) Jesus was appointed by God
3) lawlessness put him on the cross
4) he defeated satan when he arose
5)Christ was the messiah that came to was us of our sins

“When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do? ” “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
**Acts *2:*37-*38 *HCSB

So these people understood who Jesus was, what he did for us, and that they were partakers in the lawlessness. When they understood this they by implication believed, they repented, and were baptized. And Peter told them the reason for repenting and being baptized “for the forgiveness of sins”. (Also see 1 Peter 3:19-21)

“So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.”
**Acts *2:*41 *HCSB

When they were baptized they were added to the church. We see this testimony all through the book of acts believe, repent, confess, be baptized.

Some will say “but works can’t save us so baptism can’t save us”. Absolutely 100% agree. Doing a cannon ball in the pool and dunking myself in water can’t save me, but being baptized into Christ after I know who he is, what he has done for me, and that without him I have no hope of salvation does. It puts away the old man and buried him in the grave of baptism, and redirected from that water walks a new man, born again, committed to living for Christ.

“Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
**Romans *6:*4-*11 *HCSB


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This is about as clear as I've ever heard it put together and it came from Scripture in the Disciple's own words as he was led by God.
Further, following is the hope that is our salvation from the words of Jesus himself:
Joh 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Joh 14:4 "And you know the way where I am going."
Joh 14:5 Thomas *said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

NASB



I just cannot reconcile any other way.

[Death from Above]

Baptism is an ordinance of the Church. There is no other context for it in all of Scripture.

The person that knows Christ as Lord of their life, is baptized in their pool, but never participates in the fellowship and mission that is the church, is living in rebellion against Christs teachings.

[bigdaddy590]

Baptism is an ordinance of the Church. There is no other context for it in all of Scripture.

The person that knows Christ as Lord of their life, is baptized in their pool, but never participates in the fellowship and mission that is the church, is living in rebellion against Christs teachings.

I would agree with the second part of your post but can’t wrap my mind around the first part.

There are so many examples of conversions in the Bible that include baptism, how can you say there is no context for it?


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[Death from Above]

I would agree with the second part of your post but can’t wrap my mind around the first part.

There are so many examples of conversions in the Bible that include baptism, how can you say there is no context for it?


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Sorry I should have been more clear.

No context for baptism apart from the fellowship of the church.

Too many people have adopted the practice of what they call an obedient salvation in Jesus Christ while reject participation in His church.

I hear all the time “I dont have to go to church to be a Christian” and they are correct. However to be an obedient christian you must participate in the fellowship. Baptism in part is the humble willingness to subject oneself underneath the discipline and watchcare of church eldership.

How do you practice church discipline without church fellowship?

Baptism is an open, public willingness to humbly declare church “membership “ (i quoted that because membership is nuanced lol)

[bigdaddy590]

Sorry I should have been more clear.

No context for baptism apart from the fellowship of the church.

Too many people have adopted the practice of what they call an obedient salvation in Jesus Christ while reject participation in His church.

I hear all the time “I dont have to go to church to be a Christian” and they are correct. However to be an obedient christian you must participate in the fellowship. Baptism in part is the humble willingness to subject oneself underneath the discipline and watchcare of church eldership.

How do you practice church discipline without church fellowship?

Baptism is an open, public willingness to humbly declare church “membership “ (i quoted that because membership is nuanced lol)

Gotcha! Totally agree with that


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[Bill]

Baptized later in your adult life

Yes Bill and thank you. I’d sure like to see the Scriptures where baptism makes someone a member of God’s family and where it is necessary for salvation. I’m well aware that “churches” and denominations teach infant baptism but I have never been able to find where the Holy Scriptures (God the Father through his Son Jesus Christ) taught that. Do you have a reference that I could look up and do some reading/studying on? And thanks again! Hope you guys had a great time! I was in the Soviet Union when Gorby was there. Actually met him. Would love to visit again.

There is no statement to baptize infants or children too young to make the devision themselves. Nor is there a statement to not baptize children.

The “Great Commission’ is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world. The Great Commission is outlined in Matthew 28:16–20, where on a mountain in Galilee Jesus calls on his followers to make disciples of and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The link I posted previously written by a Presbyterian is a much better explanation of infant baptism than I’m capable of explaining.

Saved by faith or works? It’s been argued and wars fought since the Protestant Reformation.

On a related note, a couple-days ago I stood in the main square in Prague’s Old Town in front of a statue of Jan Hus- the Czech reformer 100 years before Martin Luther. I was baptized in Jan Hus Presbyterian church in NY City. So had been my parents- plus they were married there. Pretty powerful standing there thinking about it.


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[TheHammer]

Awesome Jack!! I’m happy for you my friend.

I was Baptized when I was “8” but I didn’t understand in the slightest what I was doing. I was Baptized in the true meaning of asking the Lord to be Lord of my life in 2021 when I was 27 years old and my son got to see me.