Pedrito
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2015
- Messages
- 1,032
- Gender
- Male
- Religious Affiliation
- Christian
- Political Affiliation
- Conservative
- Marital Status
- Married
- Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
- Yes
… Continued
In Post #111 on Page 12, I pointed out how MoreCoffee in his Post #104 on Page 11 had unwittingly argued against his own position – that of defending infant baptism as practiced in the Roman Catholic Church.
In reply, in Post #124 (Page 13) MoreCoffee asked:
Now to those individual questions asked by MoreCoffee.
What does baptism mean?
The act of Christian baptism in its original form (which remains the only valid form) means that someone has made the inward decision to dedicate their life to God because of what Jesus has done for them through His redeeming sacrifice.
What is its significance?
True baptism is the outward acknowledgement of an inward decision to commence a new life dedicated to God.
Why baptise?
Because Jesus said to baptise those who would follow Him, because the Apostles baptised those who expressed the faith that would lead them to be followers, and because when someone in our day expresses such faith, someone needs to help them take the final step (baptism) which acts as a final seal (as in Jesus' case).
Why be baptised?
Because without baptism, the final step in a God-ordained process is left undone. Hence the statements regarding baptism saving people, being buried with Jesus in baptism, etc. And since God's Inspired Message to us states that without faith it is impossible to please Him, those statements about baptism must refer to an act carried out after faith has taken hold.
In Post #111 on Page 12, I pointed out how MoreCoffee in his Post #104 on Page 11 had unwittingly argued against his own position – that of defending infant baptism as practiced in the Roman Catholic Church.
In reply, in Post #124 (Page 13) MoreCoffee asked:
Given your stated views can you tell us what baptism means? What is its significance? Why baptise? Why be baptised?
Now to those individual questions asked by MoreCoffee.
What does baptism mean?
The act of Christian baptism in its original form (which remains the only valid form) means that someone has made the inward decision to dedicate their life to God because of what Jesus has done for them through His redeeming sacrifice.
What is its significance?
True baptism is the outward acknowledgement of an inward decision to commence a new life dedicated to God.
Why baptise?
Because Jesus said to baptise those who would follow Him, because the Apostles baptised those who expressed the faith that would lead them to be followers, and because when someone in our day expresses such faith, someone needs to help them take the final step (baptism) which acts as a final seal (as in Jesus' case).
Why be baptised?
Because without baptism, the final step in a God-ordained process is left undone. Hence the statements regarding baptism saving people, being buried with Jesus in baptism, etc. And since God's Inspired Message to us states that without faith it is impossible to please Him, those statements about baptism must refer to an act carried out after faith has taken hold.