What is baptism and what does it mean?

[Josiah]

I was baptized literally within seconds of being born - with an eye dropper. I was born by C-Section very prematurely so that surgery could be done. In the brief moments between birth and surgery, I was baptized. I was not conscience at the time.

I think of it as my adoption into God's family and covenant. I believe God gave me faith and adopted me as His child. I believe that if I had died (and the changes of that were pretty high) that I would awaken in heaven. Many of course will disagree with me.



Pax


- Josiah

 

[MoreCoffee]

I was baptized literally within seconds of being born - with an eye dropper. I was born by C-Section very prematurely so that surgery could be done. In the brief moments between birth and surgery, I was baptized. I was not conscious at the time.

I think of it as my adoption into God's family and covenant. I believe God gave me faith and adopted me as His child. I believe that if I had died (and the changes of that were pretty high) that I would awaken in heaven. Many of course will disagree with me.

Pax
- Josiah

Interesting.

 

[Josiah]

we see that an infant cannot have the capacity to believe

NO ONE has the capacity to believe, which is why it is "the gift of God" and "NO ONE CAN say 'Jesus is Lord' unless the Holy Spirit so empowers.

A forty-year-old German male with and IQ of 240 and 3 Ph.D's and who has completed 40 seminary classes has no capacity to believe.... He and a 1 minute old baby are both unable to believe, unable to save themselves, unable to "obey", with NOTHING to bring to God.

so by obedience

I don't believe that OUR obedience is the cause of our justification (making Jesus a joke, a fraud, a mistake, a waste of time - and certainly NOT the Savior). I believe JESUS is the Savior and thus HIS obedience is what counts. I beleive our justification is NOT a result of what we do for God (thus, the Savior of me is me) but rather what Jesus did for me (thus, Jesus is the Savior of me).



Thank you.


Pax


- Josiah





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[visionary]

Baptism is the outward dedication declaration to the inward change of heart. Then denominations grabbed hold of it for rites of passage into their membership of their group, acceptance of their doctrines, or/and both.

 

[visionary]

I was baptized literally within seconds of being born - with an eye dropper. I was born by C-Section very prematurely so that surgery could be done. In the brief moments between birth and surgery, I was baptized. I was not conscience at the time.

I think of it as my adoption into God's family and covenant. I believe God gave me faith and adopted me as His child. I believe that if I had died (and the changes of that were pretty high) that I would awaken in heaven. Many of course will disagree with me.



Pax


- Josiah

I believe God would have taken you anyway even if you were not eye dropped as a new born infant.

 

[Lamb]

Baptism is the outward dedication declaration to the inward change of heart.

Where is that found in scripture? I've never had anyone be able to show me but they've repeatedly told me they heard their pastor proclaim it.