(Baptism) What it is and what it does. (Jesus Christ, gospel)

[OP Husker]

Baptism in the Koine Greek (the now dead language that the New Testament was written in) meant 'to dip repeatedly, to immerge,, submerge, (of vessels sunk, Polyb.1,51,6,8,4 word #907 in Thayer's Greek-Englisk Lexicon of the new Testament.


It is a burial in water:

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Rom.6:3-5)

"And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:38-39)


It is a translation:

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"


It is a vehicle into:

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal.3:27)
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?" (Rom.6:3)


It is the only way into Christ:

Baptism cannot cleanse us of sins. It is used as a figure of speech in Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

In Christ is where 'remission of sins' occur. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Eph.1:7)
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Col.1:13)
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," (Rom.8:1)

[Scuba Pete]

Welcome to the forums OP... We see Baptism in much the same way. You will find a few that won't accept the scripture at face value though.

[Acts19]

The water does nothing, but the name (acts2:38) and obedience to His word does everything.

This is why I believe in baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ "for" the remission of sins. His name takes away our sins.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by OP Husker

Baptism cannot cleanse us of sins. It is used as a figure of speech in Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

In Christ is where 'remission of sins' occur. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Eph.1:7)
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Col.1:13)
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," (Rom.8:1)

I disagree. I believe that baptism does cleanse us of sin. But perhaps I ought to qualify that statement. I don't believe there is anything particularly significant about the water itself, or that the cleansing is like a physical soap-and-water cleansing of the skin. Rather, I believe that when we receive the ordinance of baptism, we enter into a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. We agree to take upon ourselves His holy name; we agree to obey His commandments; we agree to lift up our fellow man, and we agree to endure to the end. He, in turn, promises us forgiveness and redemption. We are in this way cleansed of the sins we have committed in the past. We are also promised that, as long as we remain faithful to Him, He will help us return to the presence of God someday. So it's an immediate cleansing but also an everlasting cleansing, provided we keep the terms of the covenant.

A number of scriptures also refer to baptism specifically "for the remission of sins":

Mark 1: 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

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 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

[blueman]

Baptism does not cleanse us of any sin, nor is it a requirement of salvation. In 1 Conrithians, 1:17, Paul stressed I am not hear to baptize, but to spread the gospel. In addition, if baptism was a requirement for salvation or redeemed us of our sine, why would this not apply to the thief/murderer who was on the cross beside Jesus and asked the Him (because he believed through faith that Jesus was the Son of God) to remember him when He gets to heaven. Jesus said from this day forward you will be with me in paradise, absent from being immersed in any water. We as believers are baptized because we are being obedient to God's commandment and it is an outward reflection of our unity and new relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a requirement for salvation.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by blueman

Baptism does not cleanse us of any sin, nor is it a requirement of salvation.

So you just choose to ignore the scriptures that say otherwise?

In 1 Conrithians, 1:17, Paul stressed I am not hear to baptize, but to spread the gospel.

So what? Because Paul's calling was to spread the gospel and not to baptize, we're supposed to assume that baptism is really an unnecessary ordinance?

In addition, if baptism was a requirement for salvation or redeemed us of our sine, why would this not apply to the thief/murderer who was on the cross beside Jesus and asked the Him (because he believed through faith that Jesus was the Son of God) to remember him when He gets to heaven. Jesus said from this day forward you will be with me in paradise, absent from being immersed in any water.

May I ask how you know that the thief had not been baptized? (I'm not saying he was; I'm just suggesting that you not make any assumptions when they can't be substantiated). I can assure you that there are many individuals in prisons around the world today who have been baptized. Being baptized and being a criminal are not mutually exclusive.

Finally, Paradise is not the same place as Heaven. Jesus told the thief He'd see him in Paradise on that very day. But as of Easter morning when Mary first saw Him in the Garden near the tomb, He told her He had not yet ascended to His Father in Heaven.

We as believers are baptized because we are being obedient to God's commandment and it is an outward reflection of our unity and new relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a requirement for salvation.

Whatever. We obviously aren't going to agree on this issue.

Kathryn

[Linus]

Originally Posted by blueman

It is not a requirement for salvation.

1 Peter 3:21- Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Seems pretty clear to me that it is.

[DeepShadow]

Originally Posted by blueman

We as believers are baptized because we are being obedient to God's commandment and it is an outward reflection of our unity and new relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a requirement for salvation.

Blueman, if we as believers are baptized because we are being obedient, wouldn't refusing baptism be disobedience? Wouldn't disobedience jeopardize your salvation?

[Scuba Pete]

The thief died before the beginning of the church. He was under the old Law.

Baptism goes against all logic. In doing so, it completely strips us of being able to rely on our own understanding. It's biggest requirement is that of humility: accepting God at his word and doing something that is simply crazy to any right thinking individual. Go figure!