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EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH:
BAPTISM
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS
GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.
THAT IS WHY HE IS GOD

Do you know for a fact that if you were to
die today that you would not go to hell?
If you do not know, click here.


BAPTISM

Baptism cannot wash away sin.  Only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can wash away sin. Baptism was a charge given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ.

WHAT BAPTISM IS

1.  Baptism is a church ordnance given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20.
2.  Baptism is for believer's only. There is no New Testament instance of baptizing an unbeliever.
3.  Baptism is by immersion only.  There is no Bible example of sprinkling or pouring (effusion). Believers are to be dipped once (completely immersed once) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Triune immersion is not scriptural.  Triune immersion refers to the practice of some denominations whereby they dip the candidate three times: once in the name of the Father; once in the name of the Son; and once in the name of the Holy Ghost.  This cannot picture scriptural baptism because the Lord Jesus Christ died once and was resurrected once.  Scriptural baptism is a picture of the one-time death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4.  Baptism is the picture, or symbol, of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, baptism must be by immersion only since sprinkling and pouring cannot be a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
5.  Baptism is an act of obedience and identification.  Baptism has no saving value.
6.  Baptism is necessary for church membership.  The Bible requires repentance and faith prior to baptism.  Repentance and faith are the requirements for salvation.  In other words, one must be saved in order to be scripturally baptized.

WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT

1.  Baptism is not for unbelievers.
2.  Baptism is not for infants.
3.  Baptism is not necessary for salvation.  Repentance and faith are necessary for salvation.
4.  Baptism is not a sacrament.  Neither is it a necessary step or channel to salvation.
5.  Baptism is not the New Testament equivalent of Old Testament circimcision as is taught by Covenant Theologians.

THOSE WHO SHOULD BE REBATIZED

1.  Anyone who was baptized as an infant.
2.  Anyone who was baptized as an unbeliever.
3.  Any who joins a Baptist Church from a non-Baptist church.
4.  Anyone who would join  a Baptist church that is not of like faith and order: For instance anyone from a Baptist church that believed that you could lose your salvation, or, give your salvation back.  

(For more information on this subject see the article "Why Should I Be Rebaptized" located on this web site.)






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