As
I was creating these pages God pointed out this very important
subject and that many do not understand. I admit that I use to be a
part of that group. Being a child that grew up in a Catholic home, I
was baptized as a baby so I never questioned what that meant. Even
when I was a teen and got saved I still did not question it because I
was baptized or at least I thought I was. Then I found out how
mislead I was when I tried to join my church and they asked if I was
baptized. After it was explained to me from the Bible I understood
and on September 24, 2006 I was truly baptized.
So,
What Does it Mean to Be Baptized?
The word baptism
used in the Bible always means baptism with water, unless otherwise
plainly indicated in that particular passage. Being baptized means
that one is identified with Christ, it symbolizes and appropriates
our death, burial and resurrection with Christ. Baptism is a burial,
we are "buried with him," that is, Jesus is going to die on
the cross and be buried in Joseph's tomb and come out alive. Baptism
means I believe that, but also means that my body will rise from the
grave and I will see my loved ones again in the resurrection. It
means also that I count this old sinner I was dead, and I am raised
up now to live a new life in Christ.
Now, do not mistake
baptism for salvation, a person that has been baptized, without
salvation is still not saved, likewise a person that is saved, but
that does not mean that one can lose their salvation if they are not
baptized. What is does mean is that one can not truly serve God in
the way that He intended. I wasted twenty years of my life believing
in something that was completely false. Nevertheless, I am now and
Praise God I can live to tell others about my journey so they too can
learn the truth and that no matter how long it takes God will get us
on the correct path somehow. The Holy Spirit will always convict, in
accordance with His Word, the conscience of any sincere believer
regarding this matter. Then, it becomes their responsibility to God
to decide the matter of obedience in Scriptural baptism, by
immersion.
The Truth is Baptism is
Only For The Saved.
The Holy Spirit directed Philip to
speak to an eunuch about the Gospel, "And
the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh
the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto
him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me
to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand
still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the
water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw
him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." - Acts
8:34-39. The only way the eunuch could get baptized, which was to be
fully immersed in water, was by believing in Christ. This is why it
is wrong for a baby to be baptized, in order for a person to be
baptized he/she must know what it means and believe in Christ, a baby
does not know the difference so he/she is not saved.
Baptism
is Testimony of Ones Salvation
Baptism does not get one
saved, but is a testimony of salvation. Therefore, it is meaningless
prior to salvation. When Christ became my Savior, all prior
involvement, such as singing in the choir, church membership,
attendance, and baptism were absolutely meaningless. When I was
baptized after I was saved, this had meaning and fulfillment as I
realized this was a testimony of my faith in Christ. I felt good
about myself because I was doing what the Lord wanted me to do.
Here
you will find information about Baptism, what it is, what it means,
the false doctrines of it, and why Jesus commands all the saved to
get baptized.
Click
On Any Link Below to Learn More
