Since I have been a Christian, there has been an ongoing debate about baptism, and it has gone on for centuries before me. There are two major views I have been exposed to, and the debate is about the meaning of, reason for, mode of, time of and recipients of baptism. The debate I have been exposed to has been in Protestant circles between those who believe in paedo-baptism and those who believe in believer's baptism.
Paedo-baptists believe that children of believing parents (including infants) are to be baptized because they are members of God's covenant people. Those who believe in believer's baptism (sometimes called "credo-baptists"), on the other hand, believe that only those who make a credible profession of Christ should be baptized. This is usually limited to adults, or minors who are old enough to know of their conversion and can express and show their repentance, and it is these who are included in the covenant.
I think that there is room for another view of baptism, different from the two popular views, and I will be writing more parts to this in the form of a blog series. It will be similar to my old "Baptism: A Third View" series, but with some revisions and other information. This new series will be titled "Baptism: Another View" and will appear in the blog series list in the margin. Any input from readers will be welcome.
Read Part 2.
Read entire series in a single post.
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Steve,
ReplyDeleteI found you on Alan's blog. I am really looking forward to what you ave to say on this subject as I have been thinking a lot about baptism lately!
Welcome, someekklesia! I hope this stirs up some thought, regardless of the what people conclude for themselves.
ReplyDeleteJohn the Baptist said “I indeed have baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” Matthew 1:8.
ReplyDeleteThis verse and the others like it are so overlooked in Christendom. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ‘greater’ baptism and the One baptism spoken of (I believe) in Ephesians 4:5 and many other places in Scripture. Christendom is so focused on water but we know that in regeneration we are given a heart of flesh, a new heart that is circumcised by the circumcision made without hands (Col 2:11) and in Holy Spirit baptism we are buried with him and quickened and made alive and are complete IN HIM!
If water baptism were a part of the Gospel then Paul wouldn’t have said the Christ Himself did not send him to baptize (with water) but to preach the Gospel (1 Cor 1:17) Believer’s should be united in the Gospel and should allow one another their own convictions on water baptism, rather credo or paedo, immersion, sprinkling, etc. and should worship together.
Personally I was immersed and although I spent 20 years in a reformed church I always held to believer’s baptism but my brethren were convicted otherwise. I am fully convicted that water doesn’t save, Christ alone saves. Hallelujah!
It's not the water alone that saves.
ReplyDeleteIt's the water plus God's Word of promise attached to it.
God id the One who baptizes.
The Holy Spirit is more than capable of "speaking in sighs too deep for words" to an infant or anybody else.
Thanks.