• **Notifications**: Notifications can be dismissed by clicking on the "x" on the righthand side of the notice.
  • **New Style**: You can now change style options. Click on the paintbrush at the bottom of this page.
  • **Donations**: If the Lord leads you please consider helping with monthly costs and up keep on our Forum. Click on the Donate link In the top menu bar. Thanks
  • **New Blog section**: There is now a blog section. Check it out near the Private Debates forum or click on the Blog link in the top menu bar.
  • Welcome Visitors! Join us and be blessed while fellowshipping and celebrating our Glorious Salvation In Christ Jesus.

Infant Baptism is not given in scripture.

What does their decision have to do with becoming saved?

But, just so you understand, yes, they are as able as you and I to turn our hearts to Christ, once he enables them (and us) to do so. Do you think the difference between our degree of understanding the love of God and their degree of understanding the love of God is of some significance? If they are elect, they will be saved. Is God inhibited by their youth?
Baptismal regeneration is heresy though
 
Baptismal regeneration is heresy though
Indeed it is.
In Judaism, baptism was a cleansing ritual performed when a Gentile converted to Judaism.

Titus 3:5
1
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

According to Paul, God has saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:13-22 (excerpted for the sake of space)
13And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed................ 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21Corresponding 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, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

According to Peter, we are saved by a baptism in which a demand (Gk. = earnest seeking, craving, intense desire) of a good conscience toward God occurs.

What if.....

What if many of the New Testament's post-Pentecost mentions of baptism are not water baptism, but Spirit baptism and Baptist doctrine was formed around a misunderstanding of scripture?

Acts 9:10-19
10
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.

In this account Luke Annanias correlates baptism with being filled with the Holy Spirit, not water. There's no mention of water. Water is assumed because of the word "baptized."

Acts 18:14-15
14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

No mention of water. What if the baptism was that of the Spirit and not water?

Acts 16:27-34
27
When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

What if that baptism was not water baptism? There's no mention of water being used in the baptism. It is connected, oddly, to his washing of the apostles' wounds, not his body.

Acts 19
1It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus and found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7There were in all about twelve men.

These disciples had been baptized in/with water, but not the Spirit. Water baptism (the baptism of John) is a baptism of repentance. Baptism in the name of Jesus is one in which the Holy Spirit is received. When we are saved we are saved by a washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, a baptism in which a demand of a good conscience toward God occurs.

What if the epistolary mentions of baptism are not John's baptism, but Jesus' baptism in which the Holy Spirit fills a person and a good conscience is pledged (through the working of the Spirit, not as a work of flesh)? What if our doctrines on water baptism are based on an assumption that should never have been made? :unsure:


Just asking
 
In Judaism, baptism was a cleansing ritual performed when a Gentile converted to Judaism.

Titus 3:5
1
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

According to Paul, God has saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:13-22 (excerpted for the sake of space)
13And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed................ 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21Corresponding 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, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

According to Peter, we are saved by a baptism in which a demand (Gk. = earnest seeking, craving, intense desire) of a good conscience toward God occurs.

What if.....

What if many of the New Testament's post-Pentecost mentions of baptism are not water baptism, but Spirit baptism and Baptist doctrine was formed around a misunderstanding of scripture?

Acts 9:10-19
10
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.

In this account Luke Annanias correlates baptism with being filled with the Holy Spirit, not water. There's no mention of water. Water is assumed because of the word "baptized."

Acts 18:14-15
14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

No mention of water. What if the baptism was that of the Spirit and not water?

Acts 16:27-34
27
When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

What if that baptism was not water baptism? There's no mention of water being used in the baptism. It is connected, oddly, to his washing of the apostles' wounds, not his body.

Acts 19
1It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus and found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7There were in all about twelve men.

These disciples had been baptized in/with water, but not the Spirit. Water baptism (the baptism of John) is a baptism of repentance. Baptism in the name of Jesus is one in which the Holy Spirit is received. When we are saved we are saved by a washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, a baptism in which a demand of a good conscience toward God occurs.

What if the epistolary mentions of baptism are not John's baptism, but Jesus' baptism in which the Holy Spirit fills a person and a good conscience is pledged (through the working of the Spirit, not as a work of flesh)? What if our doctrines on water baptism are based on an assumption that should never have been made? :unsure:


Just asking
Isnt being regenerated baptism of the Spirit?
 
Baptismal regeneration is heresy though
And yet Christ declares..
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
 
And yet Christ declares..
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 7:37 - On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

John 15:3 - You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Ephesians 5:26 - that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.
1 Peter 1:23 - having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

Apparently, water baptism is not the only "water" mentioned in Scripture. Keep studying. 📖
 
John 7:37 - On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

John 15:3 - You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Ephesians 5:26 - that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.
1 Peter 1:23 - having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

Apparently, water baptism is not the only "water" mentioned in Scripture. Keep studying. 📖
Welcome mailmandan... Good to see you, and yes, it is something we must study deeper to see what is meant and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us..
 
And yet Christ declares..
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Born of the water would be the physical birth, born of the Spirit the being born again
 
Welcome mailmandan... Good to see you, and yes, it is something we must study deeper to see what is meant and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us..
washing by the water would be the washing by and of the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit Himself
 
Isnt being regenerated baptism of the Spirit?
That that act would be once saved and justified sealed bat that moment by the Holy Spirt one into the Lord Jesus and now in His body
 
Isnt being regenerated baptism of the Spirit?
Yep

Most of the epistolary mentions of baptism do not mention which type. It's assumed the mention is that of water. What if that is not the case?
 
Satan likes to put his own spin on what God declares, so putting mans ideas which take one 'to and fro' is what he wants, and you can see where it leads. We should stick with Gods Word and go from there....
 
And yet Christ declares..
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
But Christ did not say, "Except a man be born of the water of baptism and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Water is often mentioned in Scripture in cases where it is not related to baptism. For example, Jesus said:

“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”” (Joh 4:10 NKJV)
 
Back
Top