Hi all, I was baptized today and wanted to encourage everyone here to learn about the Gospel and what is involved. There are many different Christian faiths, but the key to understanding the Gospel involves three things...repent, baptism and salvation. Repent or returning from your sin is the hardest one for most people, as living without sin or trying not to sin is truly difficult. Baptism is the symbolic removal of sin via immersion with Christs blessing. Salvation is the concept of accepting Jesus as your personal savior and understanding that it comes through him. This is just a snippet of the ideas involved but I cannot recommend enough researching these topics learning for yourself. God Bless, V.
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There is nothing symbolic about baptism…it is a work of God washing away your sins, and necessary for salvation. Baptism is the means by which Christ saves.
This is not true, salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Absolutely true. It represents the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for the believer as he is laid back into the water, submerged and then raised up. Baptism doesn't save; it is the outward expression of the saving God has already done.
Correct, the true baptism is by the Holy Spirit. Your heart is cut away from your flesh and filled with the Spirit. There is nothing wrong with water baptism as a show of faith, but it doesn't bring salvation.
I see what you're saying in simplicity. However, I think you are both right. Baptism gives you spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. The symbolic sprinkling or submersion of water is an outward symbol of a spiritual covenant. One of the gifts of the Spirit is salvation. That never goes away. Faith in Jesus Christ leads one to baptism and that salvation never departs.
Since Baptism is a work of God, not man…to say baptism saves does not contradict salvation by faith in Christ alone…baptism is a means of grace. 1 Peter 3:21.