A: |
There are many common
but erroneous Christian beliefs that involve baptism. Water Baptism is
an action that we as Christians take as a first step in openly pronouncing
our commitment to "Christ".
It
follows logically then that one must be at the age of accountability, old
enough to be repentant, to be baptized.
Therefore,
children under the age of accountability, who are innocent in God's eyes,
are not in danger of losing their salvation if they were to die without
being baptized, contrary to most traditional teaching today.
John
the Baptist prepared the way for Christ's coming and declared that we should
repent and be baptized. [Mt 3:2]
Jesus
Himself commanded John to baptize Him.
So
baptism is a sign to God of our repentance, meaning our changed attitude
from a worldly to a Godly view of life. This is symbolized by our immersion
into and emergence out of the water. Baptizo, the Greek word translated
"baptize", specifically means to immerse. It is as if our old self dies
as we are submerged and our new self in Christ rises from the water. In
His Great Commission, Jesus charges his Apostles to go out making disciples
of all nations, by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit. [Mt 28:19]
(Note:
Many think this scripture is evidence that the Holy Spirit is a personage.
However, according to J. Moulton and G. Milligan, in their book 'The Vocabulary
of the Greek Testament', p. 451, the translation there should actually
read: " 'into the possession' of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit".
What's really being said here is that we are being baptized into the family
and the power of God.)
Please see our full-length article,
"Is
There A Holy Trinity?"
Without
baptism and receiving the subsequent laying on of hands (which is an integral
part of the baptism), one will not be endowed with the power of the Holy
Spirit. This can be verified in Acts 8:14-17, where those baptized
by Phillip in Samaria did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John
came and laid their hands upon them.
(There
is one exception to this in Acts, chapter 10: Cornelius received the Holy
spirit before baptism as a special sign to Peter that salvation was offered
to the Gentiles.)
This
is something that you and your wife should be made aware of. Christians
should be properly baptized in the name of Jesus by full immersion into
water followed by the laying on of hands, so that the power of God - his
"Holy Spirit" - is imparted to them.
It
is this precious gift of the Spirit that enables us to overcome worldly
temptations and obstacles so that we may be better able to walk in the
path of the Lord. |