Baptized in Water

In baptism meaning is critical. Orthodox scholars deny that baptism means salvation. That is, baptism is not equivalent to salvation, as if the act saves. But they do not deny that it points towards salvation via a sacramental union with the washing of the body and the washing away of our sins [...]

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I was doing a search this week in my Logos Bible software and came upon a most curious and interesting set of baptism prayers by one of the Church Fathers named Ephraim the Syrian (c.a. 306-373 AD). In his “Hymns for the Feast of the Epiphany 12” he writes the following:
1. In Baptism Adam [...]

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When we talk about a baptism rite, we are not asking if baptism is right (or wrong). The word “rite” refers to a prescribed and formal ceremonial act. Baptism is a rite in that it was prescribed by God in the Law (Ex 29:4), and renewed in new covenant fulfillment by Christ (Matt [...]

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Several Christian traditions teach that from the pure act of performing baptism salvation is achieved. Rome is the most well known. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says, “By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins” (#1263). This must mean that salvation occurs, since not being baptized [...]

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Is there a difference between infant and child baptism? I think so. Infant baptism follows (probably not as rigidly as it should) after the pattern set by Abraham’s circumcising his children (actually “boys” would be more technically correct). The idea is that baptism is the new covenant sign replacing circumcision as the [...]

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I know that we Reformed Baptists have little in common with the Orthodox, but take a look at this aspect of Greek Orthodox baptism. The following is taken from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/baptism) It is in the baptism liturgy:
The Baptizing
“When he has anointed the whole body, the Priest baptizes him [...]

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Do Reformed Baptists believe in the ordinance or sacrament of baptism? There is not total agreement on this issue. But it seems to me that to answer the question, we need to be clear as to the differences between an ordinance and a sacrament. To put it very simply, an ordinance is [...]

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It is very important to get clear in our heads what believers baptism is and is not. Too many Baptists make the assumption that baptism is to be given only to those who are regenerated. In this thinking, “believer” and “regenerate” (“saved,” “elect” etc.) are identical referents. However, Scripture tells us that [...]

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I think that communion baptism and preaching ought to be there, side by side, each week in the worship of the church. Why? People who say that communion each week would get old and stale, still want sermons every week. What is not often understood is that communion and baptism are means [...]

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I have created a baptism history chart so that you can easily identify some of the major baptisms recorded in the Scripture. This chart follows some of the ideas presented in the NT, Church history, and my book.
Biblical Time Line of Important Baptisms (Assuming No Gaps in the Genealogies)

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