Christians only please: Baptism and the Holy Spirit?
139569
Where is Schneb? Taking a day off at Disneyland-it was great. ;)\n\nBaptism is a point of obedience. You heard that baptism was important, and guess what you did? You obeyed. To me, this fulfilling what baptism is all about. I got baptized one year after I was saved. Gee, do you think I am saved? Why do people put time limits on things when God lives in eternity where time is NOT an issue? It's only an issue with us. And to those who say you need to be baptized to be saved. What was the theif on the cross suppose to do?\n\nNow, how should we interpret Mark 10:38?\nJesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”\n\nSo, in context, what is baptism here? Isn't it death? So when we are baptized, we are saying "in type" that we are dying to ourselves and being raised anew in the spirit. We don't need water to do that, however, being baptized in water shows the world what has happened to us as a witness--and that is important.\n\nNo look at Mark 16:16 veeeeerry carefully.\n"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."\n\nNotice Jesus did NOT say, "but he who does not believe AND IS BAPTIZED will be condemned."\n\nJesus said that baptism is good because it fulfills all righteousness. So He is calling baptism an act of righteousness, NOT a requirement.
185981
Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit because of many reasons.  One reason is that the Holy Spirit is meant to be a helper to Christians, to encourage them throughout difficulties and show them when they have sinned.  If Jesus didn't teach about it, and then left and went up to heaven, everyone would be standing around, "okay, what's next?".  But no.  Ever heard of the Pentecost?  That was the Holy Spirit coming down to the apostles.  But the Holy spirit isn't just for them, it's for any true Christian.
240134
(Assuming you are performing the baptism of Mary Elizabeth)\n\nMary Elizabeth, I welcome you into the true faith brought to us by Christ Jesus nearly 2000 years ago.  Through the power of God and the water He made holy, be cleansed of your sins and made whole in His eyes.\nI baptise you in the name of the Father (pour water)\nand of the Son (pour water)\nand of the Holy Spirit (pour water).\nAmen.\n\n**********\n\n(Assuming you are about to be baptised)\nOh Lord, I desire to enter into your Church, your faith, and your family.  I desire to be numbered among your followers, counted among your worthy, and welcomed into Heaven at the end of days.  I ask you to initiate me into your Holy church, by this rite of Baptism.  I ask you bless me, and allow the holy water to cleans me of my sins.  Make me whole in your sight.\n(water poured)
1049377
Nicodemus did not understand the things Jesus was telling him at the time, thus his question on can a man go back into his mothers womb.  Jesus was not talking about the physical birth but a spiritual one.  One must be born again of water and the Spirit.  In other words, we must be baptized by water signifying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus whom you accept as your sacrifice for your sin.  Death of the old man of sin and the rebirth of the new man with the new heart.  Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which can be any of a number of gifts but He knows the one that is right for you and you may get more than one or just one or just one as you need it.  The Holy Spirit will lead you in the way He wants you to go so we just need to have faith and trust in Him to lead and be sure to follow the lead where He takes us.  Old Nic thought Jesus was talking about the physical, fleshly things but He was talking about the Spiritual, which is why you need the Holy Spirit to understand the Spiritual side of it all.  Hope this helps.. More info at the following site.
224662
This oughta have some fun answers.  Easiest one is yes. \n\n The first time the gospel was preached, "They then that received his word were baptized," (Ac 2:41)  Consider 1 Corinthians 1:17, a passage used to "prove" that baptism is non-essential, "17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."  However, look at the entire passage from 10-17. Paul actually necessitates baptism. Note carefully Paul’s reasoning. For one to call himself after Paul (or any other man) required two things: (1) Paul would have to be crucified for the person and (2) the person would have to be baptized in the name of Paul. Neither had happened, of course, which is why they should not be calling themselves after men.
89575
No.  Baptism is a profession of faith.  Being baptised does not provide a means for salvation.  Its the other way round, you are baptised as a public profession of your faith in Christ Jesus.\n\nAnd semantically Christian comes from the Greek origin Christos, and means "to be like Christ".  Jesus wouldn't need to perform any action to be like himself!
788832
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.  Christ calls us to surrender to Him, through faith alone.  Baptism is only an avenue through which Christians make others aware of the decision they have made to become a Christian.  While Baptism should be strongly encouraged, because of the external witness it provides, it can by no means be considered salvific.  You are saved through faith, not by works, lest anyone should boast in themselves.  (Ephesians 2:8-9).
749414
And peter said to them, repent  and be baptized  everyone of you in the name of Jesus christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall recieve the gift of the holy spirit.\nMeans  we should repent our sins and get baptised in the name of Jesus, our sins will be forgiven and we shall recieve the holy ghost.......
1098037
Baptism, is a step in the right direction but not the end result of your efforts. If you die while being baptized you still have no hope of getting to heaven if your heart is evil. Likewise if you die with a pure heart right before you get baptized, God saw the intent of the heart, and you would be saved. He doesn't do the doctrinal nit-picking people do.
55476
Well, that is subjective. However, both are an "outward" proclamation of ones acceptance of Christ. Although Baptism is when you personally elect to outwardly proclaim your spirtual alignment with God through immersion in water, thus the symbolic change of your life from old to new in Christ.\n\nTabula Rassa (sp?)\n\nParents baptising their infant or newborn bears no impact on that childs spiritual future, if it does show me the verse that states it, its nothing but tradition. I believe you can pray before the Lord that one day your child will make a decision for Christ, but sprinkling water on their forehead will not do it. A person must make a choice personally to follow Jesus Christ, parents are not going to deliver them into heaven with a priest immersing or sprinkling water on them.
903194
The trinity is in the Bible. Jesus said that he was ascending to his Father and would send the Holy Spirit in his place.\n\nDoes it matter? Well, yeah. When you accept salvation, you come to better know God the Father through Christ's mercy, and part of how you come to know God better is by heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is sent to you once you accept Christ.\n\nAs for whether or not you can still be saved if you don't believe this, it's a moot point. If you accept salvation, you will be sent the Holy Spirit, and you will--if you heed that guidance--come to know God the Father better. That is, whether you believe this beforehand or not, it is what will happen in your life if you are earnestly seeking the will of God.
1106243
I agree with you completely. I am a christian, but I do not believe in the trinity theory. and there are ALLOT of references like this one that points toward the fact that they are not the same. A few of them are: after Jesus got baptized, God said to him, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." would he talk to himself? also when the people asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus taught them to pray to God, not to himself. If he was God why wouldn't he have the people pray to him? yet another, Jesus on the cross said "My God, why have you forsaken me?" would God not only talk to himself, but also forsake himself? A final one... the bible says that the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the holy spirit (Mark 3:29). If they were all the same, then blaspheming any of them would be unforgivable. They are very separate beings, and not the same.
546190
I'm not sure the classic explanation of the Trinity is the only way to reconcile the scriptures that have led to that doctrine, actually.  I think it is much simpler than we make it out to be.  I believe that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are simply in complete agreement with each other.  Therefore when one speaks, He speaks for all three of them.  And when you talk to one, you essentially talk to all three.  There is no plurality of ideas or desires, no conflict.  In that sense, and I believe in that sense only, they are one.
712014
The concept of Christianity is so complex to some, especially the little ones and some big ones.  The Father(GOD), the son(JESUS), and the Holy Spirit(Comforter) are all the same.  God came down to mankind(us) in the form of the son( Jesus) and he remains with us as the Holy Spirit(Comforter). He is three-in-one, the same. He can do this because he is the Creator(GOD). He loved us so much that he came in human form to save mankind.\n\nI pray this helps you.
389867
Pentecostals believe that you must be saved by believing in Jesus as Lord and Saviour for the forgiveness of sins and to be made acceptable to God. Pentecostals believe in water baptism as an outward sign of conversion, and that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct spiritual experience that all who have believed in Jesus should receive. Some Pentecostals believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is always accompanied initially by the outward evidence of speaking in tongues. This is a major difference between Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, who believe that a Christian who is baptized in the Holy Spirit may exhibit other physical signs instead of speaking in tongues. However, most major Pentecostal denominations reject the idea that one is not saved unless one speaks in tongues. Pentecostals also typically believe that the Bible has definitive authority in matters of faith.
181642
Baptism is just a sign that God has come in your heart. Have you asked Him? Baptism does not get you to Heaven. It is your relationship with Jesus.
454364
JOHN 3:3\n    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\n\nMATTHEW 18:3\n    And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.\n \nACTS 2:38\n    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.\n\nMATTHEW 5:3\n    Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n \nMATTHEW 5:10\n    Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n\nMATTHEW 5:20\n    For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.\n \nMATTHEW 7:21\n    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.\nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/bibletruths_forbelievers/\n\nrhanjo, Please read...\nJOHN 3:5-8\n   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.\n   6    That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\n   7    Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.\n   8    The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.\n\nJOHN 6:63\n   It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.\n\nROMANS 8:1,2\n   1    There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. \n   2    For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.\n \nROMANS 8:4-9\n   4    That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. \n   5    For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. \n   6    For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. \n   7    Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. \n   8    So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. \n   9    But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.\n \nROMANS 8:13,14\n   13    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. \n   14    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.\n \nGALATIANS 3:3\n    Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?\n \nGALATIANS 4:29\n   But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.\n \nGALATIANS 5:16-18\n   16    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. \n   17    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. \n   18    But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. \n  \nGALATIANS 6:8\n    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.\n \nPHILIPPIANS 3:3\n    For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.\n \nI PETER 4:6\n    For for this cause was the gospe