Baptism is one of the two ordinances (practices) of the New Testament Church. The other is communion. The term baptism originally meant to immerse cloth into dye to change its color. Therefore, New Testament baptism is by immersion.
Gradually, the term baptism came to indicate a belief in an idea or person. Those baptized by John (the Baptist) indicated their belief in the need to repent and turn to God for forgiveness (Mark 1:4). It preceded the message of Christ (Acts 19:4-5).
Eventually, baptism indicated belief in the substitutional death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is an outward demonstration of inner belief in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is the wedding ring of the Christian faith. It's an outward symbol of an inward commitment.
It occurs in others' presence to indicate a willingness to be identified as a follower of Christ. By deduction, it also indicates dissociation from previous beliefs.
Baptism is not salvific. There is no special blessing associated with it apart from the joy of obeying the Lord.
It is practiced by those who have already professed belief in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a post-salvation event. There is no biblical support for infant baptism.
In summary:
Baptism is an act of obedience because it's a command. Matthew 28:19
Baptism is for those who have already placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:36
Baptism is an outward sign of inward regeneration. Galatians 3:27
Baptism is symbolic of:
The believer's unity with Christ. Romans 6:1-10, Colossians 2:12
The believer's new nature in Christ. Colossians 2:12
The believer's cleansing from sin through Christ. Hebrews 10:22
The believer's future resurrection because of Christ. Romans 6:3-5
If the context is considered in the Gospel of John when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about being born again, one can see that He is speaking of an unborn infant in the water of the mother's womb and not water baptism when Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [of the mother's womb] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh [of the mother's womb] is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Jn. 3:4-6).
And Paul spoke of being baptized into Christ, not water baptism, when he wrote, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Rm. 6:3-4). Again, in Colossians, he is not speaking of water baptism, but rather only the literal spiritual baptism into Christ: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God" (Col. 2:12).
A close examination of some of the other verses that might seem to be speaking of water baptism will reveal that, in fact, they are speaking of being baptized with the Holy Spirit into Christ (which is the born-again experience), into death, into Moses, or a baptism of repentance. (We should not confuse being baptized with the Holy Spirit into Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit).
God tells us through Paul's epistle to the Colossians that we are complete in Christ (2:10), and that we are circumcised in Him (2:11), and that we are buried and raised with Him in baptism (2:12). Paul is no more referring to a physical (water) baptism here than he is to a physical circumcision. We have been made complete by being spiritually circumcised and spiritually baptized.
In the same passage and context Paul continues, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross" (2:14). This included the Judaistic ordinances of circumcision and various baptisms---"divers washings [baptismos], and carnal ordinances, imposed...until the time of reformation" (Heb. 9:10).
Those carnal ordinances were a burden and only "a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Col. 2:17 NIV). Indeed we are complete in Him. The ultimate type of the carnal ordinances of various washings (baptisms) was John the Forerunner's baptizing with water upon one being "baptized" in repentance; the antetype being the literal, yet spiritual, baptism into Christ---the salvation experience of being born again.
Regarding the water-baptism of Jesus, He chose to participate in the Jewish rite to fully identify with the lost sheep of Israel to whom He came to minister, and "to fulfil all righteousness" (Mat. 3:15). A close examination of the text reveals that the rite was not only to fulfill all righteousness for Jesus, but also for John the Baptizer: "For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." This act was no more a precedent for the Church than was His circumcision.
John was commissioned by God the Father to baptize with water (Jn. 1:33), and Jesus was commissioned by God the Father to baptize with the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:33b; 6:38). After all power (authority, NASB) in heaven and on earth had been given to Jesus (Mt. 28:18), He commissioned the Eleven to baptize into Him by preaching the Gospel (Mk. 16:15).
Those who repent unto salvation (2 Cor. 7:10) would be spiritually baptized into Christ. Those who "believe in thine heart" shall be saved (Rom. 10:9). "He that believeth [in his heart] and is [spiritually] baptized [into Christ] shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily, i.e., the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After the work of John the Baptizer was completed no one with divine commission baptized with water.
" after the work of john the baptizer was completed no one with divine commission baptized with water " dom_64
🤔🤔 uhhhhh not true
written from 65 to 80 ad this external historical source is more proof that the early church did baptize with water
“but concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit 👉👉👉👉👉👉 in running water,” (Didache 7:1) 💡💡
⚠️⚠️ beware of the false teachings of halo harry ❗❗
galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! who has bewitched you? ...... "
“but concerning (spiritual)baptism, thus (spirtually)baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, (SPIRITUALLY)baptize INTO the NAME(not water) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Didache 7:1)
There, corrected it for you. Now Didache 7:1 is no longer heresy.
tinyfaithdavid writes - 'Baptism is an act of obedience because >>>it's a command.<<< Matthew 28:19'
So are you CULTLY now telling us readers that 'baptism' by and in water is a "COMMAND" and therefore a CONTINUAL SALVATION problem IF a NEW Christian does not participate in the dunking??? Didn't you say earlier in other threads its NOT a salvation issue junior??? So the thief on the pole/tree is lost???
Oh and where does Matthew 28:19 even say its a water baptism, Dom_64 makes her point with that its really SPIRITUAL baptism! Right? So try to stay on point junior!
CULTISTrsvp QUOTES an OUTSIDE of CANON source - which >>>ADDS to CANON Scripture<<<, namely Matthew 28:19, by INSERTING 'baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit >>>in running water,<<<' '(Didache 7:1)'
Is that the did-a-dipstick-ache translation or the aching-did-a-dipstick translation CULTISTrsvp???
SERIOUSLY you expect us to believe this BALONEY, the same PORK ABOMINATIONS that you eat from your PAGAN grocery store rolled into a tube???
Oh and according to your 'DIVINE SOURCE' as you claim its ONLY 'running water' you can be 'baptized' in like rivers, streams maybe the kitchen faucet ??? So FLAT ALWAYS like lakes, ponds and or STANDING water are OUT for water baptism einstein???
Well there you go dear readers, its all about self recognition according to tinyfaithdavid own immaturity/insecurity on this forum obviously by him and we MUST agree with each other on every topic or we are just not thankful enough! LMBO!
Like I said - - - - 'Well there you go dear readers, its all about self recognition according to tinyfaithdavid own immaturity/insecurity on this forum, obviously by him and we MUST agree with each other on every topic or we are just not thankful enough! LMBO!
Didn't you say earlier in other threads its NOT a salvation issue junior??? 
So the thief on the pole/tree is lost??? 
Right? 
So try to stay on point junior! 
