What do baptists believe baptism is for?

Answer 1

Baptism is the representation of Jesus dying on the cross, being laid into the tomb, and rising on the third day. It is a ceremony that one does to have their sins washed away.

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Catholic AnswerParaphrased from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit. Baptism really frees you completely from Original Sin and all actual sin committed up until then, and you are reborn as a son of God. You are made a member of Christ and incorporated into His Christ. "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word." Roman Catechism II, 2, 5; cf. Council of Florence: Denzinger-Schonmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum (1965).

Answer 2

If you believe in the Christian faith you believe in baptism. You believe that people are born with sins, because no one is perfect. You also believe that Jesus died for these sins so that you have a shot of getting into heaven. Baptism is when they fully submerge you in water to symbolize the old sinful you dying and the new child of god being born. that and it says so in The Bible.

Answer 3

It's a proclamation of faith. You get to share your story/faith/experience/whats up. God wants believers to do this but it's no key to heaven. It's an act of obediance but not a required one to have a relationship with Him and get to heaven.

Answer 4

Tricky wording here. Baptism is required for salvation. HOWEVER, that does not mean you must be baptized with water. Let's say you are in the process of becoming Catholic, and have not been baptized yet. You get in a car accident, and die. Do you go to Hell? We here on Earth do not know the actual answer to that, because, well... we haven't been there. But God does not have to abide by the rules he set out for us. You have the desire, but did not get baptized by water, but rather by desire. If you had abstained from sin, were on your way towards baptism, then God, who is full of love and mercy, understands.

Long story short, baptism is necessary for salvation, but God is Love, and His Mercy outweighs his demands.

Roman Catholic AnswerIndeed, baptism is necessary, and there is both baptism by desire (as noted above) and baptism by blood (the martyrs that died for their faith before receiving water baptism) as well as regular baptism with water. And, indeed, we are bound to God's laws - which He made for our good, but He is not bound by them. As far as we are concerned, baptism is always necessary and it should be a top priority and not let go until someone is older. Everyone should have learned how to perform an emergency baptism in the event that someone is dying by pouring water on their head while saying, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." God is indeed mercy and Love, but He is Justice as well, and He cannot be unjust if someone neglects His Commands.

Answer 5

My understanding of the purpose of baptism is how God has ordained that a penitent believer in Jesus Christ can obtain forgiveness of their sins and then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter, the one whom was given the keys to the Kingdom by Jesus, spoke on the day of Pentecost and as recorded in Acts 2:38 said that they should "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..". The important word in this sentence was the word eis in the original language. On page 55 in the book entitled "Baptism - A Biblical Study" by Jack Cottrell (published by College Press Publishing Company) the discussion of the word eis shows that eis meant "direction or motion toward something". Given that the day of Pentecost was the day the New Testament Church was established and with an understanding of other passages such as 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 22:16, the conclusion must be that baptism is the God ordained way to become a Christian.

Answer 6

To show your love towards God. It is a sacrament of initiation that brings us closer to God. You receive the sacrament once. Its purpose is to bring us new life in Christ.