Emroidered & Pearled Silk Christening Baptism Gown, 03
Product Description
Supreme classic silk gown elegantly embroidered & pearled. Light ivory in color and ornamented with simple rosette and ribbon. Includes matching bonnet. 100% embroidered silk dupioni. Slip included. (Please note that all natural silk fabrics have slubs which are an inherent part of the fibers and add to the individuality of the set. These should not be mistaken for flaws in the fabric.) Dry clean. Shipped with elegant padded hanger and zippered vinyl bag. Heirloom P… More >>
What is the right purpose of the baptism for the Christians?
A question from a reader: If we see in the gospel of Mark, 1, 4 the baptism is as sign of conversion from the sins. Later Jesus and his followers did practice this same rite for same purpose, John, 3,22, and 4, 2. Do today it has same purpose or it had something else, because Jesus did undergo through it?
P.S. On may first question about Godliknes of Jesus I got 10 answers. Thank to all of you, but I as nonskilled one missed it all.
What words are used in baptism and what do they mean?
A question from a reader: What words are used in baptism and what do they mean?
What is a good gift for my godchild at her baptism?
A question from a reader: My husband and I are going to be god parents to my best friends daughter. He baptism is in a few weeks and I would like to get her a small gift for the occasion. Any ideas?
Christ And Baptism In Colossians
The fact that baptism is essential to becoming a Christian and being saved is written on page after page in the New Testament despite being rejected by most who call themselves Christians. I have never understood how something so clearly taught can so readily be rejected by so many other than through the power that tradition and religious heritage exerts on people. Error believed has the same faith affect upon a man or woman as truth believed and can thus provide peace and comfort until the time truth exerts itself with such force that it cannot be denied. Saul, before he became Paul the apostle, believed error and acted in all good conscience (Acts 23:1) while persecuting Christ (Acts 26:14). He believed error and was at perfect peace with himself while sinning continually – that is until the force of truth was exerted with power on the road to Damascus.
Sincerity will never change error into truth nor will it ever lead to a pardon for disobedience. The fact that Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden did not free her of her sin. “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:14 NAS) We need to read the Bible, even more we need to study it, “a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of God.” (2 Tim. 2:15 NAS) We need to read the book of Colossians and see what it teaches about Christ and baptism. What Paul teaches there he teaches elsewhere as well.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Col. 1:27 NAS) is a central theme of the first two chapters of the book of Colossians. Christ is all that is needed in a person’s life for in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3 NAS) In him we are “made complete.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) We are not therefore to be taken “captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men.” (Col. 2:8 NAS) We are not to submit ourselves to decrees “in accordance with the commandments and teaching of men.” (Col. 2:22 NAS)
With Christ we have all we need and should thus stay far away from all impositions upon our faith not found in the word of Christ which is just another way of saying stay away from the commandments of men. “Any one who goes too far (‘Lit., goes on ahead’ – side margin note in the NAS reference edition – DS) and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” (2 John 9 NAS)
In chapter 2 Paul lists some examples of things we should not concern ourselves with just because of men – food, drink, respect to festivals, new moons, and Sabbath days. (Col. 2:16) He does likewise in verses 21 and 23. In 1 Tim. 4:3 he speaks of “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods” going so far as to refer to such teachings as “doctrines of demons.” (NAS) Does this remind you of any famous religious bodies today? I remember when going to a state university back in the 60’s when Friday’s (I believe it was a Friday – it has been a long time ago) were special days in the cafeteria because of what one religious body could and could not eat on that day. Their numbers were such that they had that influence on the menu.
The bottom line is Christ is all a Christian needs. Christ is found in his word and not in things that cannot be found in his word. If one cannot find a book, chapter, and verse for his teaching and practice in the New Testament then his doctrine ought to be ignored. This eliminates all creed books, church councils making decisions, etc. Christ is the head of the church, “He is also head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18 NAS) “He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) He says himself directly, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NAS) Paul teaches in the book of Colossians that all we need is Christ, him and him alone, him and nothing else. Christ is found in his word and not outside it in someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or imaginations, or as Paul says in the NAS “in self-made religion.” (Col. 2:23)
If Christ in me is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27 NAS) how does Paul tell us that this is brought about? One must remember Paul is writing to people who have already heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel and thus are already Christians. He says they had already been “delivered…from the domain of darkness, and transferred…to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14 NAS) How had that happened?
The answer is found in Col. 2:11-13, “And in him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” (NAS)
The passage begins with the phrase “in him.” In him, in Christ, is life, a new creation. While Paul is speaking of a spiritual circumcision here in Colossians back in Galatians he speaks of a physical one when he says that the physical one does not matter one way or another but he says there is something that does matter – a new creation. “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Gal. 6:15 NAS) The side margin note in the New American Standard Version (reference edition) says “Or, creature.” That is what matters. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS)
Only in Christ does this spiritual circumcision take place in which “the removal of the body of the flesh” occurs. One is baptized into Christ. We are, Paul’s exact words, “baptized into Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:3) See also Gal. 3:27. It is “in him” where we “were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.” (Col. 2:11 NAS)
Paul in talking about this circumcision in Col. 2 connects it directly with “having been buried with him in baptism.” (Col. 2:12 NAS) The body of flesh, or as Paul calls it in Romans the “old self” (Rom. 6:6 NAS), is put to death in baptism for we are baptized “into death” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) but the good news is “you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God,” (Col. 2:12 NAS) “he made you alive together with him.” (Col. 2:13 NAS) But, this one who is made alive is a new man. He is not the man that went down into the water and died. This one that comes up from the water “made… alive together with him” (Col. 2:13 NAS) was raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) for he is a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS).
He forgave the Colossians all their transgressions. When? When upon their faith they repented and were “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38 NAS) This is what was required on the Day of Pentecost when the first gospel sermon was preached by Peter and Paul teaches the same thing to the Colossians. Does one want to say Peter and Paul were at odds?
There are a few other passages in Colossians teaching the same truth. Paul in Col. 2:20 speaking to the Colossians says, “if you have died with Christ.” (NAS) He is not expressing doubt but emphasizing a point. He is saying, in so many words, if you are a Christian “why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees?” (Col. 2:20 NAS) Question – how does one die with Christ? He says, “if you have died with Christ.” The answer is found in inspired words, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3 NAS) Thus Paul teaches baptism in a verse many overlook without a thought. We died with Christ in baptism.
Another verse along the same line is found in Col. 3:1, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above.” (NAS) You cannot be raised up with Christ unless you have first been buried with him can you? “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Paul goes on in that same verse, “as Christ was raised from the dead…so we too might walk in newness of life.” (NAS) When do we do that? When we arise from the waters of baptism. Many think they have been raised up with Christ who have never been buried with him. The Bible does not teach that can happen.
Paul says to the Colossians in Col. 3:3, “you have died.” (NAS) We know how and when they died from what we have already read and studied but the question for men today is have we died and risen again as they did?
I close this with one more passage, Col. 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who create him.” (NAS) When does one lay aside the old self? Paul speaks of having “died to sin” in Rom. 6:2. When one dies to sin the old self has been laid aside. We die to sin, and thus to the old self, in baptism. “We have been buried with him through baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Death to what? To ask is to answer – death to sin. When we were baptized (if we were) “our old self was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be done away with.” (Rom. 6:6 NAS) “He who died is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7 NAS)
The book of Colossians teaches clearly that salvation is found in Christ and that Christ is all any man or woman needs for salvation. However, there are many today who are in error concerning how one enters into salvation in Christ Jesus. Remember it is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27 NAS) Why not clothe yourself with Christ which Paul says in Gal. 3:27 is done by being baptized into Christ? “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.” (Gal. 3:27 NAS) If you are clothed with Christ then certainly, if you live faithfully, you have “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Remember it was Jesus himself who said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS). It is man who has said, “He who has believed and has not been baptized shall be saved.” One gets to choose – Jesus or man. The book of Colossians teaches you ought to choose Jesus over man.
What’s the best way to discuss water baptism with a 7 year old who is wanting to be baptized?
A question from a reader: I want to make sure she fully understands what baptism means. Are there any book or online sites that cover this?
The New Birth ? Is ?Water? Baptism?
Having written on the subject of the new birth before I was surprised, although I doubt I should have been, to have gotten some comments back to the effect that the water mentioned in John 3:5 where Jesus says, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (NKJV) had reference not to baptism but to the water of childbirth. Probably shows what a sheltered live I have led to be surprised that people could come up with such a wild explanation. I was aware that others explain it away in other ways as not being baptism but this childbirth explanation came as a little bit of a surprise.
In any case I thought it good to write yet another article on the subject dealing this time not so much on biblical arguments, for that I have already done in other articles, but upon the historical record in order to show that today’s interpretations of water in John 3:5 as being something other than baptism are modern day explanations. While it may seem about everyone supports those views today it was not that way in the past, in fact, just the opposite.
In the book entitled, The Gospel Plan of Salvation, first published in 1874, by T. W. Brents, I quote as follows: “The religious world, with one voice, from the days of Christ until quite recently, has ascribed this language to water baptism.” (Page 490) He goes on to quote a Dr. Wall as follows: “There is not any one Christian writer of any antiquity in any language, but what understands it of baptism.” (Page 490, a quote from Wall’s History of Infant Baptism, Vol. l, page 147)
Burton Coffman in his Commentary on John, page 81, says, “it is only quite recently in Christian times that interpretations of this verse have been devised to exclude its obvious reference to Christian baptism.” He goes on to quote John Boys, the Dean of Canterbury, a famous preacher and scholar of the Church of England in the seventeenth century who said of his time (1600’s) that some few (he says “few” – not “many”) were saying that the water of the passage we are speaking of, John 3:5, “are not to be construed of external baptism.”
Boys is further quoted as saying, “Origen, Chrysostom, Augustine, Cyril, Beda, Theophylact, Euthymius, in the commentaries on this place (3:5), along with Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Ambrose, Hierome, Basil, Gregory, Nyssen, and many more, yea most of the Fathers—Hooker, a man of incomparable reading, openeth his mouth wider, avowing peremptorily that all the ancients…have construed this text, as our church doth, of outward baptism.” (as quoted in Burton Coffman, Commentary on John, page 81).
One last quote from Coffman’s commentary is from the famous church historian Phillip Schaff, of the nineteenth century, Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary, who said, “It seems impossible to disconnect water in John 3:5, from baptism. Calvin’s interpretation arose from doctrinal opposition to the R. Catholic over-valuation of the sacrament, which must be guarded against in another way.” (quoted in Burton Coffman, Commentary on John, page 82)
Online there is an article entitled, “Born Again: Baptism in the Early Fathers,” from whence I quote this: “Every Christian, all the Church Fathers, bishops, and saints who lived after the apostles (and some while the apostles were still alive) interpreted our Lord’s words in John chapter 3 that to be ‘born again’ and ‘born of water and the Spirit’ refers to the Sacrament of Baptism. There are no exceptions. And Protestant scholars frankly admit this fact (note the relevent sections on Baptism in Reformed/Presbyterian scholar Philip Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, Anglican scholar J.N.D. Kelly’s Early Christian Doctrines, and Lutheran scholar Jaroslav Pelikan’s The Christian Tradition).” No author is listed for this article but the home page suggests it is by Phil Porvaznik. In any case there are extensive quotations from what the author says is all the church fathers through the fifth century to back up his statement of what the thinking was in the early years of the church. I do not list the article link here lest I run afoul of the article directories rules.
Because an interpretation is old does not make it right but conversely because an interpretation is new does not make it right either. Christianity is now about 2,000 years old. For about 1500 years of that most who considered themselves to be Christians understood the passage in John 3:5 pertaining to being born of water as being a clear reference to baptism. The modern day interpretations being given to that passage should not be considered infallible or as being the traditional understanding.
I will go beyond that and say that what has come to be the generally accepted understandings of the passage today are in error. They have come to be the new traditional for they now go back a few generations but when looked at from a historical perspective the traditional today is only recent history.
I understand I have not discussed John 3:5 with regards to making scriptural arguments. I said in the beginning that the purpose of this article was to throw some light on the historical record and not do what I have already done before in several different articles where I have discussed the passage in depth from a scriptural perspective. Those articles will not be hard to find should the reader so desire to read them.
How does Baptism means dying to our former way of life and becoming alive to do God’s will?
A question from a reader: Baptism means dying to our former way of life and becoming alive to do God’s will?I have watched videos of people getting baptized on you tube and before the person getting baptized was dumbed in the water the priest said you now have died on the cross like Christ did,be resurrected & went through the same pain Christ did,what does that mean?
What is the purpose and symbolism of baptism?
A question from a reader: My friend asked me what the purpose of baptism is. I know its an outward symbol of what’s going on inside your heart with your relationship with God, but I’m not sure what else I should say about it. My pastor explained a whole lot about it today, but when I tried to answer my friend today, I kind of blanked on what to say. I answered with what I remembered at the time, and I told him I’d give him the rest if it came to me. Can anyone give me an answer on what the symbolism behind it means? And what the purpose of it is?