Catholic baptism versus Born Again Christian baptism?

Question

I am catholic and was baptized when I was a baby but I have been told by friends that you shouldn't be baptized until you are of age to understand your choice to be christian. Some Catholics argue that you make that adult decision when you do confirmation but this worries me as well because I don't feel like I was mature enough even at that time to make a good decision. In other words, I made the choice to be confirmed but I don't think I was as serious about the decision as I am now as an adult. I love my Catholic faith because this is the place I feel closest to god but I was just wondering about others opinions on the decision to follow Christ and baptism.

What are your thoughts about baptism?

Are there declarations of faith for adult Catholics?

Answer 1

The term you are looking for is the Believer's Baptism. It is primarily an Anabaptist (rebaptism) movement that has only been prominent for about 600 years, and primarily in America.



Baptism is an act of God's grace, where the baptized is declared a child of God. Those who believe in the Believer's (Adult) Baptism believe baptism is an act of faith; it is an expression of one's faith, and suggests some completeness in an understanding of God as being one's savior.



Sanctification is an eternal process, and one is never sanctified enough to be declared righteous in the eye's of God, so whether one is baptized as an infant or an adult, we are all equal to receive God's grace and salvation, and the purpose of baptism is supposed to be for the church to receive someone into the body of God aside from faith.

Answer 2

The efficacy of infant baptism does not depend on the recipient's knowledge.



I've been married for a good number of years. I went through the ceremony willingly. There have been many things in my marriage I did not foresee, but I knew at the time that I didn't have a crystal ball. I was okay with that. Confirmation is similar.

For declarations of belief, pray the Apostles, and Nicene Creeds.

Answer 3

Your decision to follow Jesus as a disciple is not made once and forever. You must regularly re-affirm it. Not just in words, but in your decisions, thoughts and actions.



You are not alone as a follower of Jesus; the collection of his disciples is called the Church. At Baptism you are made a member of the Church, promises are made on your behalf. As you grow older you are told of these promises and how to behave so that the promises are kept. Every Sunday when you pray with meaning you affirm your decision. Sometimes the Creed at Mass is substituted with a renewal of Baptismal Promises. This is done at Easter.



At these Easter Masses, when you pray with meaning, you are taking on the promises made on your behalf at Baptism. Look up the Creed from Mass, the Apostles Creed, the renewal of baptismal promises, and the Creed of the People of God written and presented by Pope John Paul II.



These are, when prayed thoughtfully, adult declarations of faith.

Answer 4

I was raised Baptist, and the whole Sunday School class said the prayer of salvation when we got to be 12 and then got baptized. But I didn't sense the power of God in my life at all, so it all seemed fake, yet I did believe in Jesus and the Bible, but wasn't reading it.



Well it took many terrible things happening to me before I had another good chance and found the Lord at the age of 27. I believe we should be baptized in water when we understand fully what is going on and we are deadly serious about it. I transferred to a Pres. church, then to a Full Gospel church which also baptizes in water when children or adults are ready for it.

Answer 5

In the bible it recorded God said: When you pray go to your room and close the door... thus where the logic is to declare one's faith? Faith is just between God and oneself.



As for Baptism then you have to know the actual meaning of water in the ancient time. Just simply Baptism does not explain the meaning of water. Baptism does not simply mean born again.



The word 'Water' comprises of loads of meanings such as suffering; sacrifice, fruitfulness, purification, organic life, and so on... The word 'water' is mentioned more than the word 'faith' in the bible.

Answer 6

The Catholic Church has baptized infants since apostolic times because its founder, Jesus Christ, taught that no-one can enter the Kingdom Of God unless they are "reborn through water and the Spirit", an obvious reference to Baptism. (John 3:5) There are detailed accounts of infant baptism in the writings of the earliest Church Fathers, from the first few centuries. No Christian on Earth denied infant baptism for the first 1,500 years of Christianity. That idea came out of the doctrinal chaos of Protestantism, which began in the 16th Century. And that unauthorized manmade tradition of thousands of conflicting churches who cannot agree on a single doctrinal truth is not in any position to correct the teaching of the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ, to which He promised "The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth", and "Whatsoever you bind upon Earth is bound in Heaven", and "He who hears you hears Me".

Answer 7

the declaration of faith is the nicene creed , in the early days of the church whole families were baptized , read the acts of the apostles

Answer 8

Oh, so that's what that baptism thing is for! I just assumed Catholics enjoyed the practice of drowning babies for fun!

Answer 9

It's an early recruitment scheme to prey on the defenseless child.

Answer 10

I've done both. Still some horrible things happened to me. Where is the protective logic if I was supposedly cleansed. Catholic or otherwise it is all propaganda. mo.

Answer 11

Can you report me pls? I wanna get rid of this accounct

Answer 12

The Church from the beginning has practiced the Baptism of children. The reasons are very clear in Scriptures.



(Joh 3:5 DRB) Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.



To the first Christians that baptized their children it was understood by them that Baptism is the doorway to salvation. St. Peter said the following:



(1Pe 3:18 DRB) Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,



(1Pe 3:19 DRB) In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison:



(1Pe 3:20 DRB) Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.



(1Pe 3:21 DRB) Whereunto baptism, being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but, the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.



The effects of Baptism are the regeneration of the soul (born again), eradication of original sin and actual sin and its effects on the soul. A baby does not have actual sin but does have original sin. Through Baptism we become members of the Body of Christ, of which St. Paul says the following:



(2Co 5:17 DRB) If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away. Behold all things are made new.



(1Co 3:16 DRB) Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?



Baptism is the sacramental doorway into the Church:



(Mat 28:19 DRB) Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.



The Bible teaches that everyone should be Baptized:



(Act 2:38 DRB) But Peter said to them: Do penance: and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.



(Act 2:39 DRB) For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.



(Act 2:40 DRB) And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.



(Act 2:41 DRB) They therefore that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.



(Act 2:42 DRB) And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers.



St. Peter at Pentecost said to the adults to repent but did not exclude children from Baptism, instead saying that everyone should receive the Holy Spirit not just those of age to repent. He said it is “to you and to your children”. That is why people in the early Church brought even their smallest children to be baptized as do parents today.



There is no necessity to repent for children to be Baptized according to Scriptures. The command to repent is not binding on infants nor to mentally incapacitated people as the intent of repentance is not to exclude those incapable of such an act. They are not to be condemned because of their lack of ability to repent. Certainly the same understanding should apply as we understand St. Paul’s statement in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 where St. Paul says that someone who does not work does not eat. Are we to deny children or the mentally handicapped sustenance? Certainly they should not, nor should they be denied eternal life.



The Old Testament required circumcision at eight days old as a sign of the covenant of God. The child had no knowledge of why he was being circumcised yet the parents brought the son to the synagogue to have this done. God accepted the child into the covenant for what the parents had done just as He accepts the Baptism when the parents present their child to be baptized. The Scriptures tell us clearly that Baptism replaced circumcision:



(Col 2:11 DRB) In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ.



(Col 2:12 DRB) Buried with him in baptism: in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him up from the dead.



We must remember what Christ said when there were those who attempted to forbid the children from coming to Him:



(Luk 18:15 DRB) And they brought unto him also infants, that he might touch them. Which when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.



Luk 18:16 DRB) But Jesus, calling them together, said: Suffer children to come to me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.



(Luk 18:17 DRB) Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child shall not enter into it.



Can there be any doubt by a proper understanding of Scripture that children should be baptized? Certainly a complete understanding of the Scriptural verses shows clearly that children have the same need for Baptism as adults and that they should not be held away from this act by their parents or the Church lest they put the child in grave danger and the parents and/or Church are disobedient to the spirit of the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.



In Christ

Fr. Joseph

Answer 13

Baptism is not simply a declaration of faith. It is the gateway into the church, the Body of Christ.



The CC teaches that baptism is a sacrament. And that a sacrament is a visible sign instituted by Christ by which grace is conveyed to our souls.



Now, where in the bible does it say that baptism is only symbolic? No where. Thus, bible-alone Christians that teach baptism is only symbolic have nothing in the bible to base that teaching on.



The bible teaches baptism:

(1) cleanses us of sins. (Original sin (Gen 3:1-24; Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21-22; http://www.catholic.com/radio/shows/original-sin-4586 ) and actual sin). It restores us to the state of grace lost by mankind through original sin;

(2) gives us the Holy Spirit.

(3) is the entrance into the New Covenant as circumcision was the entrance into the Old Covenant. (And when were they circumcised? When they were 8 days old. How could they make an informed decision at 8 days old? They did it to bring their infant into the covenant. It was based on their parents decision and faith. Do you require your infants to be able to make an informed decision before wearing a seat belt? No, because you know what is good for your children) Baptism is also the entrance into the Body of Christ;

(4) saves us and is required;



(1), (2)

In Ezekiel we see a foreshadowing of baptism in the OT.



Ez 36:25-27: “I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; … I will give you a new heart… I will put my spirit within you….”



Here we see God giving us a visible sign (sprinkling with water) that signifies an invisible grace (God cleansing us from impurities, giving us a new heart and giving us his own spirit).



Do we have a passage in the NT that corresponds to Ezekiel? Yes.



Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”



What are the parallels?

Acts - be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

Ezekiel - I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean.



Acts - you shall receive the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel - I will put my spirit within you.



See how God prepares us in the Old Covenant for what he gives us in the New Covenant?



Acts 22:16: “Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, …”



This passage plainly tells us that baptism washes away sins just as the CC teaches.



(3)

Now, is it through baptism that we become members of the Body of Christ; that we become Christians, as the CC teaches? Yes.



1 Cor 12:13: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”



Paul says here we were baptized into one body. Which body? Into the Body of Christ.



Gal 3:27

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”



Therefore, Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ.



Baptism is the entrance into the New Covenant with God just as circumcision was the entrance into the Old Covenant with God.



Col 2:11-12: “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him…”



(4)

Does baptism save us as the CC teaches? Yes.



1 Pt 3:20-21: “…while God patiently waited in the days of Noah …, in which a few persons, eight in all, were SAVED through WATER. This prefigured BAPTISM, which SAVES you NOW. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience…”



‘Baptism, which saves you now’. Can the bible be more explicit?



Is baptism required? Yes.



Jn 3:5: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”



‘Born of water and Spirit’ is talking about baptism. We need baptism in order to enter the kingdom of God, in order to be saved.



Finally, Jesus says: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,”



If baptism were only symbolic then why are Jesus’ final instructions to his apostles to go and make disciples by baptizing them? Note: he does not say make disciples by getting them to accept me as their personal Lord and Savior. In fact no where in Scripture does it ever say that. Nor, does Scripture ever support the idea that baptism is only symbolic.



However, as we have seen, scripture does support the CC notion that baptism saves us, that baptism makes us members of the New Covenant and Body of Christ, that baptism washes away sins, and through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.



http://www.catholic.com/tracts/infant-baptism

Answer 14

Water baptism is a choice made by an understanding individual to show they are born again through their faith in Christ.



The Catholic Church is not Christian.

TO CATHOLICS – IT CONCERNS YOUR SALVATION

https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/to-roman-catholics-it-concerns-your-salvation/



Many individuals erroneously teach that the Lord Jesus Christ meant reincarnation by His term born again. Being born again has nothing to do with the false teaching of reincarnation, but union with God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and holy transformation that comes ONLY through the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Saviour. Jesus said that no human being can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born again, and that humans are born again through water and Spirit (John 3:3-6). The capital "S" in Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit (the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead) Who one receives only through accepting Jesus as their Saviour. The water is not earthly water but the living waters that flow out of the hearts of all who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (John 7:38). It is the same waters the Holy Spirit uses to wash and renew us (Titus 3:5) as we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is what Jesus meant by His term “born again”.



What It Means to Be Born Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLuZpXipO2s



The Lord Jesus Christ (the second Person of the Triune Godhead) made it clear humans have only one physical life (Matthew 25:46) and His most important teaching is that Salvation is found ONLY through faith in Him (Jesus) Who is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, THE BREAD OF LIFE and THE DOOR (John 6:35; John 8:12; John 14:6; John 10:9-11). The way to God and an eternity in Heaven is so simple but many reject it.



Without God, the spiritual part of the human being is dead (Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13). The sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve) caused the separation between God and man. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin causes us to be separated from God which results in spiritual death. Christ, the 2nd Person of the Triune Godhead was made flesh (through the immaculate conception) and paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross so we could THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOUR be instantly redeemed and united to God and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who teaches us, comforts us and grants us fruits to live in righteousness and gifts to help and edify the Church. The only way one can receive redemption and union with God is through receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Saviour.



Only the pure and holy can enter Heaven and be with God. We human beings cannot make ourselves pure and holy no matter what we do and that's why we need a Saviour.



There are 2 kinds of people on the earth: people who love God and people who don't. Those who love God will be drawn to His Son Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and Saviour. Those who do not love God will not love His Son and accept Him.



1 John 2:23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.



Those who do not love God are not good people but His enemies (Romans 5:10) and He has already prepared a place for them (Hell). Many say they love God but they are liars. How can we prove they are liars? God sent His Son to die for us, but these reject Him (Jesus) and the truth about Him.



The truth about Jesus Christ can be found only in the Holy Bible. Three days after the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, He resurrected from the dead (Luke 24:1-8; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4) and 40 days later, He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11).



A PERSON BECOMES A CHRISTIAN THROUGH FAITH. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Saviour is the ONLY WAY one can receive CLEANSING OF SINS (1 John 1:7), REDEMPTION (Ephesians 1:7), ADOPTION BY GOD (Romans 8:15), THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 6:19), SANCTIFICATION (Hebrews 13:12; 1 Corinthians 1:2), JUSTIFICATION (1 Corinthians 6:11), TRANSFORMATION (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 9:12-14; Titus 3:5) and SALVATION (Romans 10:9; Revelation 21:8).



When a person has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, the Triune Godhead takes up residence within them! Adonai lives within believers (John 14:23), the Lord Jesus Christ lives within believers (2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 2:20) and the Holy Spirit lives within believers (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).



If a person physically dies without ever having made the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour, God would not accept them into Heaven. They would go to Hell and then at the end of the Millennium, would be thrown into the Lake of Fire.



The Lord Jesus Christ describes hell as an actual place in the afterlife:



Luke 16:22-24

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’



The Lord Jesus Christ preached on the Lake of Fire and revealed this place of torment to John in visions (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:14 Revelation 19:20).





REDEMPTION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH



Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.



If you sincerely say this prayer, your sins will be washed away, you will be redeemed to God, be saved from eternal torment and inherit the Kingdom of God:



"Dear Jesus,



I am a sinner.

I repent of my sins.

Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood;

come into my heart.

I want to receive you as my own personal Lord and Savior.



Amen"



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THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND OTHER ANCIENT NON CHRISTIAN SOURCES PROVE THE VALIDITY OF THE BIBLE:



http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm



https://www.probe.org/the-dead-sea-scrolls/



FULFILLED PROPHECIES ALSO PROVE THE BIBLE IS RELIABLE:



Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible by Dr. Hugh Ross http://www.believers.org/hughross.htm



PROPHECIES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE

http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/jesus66books.htm



The Father is God, the Son (Jesus Christ) is God & the Holy Spirit is God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJUWnt07FQM



SEQUENCE OF END-TIME EVENTS IN BIBLE PROPHECY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMsvk3FEkWk&feature=youtu.be





https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/