Simple question (again)...what are your views on that...does the method of Baptism (with water) really matters? (i soon reply to the tongues thread )

well, the easiest way to say this is that yes i think its important / necessary because we are suppose to be to be chrstians (followers of christ) so Christ Jesus did it so we should follow,....its bein obbedient....thou some ppl may say ok baptism is a public declaration of your faith so in your heart u already so if baptism is just a show and its states that its wats inside of your heart that counts so....it maybe not so much a big deal...but for me its bein obbedients so yes it matters.....you know like your parents would say when u ask they why? they would say because I said so ...so I say yes because Jesus said so.

Well I think you missed the question abit Fool4Christ. What I think icuucme was asking is what is our view on forms of Baptism which are practiced, not whether its is essential for salvation or not.

Well I think immersion is the correct way or form of baptism, as this was the way practiced by John the Baptist. This is seen when John baptised Jesus (Mark 1:10 this speaks of jesus coming up out of the water, which means that he must have gone under). As far as i see it, if Jesus went under (immersion) then we should go under too, as we are trying to follow his example right.

Immersing someone under water is a baptismal practice, which represent burial or washing away fo sin. Putting under the old person (burial or washing away), the lies, the fornication, the rape, the adultery etc, and coming up out of the water as a new being. From my point of view, and from what I was thought, thats what baptism represents.

So my view is that person should be immersed to be considered baptised, as according to the Bible and yes it does matter.
Check these scriptures: John 3:23, Mark 1:5, there are a couple more, but I'm still searching for them.

isnt baptism a symbol of the beginning of ur change in lifestyle? Will dipping or pouring determine how much my lifestyle is changed?

QUOTE:
Immersing someone under water is a baptismal practice, which represent burial or washing away fo sin. Putting under the old person (burial or washing away), the lies, the fornication, the rape, the adultery etc, and coming up out of the water as a new being. From my point of view, and from what I was thought, thats what baptism represents.

Can this representation not be done with pouring?

Mark 1: 7-8
"7And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.""

What should be important? the amount of water being used? or fully accepting the Holy Spirit to change our lifestyle?

I have not had much time as most will see: to pop on the forum to say much.

However, while I am grasping the perspective of what ICUUCME is saying or where he wants to direct us, IF I MAY ASK ICUUME to return and spend a lil more time to ensure that he is not causing the changing power of the HOLY SPIRITUAL to become ambigious.

Can u please give a more clear description of the significance of the changing power of the HOLY SPIRIT and how that is exclusive of what the word of God indicates are the 3 steps to getting closer to God.

I will post some scriptures on this in the future but those 3 steps are:
1. accepting your state and repent of it
2. be water baptised
3. become filled with the holy spirit ( no not speaking in tongues, as you will read in the thread on that speaking in tongues is one of the evidence of being filled with the Holy spirit)

I have some notes... pray for sometime for me so I can speak so more BUT yeah pls ICUUCME enlighten us.

Well basically I thing both baptisim and transformation of one's life by the Holy Spirit are important icuucme.
Really, I dont think Jesus needed to be baptized to tell you the truth, but this was symbolic to the fact that he has started a new life. As I have seen on many occasions, persons have been baptized and a couple of months, even days after, backslide. So really baptism is important, but whether or not the person allows themself to be transformed, is another issue.

Yes John did say that one was to come that would have more power than he had, and would baptize with the Holy Ghost, but this doesnt change the fact that we need to be baptised, I think you kinda change the topic there icu.

I share praiseriot's point, about the three step, as these are essential based on scripture.

The point i was trying to get across though is that Jesus went under in Baptism, the bible never stated that John poured water upon him, the Word states that he came up out of the water, and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a Dove. So if Jesus went under the water, why should we be pouring water upon people, dip dem I say, dip dem!

Give us some more clarification though icu, I kinda like this topic, I like the different views.

k, i know ma last post was phrased kinda misleading
"What should be important? the amount of water being used? or fully accepting the Holy Spirit to change our lifestyle?" - yep misleading

Yes i agree with the 3 steps and Yes i agree that Baptism IS important as it is in the Scriptures.

Another question before i continue tho - Do we see Baptism as just a symbol that we are ready to accept the Holy Spirit?

OK, Soulja, you hit di nail on di head! You started listing some scriptures, but Romans 6 best explains why baptism is important. Check it:

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.


So baptism is the right way... being immersed under the water. It signifies that as we stand we are in our sins. When we go under we die to sins and its wages. And coming up says that we are raising to new life in Jesus Christ! It's about Death, Burial and Resurrection. I sprinkle and pour when I tidy and bathe!

Jah Blesses!

so baptism is a symbol? I'm editing my first post to make the question clearer...