Bible Discussion Thread

Does God require that we be baptized to be born again?

Linda, to answer your question simply put, no. Jesus said in ( John 3:3) "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God." meaning that we must some how be reborn to go to heaven. Some will assert that ( John 3:5) shows that we must be baptized by water, and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be saved, This is easily refuted with scripture. Remember God cannot lie ( Titus 1:2) Therefore, Scripture cannot contradict itself. If God required baptism for salvation, then Jesus Christ lied to the thief on the cross. ( Luke 23:43) Jesus IS God ( John 1:1). He CANNOT lie. God made the way to heaven very simple, so easy that even a child can understand and accept. It is not based on our works ( Ephesians 2:8-9) but on our faith in Christ and His FINISHED work on the cross. We must first understand that we are a sinner in need of a Savior. ( Romans 3:23) ... When we see that there is a penalty for our sin. ( Romans 6:23) That we cannot pay the penalty on our own, but Jesus Christ, loved us so much that He came, lived the perfect life, fulfilled the law, and became sin for us on the cross to pay our sin debt for us. ( Romans 5:8) Then believing the gospel by faith, we accept the GIFT of God, confess our belief in Him, and ask Him to save us. ( Romans 10:9-13) There are MEN who will take God's gift and want to say that in order to receive it you will need to do this or that, but whenever we add WORKS to the equation the GIFT ceases to be a gift. Repentance is a turning from self and a turning toward Christ.

Thank you for your quick reply. God bless you and your loved ones.

Hi John. You are correct to a degree but you don't have the complete picture. True, the thief on the cross wasn't baptized. He only received the blood. To this day that thief will remain a baby Christian as he never had the opportunity to grow in God. There are different levels in God's kingdom meant for different degrees of saved Christian. The thief went to paradise. this is only one level you can grow to in God. But if you want to receive the prize of the high calling ( Phil 3:14 and 1 Cor 9:24) you have to go beyond the gifts which is the common salvation ( Rom 10:9-10) and grow according to the tabernacle which includes baptism.When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour according to Romans 10:9-10. He washes away our sins and creates a new BABY heart within our old heart. This NEW heart is perfect and cannot sin. ( Eph 4:24) Out old heart doesn't disappear automatically or immediately ( Mark 7:21). The journey now starts where the old heart has to die and the new heart has to grow. Only as we crucify the old heart (the flesh) daily can the new heart grow within us. Paul said die daily". This is why many Christians still exhibit anger, resentment, gossiping, betrayal" they haven't repented and died daily. It is a process of repenting, not an instantaneous gift of the spirit.

This is the principal of growing in God according to Moses' tabernacle which has 7 pieces of furniture and is laid out in the form of a cross. It is a picture of the more perfect tabernacle which is Jesus. ( Heb 9:11). First is the brazen altar where the sacrifices were slain (Jesus) A picture of accepting Jesus blood sacrifice. After the Sacrifice was slain, Fire came forth from God and lit upon the sacrifice, which is a picture of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire. Also, in the outer Court was the Brazen Laver where the Priests washed once, outwardly, which is a picture of Water Baptism in the Name, Death, and Life of Jesus Christ. The Priests returned to this Laver, daily, t

Thank you for your quick reply. God bless you and your family.

Alex's comments about the Thief on the Cross. He was baptised when he heard Jesus Words, remember Jesus said you are made Clean by hearing My Words . That i have spoken unto you, Aka as the Water of the WORD . That living water That Jesus explained to the woman at the well. Yes the well is deep . But Jesus was the WORD made flesh and blood thus its no wonder that the thief was made clean by hearing the WORD. Remember one of the writters says the Church has to be made clean by the water of the Word, that living water is simply the H.G . Remember John said when Jesus spoke of that living water it was the Spirit he speake of. The H.G. was not yet given b/c that Christ was not yet glorified. Thats y the Priest use to apply the blood to the tip of the right ear, It was prophetic that when the lamb of God wd come we wd be made Clean by hearing his Words which ARE spirit and life . the H.G. Our right ear is simply hearing and understanding his voice. divine understanding ,Flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you but my father in heaven which is divine understanding that living water etc. That good seed is sown in our hearts by hearing, As Mary was not penatrated by anyman but only by hearing was the good seed sown in her Womb Thats y she said be it unto me according to thy Word then was the word made flesh and blood, The living word not the written word ,as there is no blood in the written word but only in the living WORD. When Jesus said my words are spirit and life thats the living word that was made spirit and life, flesh and blood.But he wants to impregnate all of humanity with his precious seed the living Word. Thats y the prophets saw the world in travail and birth pains simply b/c of that good seed the Word ,the field being the world, our hearts being womb that is gonna birth a BABY CHRIST which is the H.G. the Child of PROMISE She brought forth a man Child that is gonna rule ALL NATIONS. WHICH IS TH H.G. that Child of promise thus he is trul the son of man

Yes i hate to be Repititous but the Thief was baptised, made clean when he heard Jesus Words, Remember Jesus said you are made Clean by the WORD i have spoken unto you,abide in me and i in you . If any man hear my Words and keeps them my father and i will come and take our abode with him. k later

When you except Christ, when you take him into your heart, this is your baptism! You will be baptized with fire. Your soul will identify immediately with his holy spirit! The actual water baptism as Christ commands is when you make it public! A public confession, before the world! Before the angels of God! Water baptism is a declaration that you have died and risen again in the spirit of Christ resurrection. It is not true that you are required to have water baptism! If it were true, we would have to physically die before we could receive the spirit of God! And that is not true! The spirit of God is very much alive! These things you will know when he comes for you.

When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour according to Romans 10:9-10. He washes away our sins and creates a new BABY heart within our old heart. This NEW heart is perfect and cannot sin. ( Eph 4:24) Out old heart doesn't disappear automatically or immediately ( Mark 7:21). The journey now starts where the old heart has to die and the new heart has to grow. Only as we crucify the old heart (the flesh) daily can the new heart grow within us. Paul said die daily". This is why many Christians still exhibit anger, resentment, gossiping, betrayal" they haven't repented and died daily. It is a process of repenting, not an instantaneous gift of the spirit.

This is the principal of growing in God according to Moses' tabernacle which has 7 pieces of furniture and is laid out in the form of a cross. It is a picture of the more perfect tabernacle which is Jesus. ( Heb 9:11). First is the brazen altar where the sacrifices were slain (Jesus) A picture of accepting Jesus blood sacrifice. After the Sacrifice was slain, Fire came forth from God and lit upon the sacrifice, which is a picture of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire. Also, in the outer Court was the Brazen Laver where the Priests washed once, outwardly, which is a picture of Water Baptism in the Name, Death, and Life of Jesus Christ. The Priests returned to this Laver, daily, to wash their hands and feet, which is a picture of dying daily to the fleshly, carnal nature within us. We today can return daily to the altar (repentance) and the laver (baptism) daily to be washed (cleansed) of our attitudes and flesh and receive fresh fire from God.

Hi Linda, to answer question, no there is no requirement to be born again, when you accept Christ as your Lord and savior you are baptised, baptised means to be Identified with, you are put in the body of believers, Its the Lord that baptises you. water baptism is ritual, thats why it comes after you are converted.

Well First the Renewal starts in your Mind. You have to be reborn and understanding the true meaning of repentance. ( Acts 17:30). Then After He requires of us to be baptized by water and of the holy spirit. ( Matt 4:17, John 3:5)