Can any man forbid water...

That these should not be baptised, which have recieved the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

This is from Acts 10:47-48

Peter has just shared the gospel with the gentiles. The Holy Ghost fell on those who heard the word.

I want to ask this same question. After someone has heard the Word - Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised?

Apparently in some churches and christian circles people can. They will say ah you dont need to be baptised. You just make a decision for Christ and thats it. No need to do anything else. I do not understand this. Do they not want to add people to the church?
 
Apparently in some churches and christian circles people can. They will say ah you dont need to be baptised. You just make a decision for Christ and thats it. No need to do anything else. I do not understand this. Do they not want to add people to the church?
I have not ever heard of any church or group denying anyone of being baptized .

Some may have set days but this does not keep anyone from being added to the church.
Blessings
 
I had this from a pastor/elder of a church was going to that said I didnt need to be water baptised. GOt the impression that it was too much trouble for them. Or that their church was full already and they didnt want new members. So I ended up getting baptised at a different church. Because God had impressed on me that I was to obey Him in that area. That very night I got baptised because they just baptised anyone who asks and its no trouble for them.
The thing is though I did not end up going to that particular church God led me somewhere else in my walk..still His church though.

I have also heard some people think they can be a christian without undergoing water baptism, by going forth at a Billy Graham crusade, where water baptism was never mentioned. This person I know wrote her testimony and while her experience of the grace and mercy of God was genuine, she had a misunderstanding of what it meant to become a christian and thought all she had to do was walk forward. Years later I can see she is still struggling with the basics of faith, many times questioning then presuming on God when she hadnt done her part i.e repented and got baptised.

It wasnt so much they expressly forbad it, but it seems to me some the elders just neglected to mention it or didnt think it was important. im just wondering is this a common occurrance. If the church itself makes it hard for people to experience baptism or just never mentions it, how do people become christians? I thought it was a command to go baptised people in the name of the Father. Son and Holy Ghost. Yes sinners prayer is a step, but theres also baptism. Many say the sinners prayer and get no further.
 
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have also heard some people think they can be a christian without undergoing water baptism, by going forth at a Billy Graham crusade, where water baptism was never mentioned.
Have you ever been to a Billy Graham meeting in order to say water baptism was never mentioned?

We get born again and we are now a Christian, then we can also be baptized.

I agree being baptized is vital part of being a born again believer and yet being baptized does not have to happen right then and there and it does help to learn about Christ more before.

Blessings:)
 
No but this lady did and from her account it was never mentioned. So just wondering if that was normal. She went home with a good feeling she was saved by just walking forward. Or maybe she didnt hear, I wish I could show you what she wrote because she thought she had to plunge in the eater to become a christian but going to the crusade she was told something different and then remarked how easy it was she didnt have to even get wet.
 
Im know it doesnt have to happen right there but would be good if it did. Maybe its only unique to that type of crusade or rally. Then all those people who want to become christians arent at loss of what to do. You dont get told to maybe just wait till several months or even years later. If you truly repent, wouldnt it be better to do it sooner rather than later. Then you can start to grow, and its less of a struggle. Plus washing away sins by undergoing water baptism is a powerful experience. It marks the start of your new life.
 
Found this in John 4:2 Jesus himself did not baptise, but his disciples did.

Ok so Jesus had 12 disciples right? And he was preaching, and his disciples were baptising everyone alongside him. This is why he had disciples. To help with the harvest and they had the job of baptising. When Jesus said I will make you fishers of men, well literally he wanted us to get wet! he didnt say, I will make you shepherds of men, or judges of men. Fishers.

Paul had helpers too, Silas and Barnabas and Timothy etc. Plus all the people he named in his letters who were fellow labourers.

To me what is lost in modern day evangelism is importance of the team of fellowlabourers that baptises everyone who hears the gospel. Someone sows, so that others may reap. We cant do it all on our own. But we do need to get baptising anyone who has repented and heard the gospel. Otherwise people are still lost. They can hear the gospel but it would be like sowing a seed and never watering it. And the devil can snatch away that seed, like birds do that eat the seed and then you wonder why nothing is growing!
 
Acts 1:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

"But", get it? That sets the one baptism IN CONTRAST to the other. Many people omit that word when they read the verse because it contradicts their church traditions.

"Baptize" means to dip. It does not imply water, the dipping can be in anything. Jesus said ye shall be dipped in holy spirit, in contrast to dipping in water.

In Acts chapter 10 we see the story of Peter speaking at the house of Cornelius. He did not baptize them in water. He said so in chapter 11.
 
Actually no you havent read the entire chapter.

Chapter 10 the holy ghost falls upon the gentiles and they start speaking in tongues. Seeing this Peter asks those circumcised can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised which have received the holy ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord.

Peter actually baptised them with water.

You need to read the whole passage.
Then later in the chapter he explains why hes sitting there eating with the gentiles as well. PEter remembers what Jesus said about the holy ghost.

Its nothing to do with any church traditions...but to obey what the Lord says...to baptise in His name. Not the baptism of john, or Paul, or Peter..but to be baptised in the name of Jesus. Water was used. This is AFTER the evidence of holy ghost baptism when people speak in tongues declaring that Jesus is Christ is the son of God.

The eunuch was baptised in water. It had nothing to do with the church tradition...Phillip baptised the euncuh when the eunuch said here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? in acts 8:36
 
Actually no you havent read the entire chapter.

Chapter 10 the holy ghost falls upon the gentiles and they start speaking in tongues. Seeing this Peter asks those circumcised can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised which have received the holy ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord.

Peter actually baptised them with water.

You need to read the whole passage.
Then later in the chapter he explains why hes sitting there eating with the gentiles as well. PEter remembers what Jesus said about the holy ghost.

Its nothing to do with any church traditions...but to obey what the Lord says...to baptise in His name. Not the baptism of john, or Paul, or Peter..but to be baptised in the name of Jesus. Water was used. This is AFTER the evidence of holy ghost baptism when people speak in tongues declaring that Jesus is Christ is the son of God.

The eunuch was baptised in water. It had nothing to do with the church tradition...Phillip baptised the euncuh when the eunuch said here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? in acts 8:36

You're such a sweetheart!
 
hmm maybe God does himself with the next rain shower to save us the trouble.
I know people don't really like to get wet, but come on. You'd think in summer people would be really keen to take the plunge.
 
I would relate two instances of witholding baptism:

The first was when the pastor at the first church went to withheld baptism from his daughter because he wanted to be sure that she was not simply seeking his approval. Eventually a couple of women in the congregation talked to him privately declaring that the young lady involved had impressed them with the qualities in her life. Eventually he was convinced.

The other instance involves a pastor that requires someone wishing to be baptised complete a series of classes to ensure they knew what this is all about. I think that at the end of the classes, the deacon giving the class must recommend them for baptism.

My own feeling is that a pastor should not see himself as gate-keeper. I also note that while my wife and I were talking with him and his wife, he said he had baptised his wife three times stating that she had not really accepted Christ the first two times. I still wonder at this.
 
yea I don't understand...
its like people getting married don't even say their vows and next thing you know they are divorced cos they didn't actually mean to get married and just copied the person next to them.
Well how bout this...you don't say 'repeat after me I'm a christian' you actually ask for their testimony.

with pastors well they shouldn't be baptising their own families there must be plenty of other pastors. Surely this is a bit like going to see a doctor who's your own parents.
I don't know the series of classes bit, but I guess people want to make sure, as long as those classes aren't teaching anything other than whats in scripture.

I know some denominations baptise people three times just to make sure, but they do it all at once. I think the orthodox do this. They also baptise people in winter by cutting a hole in the ice.
 
I would relate two instances of witholding baptism:
The first
was when the pastor at the first church went to withheld baptism from his daughter because he wanted to be sure that she was not simply seeking his approval. Eventually a couple of women in the congregation talked to him privately declaring that the young lady involved had impressed them with the qualities in her life. Eventually he was convinced. The other instance involves a pastor that requires someone wishing to be baptised complete a series of classes to ensure they knew what this is all about. I think that at the end of the classes, the deacon giving the class must recommend them for baptism.
My own feeling is that a pastor should not see himself as gate-keeper. I also note that while my wife and I were talking with him and his wife, he said he had baptised his wife three times stating that she had not really accepted Christ the first two times. I still wonder at this.

Hello Siloam;

In the Old Testament Gatekeepers were levites who protected the Lord's house and were totally obedient to God. To a degree, today, this is part of the role of a Pastor (Shepherd) towards the church family and protecting them from wayward motives, rash decisions or misunderstood study of the Scriptures.

A Pastor's responsibility is to guide new and seasoned believers in their daily walk with Jesus including the baptism of new believers. A newly saved individual's decision to get baptized is that person's sole decision between them and God, not for the pastor to decide for them. But it is wise to seek spiritual and Biblical counsel first from their pastor.

The first pastor who withheld baptism from his daughter and by seeking counsel from the women in the congregation was the wise and right thing to do of the pastor. Turns out him baptizing his daughter was a day to rejoice.

The second pastor who supported the series of classes, respectfully, may be the autonomy of that church, (pastoral and leadership staff, thus the deacon's recommendation once the classes were completed,) but not on a sole decision by the pastor alone.

Perhaps you are referring to someone in a church leadership role who judges a person's heart in their relationship with God before baptizing them? In this case I agree with you.

If the man who baptized his wife three times was not saved the first two times, becomes a separate issue. Sure, anyone can baptize a new believer but what is lacking is the accountability of the husband who didn't counsel his wife enabling her to understand why and how accepting Christ and baptism is so important.

God bless you, brother, and your family.
 
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