Goodness, it's all happening here with Faithwoman and Sweets!
Before writing further I feel it's important to say that the question of baptism can cause concern because of different beliefs about how and when to get baptised. I don't believe that any of us here are wanting to offend or upset any CFS members in any way. I personally respect what others may think differently from myself, and also feel that "how and when" is most certainly NOT a reason to get out of fellowship with a fellow Christian! That said, I'll now reply to the ladies' posts.
For me, I'm thrilled you feel to get baptised as a believer, Faithwoman (also you again, Sweets). Goodness, this reminds me of JESUS at the very start of His ministry. Hey, ya just gotta feel sorry for poor ole John (the Baptist) - he was shocked out of his brain! "No, not so, Lord!!" he protested when Jesus asked for baptism, "You should be baptising me, NOT me baptising You!" Wow, I'd have felt exactly the same. But for Jesus it was certainly a matter of obedience like you said, Sweets - "of fulfilling all righteousness", a phrase I absolutely adore!! So down into the water went our precious Lord, and afterwards came the Dove and His Father's precious words. Woooow!!! (All this is in Matthew 3:13-17 - click to read.)
Faithwoman, I think I'd have to go with Bonnie about your baptism. I was convicted of this for a number of years but without going into the whys and wherefores of it, put it off. I've always believed since that this was w-r-o-n-g WRONG! And when I finally did it, much blessing flowed to OTHERS (numbers were baptised as a result of my obedience, including my brother). It really was amazing, and I loved every minute of the baptism, God greatly blessed me with all that I felt as I went down into the waters, signifying death to self, and arose, signifying new life.
You two gals may be interested (if you're not already aware) of a wonderful passage in Romans primarily concerning SIN and the COMMITTING of SIN, and also relating to being dead and becoming alive, and baptism:
Romans Ch 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
How amazing is all of THAT!!
Finally, to everyone who reads these posts, no one is contradicting your beliefs or seeking to change them. Certainly not ME! Part of Jesus' LOVE which He commanded us all, and has tangibly placed IN us enables us to agree to disagree whenever contentious issues arise. The point is, I believe that we already agree on the BASICS!! And that's what matters most!
LET LOVE RULE!!!
Love to all!
- BM
