I agree with thehonorableryu. And I also want to add something that my youth pastor told us all the time whenever the subject of baptism came up.
When you marry someone, you put on a wedding ring. That ring itself doesn't give your love any special power or significance, but it does tell the world that you are in love and devoted to your spouse. It is an outward symbol of an inward commitment.
The same is true of baptism. The water is unimportant, the act itself doesn't mean anything (it's a nice metaphor, basically... dying to the world, being raised again in new life)... it's the fact that you are standing in front of people and testifying that you are in love and devoted to Christ. An outward symbol, an inward commitment.
Not a stupid question at all! However, I think you're bound to get as many different answers as there are people in this community.
Personally I don't believe there's any correlation between being baptised and being able to receive the Holy Spirit. There may be a degree issue, but as far as I remember, there's no Scriptural basis for that, but like thehonorableyu mentioned, there are several cases where people received the Holy Spirit and *then* got baptised.
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision, and as thus I don't believe it is necessary for salvation. However, one should always ponder ones reasons not to get baptised, as that may say quite a bit about ones maturity as a Christian. Not having a 'home church' is definitely one of the better reasons I've heard, and I hope you'll find one of those soon.
there are several cases where people received the Holy Spirit and *then* got baptised.
I would even say that is almost always the case in non-infant baptisms, particularly in cases of converts. It seems that surely a grown adult who converts to Christianity only does so by the movement of the Holy Spirit, and then seeks baptism. True, like you say, it's like that there is a fuller expression, if you will, of the Spirit after baptism, but the Spirit can definitely move in one who has not yet been baptized. I'd say it's almost certain that it is the Spirit calling arago_sama to baptism now.
it is God's work, not merely something a pastor does or something you do. Surely you are involved in it, and a pastor lends his hands and voice as he officiates the Baptism... but it is God who Baptizes.
That's something that a lot of people tend to miss. In all the sacraments, it is always God who is the efficient cause of grace in the sacraments.
I would say, let God sort out the mechanics of the Order of Salvation, and you work on your part. The Spirit is like the wind anyhow, and who can tell where and when it will blow?
By all means, begin making preparations for Baptism immediately!
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And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...-Acts 10:47-48
:) I'm praying for your eventual baptism, brother!
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When you marry someone, you put on a wedding ring. That ring itself doesn't give your love any special power or significance, but it does tell the world that you are in love and devoted to your spouse. It is an outward symbol of an inward commitment.
The same is true of baptism. The water is unimportant, the act itself doesn't mean anything (it's a nice metaphor, basically... dying to the world, being raised again in new life)... it's the fact that you are standing in front of people and testifying that you are in love and devoted to Christ. An outward symbol, an inward commitment.
Plus, God tells us to do it. Jesus did it, and it pleased God. That's probably the most persuasive argument for baptism ( ... )
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Personally I don't believe there's any correlation between being baptised and being able to receive the Holy Spirit. There may be a degree issue, but as far as I remember, there's no Scriptural basis for that, but like thehonorableyu mentioned, there are several cases where people received the Holy Spirit and *then* got baptised.
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision, and as thus I don't believe it is necessary for salvation. However, one should always ponder ones reasons not to get baptised, as that may say quite a bit about ones maturity as a Christian. Not having a 'home church' is definitely one of the better reasons I've heard, and I hope you'll find one of those soon.
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I would even say that is almost always the case in non-infant baptisms, particularly in cases of converts. It seems that surely a grown adult who converts to Christianity only does so by the movement of the Holy Spirit, and then seeks baptism. True, like you say, it's like that there is a fuller expression, if you will, of the Spirit after baptism, but the Spirit can definitely move in one who has not yet been baptized. I'd say it's almost certain that it is the Spirit calling arago_sama to baptism now.
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That's something that a lot of people tend to miss. In all the sacraments, it is always God who is the efficient cause of grace in the sacraments.
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By all means, begin making preparations for Baptism immediately!
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