© 17 Colin Melbourne
Have I missed something?
Q: We attend a Christian fellowship. I’ve been to all kinds of Christian churches. As long as it’s Bible-based, and believe in Jesus, it doesn’t matter to me what denomination it is.
As far as I remember, I was baptized in the spirit at age seven; however, I do not recall ever getting baptized in water. Is this necessary for me to do? Also I have three daughters, should I arrange for them to get baptized in water? If so why? Thank you. Olivia
Where denominations come from
A: Thank you for asking Olivia.
Denominations are entirely human artefacts.
There are no “denominations” in the Holy Bible.
What matters to Almighty God is; whether a person has been born of God, and is following the LORD Jesus Christ: The Living Word of God.
The Bible way to become a Christian
To become a Christian, according to the Holy Bible, a sinner needs to be born again, by hearing, that is; comprehending and believing the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ, and choosing to turn from unbelief, and live with Him as their Lord.
We are all born sinful in heart
Nobody, besides Christ, has ever been born a child of God, each of us is born sinful to the core, children of the Devil, with the fallen nature we inherit from our forebears, Adam and Eve.
Like you, I was born of the flesh, having inherited the sinful nature, following the lusts sinners enjoy, and believing in anything, except God’s Absolute Truth: The LORD Jesus Christ.
Why we share the Good News
I first heard the Good News when I was challenged to read John’s Gospel, with an open heart, by a lovely Christian widow in New Zealand, when I was 34 years old.
A few days after completing John’s Gospel, the Lord arranged for me to meet a Baptist Pastor, who led me to receive Christ as my Lord and Saviour the Bible way.
I was born again at 3:30pm on Saturday the 16th of January 1988 in Auckland by the simplest of prayers, without any rituals or ceremonies.
You would not be reading this, if it were not for those gutsy Christians who dared share the truth, in love, with a sinner-man, and I’d still be Hell-bound in sin, but for Father’s enduring mercy.
Why Believers get Baptised in Water
The pastor then showed me, in the Holy Bible (Mtt. 28, Mk. 16), where Jesus commanded every new believer in Him to be baptised in water, as an outward, visible, witness of the invisible spiritual new birth that had just occurred in their heart.
My initial response was that it wasn’t necessary because I’d been baptised as a baby in a Church of England (C of E) ceremony. (A man-made religious ritual called “Christening.”)
He shook his head, and asked if I believed in Christ when I was “christened”? I saw his point.
Of course I didn’t, I was a mere neonate in arms! “Christening” is a demonic invention not even alluded to in the Bible.
[See also; Is pouring or sprinkling the same as baptism? and Christening is unbiblical human tradition.]
Biblical water-baptism is only for those who have already believed on Christ, and been born again. It is a believer’s baptism, not a sinner’s baptism. (See; Five Redemption Facts.)
So I wholeheartedly consented, and was joyfully baptised in water the following day, Sunday the 17th. of January 1988.
Are You a New Creature in Christ (or the same old sinner?)
Olivia, have you been born again, if so, when and where?
The spiritual experience you had, at seven years old, was clearly not the New Birth of the Bible. If it had been, you would have immediately begun devouring God’s word, eager to do what it says.
The fact that you have since; grown up, birthed three children, and still do not know if you’ve been baptised in water, indicates you have never been born of God, and consequently are still in your sins. That is why The LORD Jesus Christ confronts ubiquitous make-believers in Lk. 6:46 KJV;
Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
What about the Kids?
There’s no point water-baptising your daughters until each has been truly born again, and chooses to obey the Lord for themselves.
Nobody can force anyone to repent and believe in Christ, and God certainly won’t.
It must be the free choice of each individual, from their heart, with zero peer-pressure.
You Must Be Born Again
Respectfully Olivia, what you write is typical of ecumenical make-believers, who pick-and-choose a false-Christ they will follow, on their terms, instead of following the Living Christ of the Holy Bible.
Remember Jesus warned of numerous false-Christs, and wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mtt. 7:15, 24:24).
Jesus loves you Olivia, so much that He bore the punishment you deserve for every sin you ever committed, and every sin you ever will commit.
He suffered the full penalty of God’s Judgment due to you, to set you free of guilt, if, and when, you wholeheartedly turn from you own way, and follow Christ as LORD.
When you do that, He will come into your heart, by His Holy Spirit, give you His peace, His Life, His righteousness, His Holiness, and His love.
You will know Him, love Him, and flee from all sin; henceforth you will walk in the Light of God’s word.
You’ll switch from being a make-believer, to become a real believer, in the real LORD Jesus Christ.
Would you like that Olivia?
When you are ready to truly believe in the LORD Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible, and turn from all sin, do what the Bible instructs us to do to be saved.
If your church, denomination, or group, does not insist on baptism of new believers by total-immersion in water, get out and ask the Lord to lead you to a fellowship of real believers.
Those who encourage you to compromise on the bible-basic of water-baptism will quickly lead you into further error and sin.
Bible Water Baptism
God manifested in the Flesh, Mk. 16:15-16 KJV;
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The command is for all believers everywhere, Mtt. 28:18:20 KJV;
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Believers do not cut corners, they obey God’s command and get baptised.
Treat yourself to a Cambridge Holy Bible. It will last longer than you. Handmade, genuine leather, bound by craftsmen under Royal Charter.
© 17 Colin Melbourne