The Heart of the Matter: A Case Using Baptism

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology., where we do all we can to try and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Show 25 451: A Case Using Baptism
June 23rd, 2015

Announcements

September 11-12 – a Friday evening and a Saturday morning for time with Dr. Don Preston, whom I would call an expert in the preterist position. We hope you’ll consider joining us here at the HOTM studio/church. Speaking of the studio, some of you have received an email from me that discusses our making a run to buy a local television station. This is a business venture that we are stepping into for a number of different reasons and is separate from the ministry and the church – though it could help these areas in the future if the deal goes through.

The email was to simply get people to review the family and friends in their circle of influence and see if they knew anyone who would qualify as an Accredited Investor and that might be interested in hearing about the station purchase. That’s it. Please don’t think that the ministry does not need your financial support –we do. It enables us to keep the lights on, simple as that. Just wanted to make that clear. Because of the enormity of our topic I am going to go right to prayer.

Christianity: A Subjective Approach

Last week we had a rather aggressive young man (at least he sounded young) who asserted a number of things about the application of the Bible in the Christian life. I maintain that there are passages that could be taken literally and at face value and that there are passages that we could view (in terms of culture) as not having real application. Quite frankly, most things in the Bible are debatable and therefore in my estimation very few things ought to be dogmatically demanded.

Our caller (who has called before) argued that my approach is untenable and tried to pin me down to name specifics that could be demanded and specifics that could be excluded from demand. Listen – to name specifics that must be included or excluded will only create another list – and therefore another denomination – which is what we are trying to avoid! Subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. allows for all elements of the faith to exist between the believer and God and does not cater to Man.

What was it that Paul said? Oh yeah:

1st Corinthians 2:1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I suggested that the Gospel is the only standard – the Good News – which is Christ, the author and finisher of the faith. Listen – if the Holy Spirit has regenerated a person we don’t need to even worry that Christ is included in the mix because He will be – duh. And this truly leaves everything else up for debate.

Baptism: A Diverse Discussion

Let’s turn to the Word tonight for an illustration. And let’s talk about . . . (drumroll please) . . . baptism. We have a Bible. And we have a topic that in the Christian world plays a role within it, right? For some the topic is HUGE and involves the very salvation and eternal life of believers . . . and for others the topic is an absolute non-event. What to do? Do we make our stands and fight? Really good believers come from both sides of the fence.

I mean on this topic alone if we had a thousand people representing their respective doctrines watching tonight, we would have a thousand varied views on this singular subject – to the point that we would probably have at least 3 or 4 hundred arguments erupt in the face of it!

Are we talking about water or spirit? If water . . . Who can baptize? Can women baptize? Do we baptize infants? What is the minimum age? Does a profession of faith have to occur prior to? Does water have to be fresh or can it be in a stagnant pool of water? Can it be in a salty sea? Should people wear white, be naked, wear a suit or dress? A swimsuit? Does the person submit or are they taken down by the baptizer? Are they taken down at all? Is it a pouring, a sprinkling or an immersion? Are prayers said prior to? Are words uttered? What if a foot

The Baptism Debate

And that is just one topic our caller actually believes the Bible gives us a clear and definitive answer to all these questions. Certainly the Bible speaks of Baptisms but just as certain are the uncertainties that are produced. The fact that Jesus was baptized is enough to make some say water baptism is necessary. For others, the context of why Jesus was baptized and by who reveals much more. Who’s right?

Biblical Interpretation

At the end of Matthew 28, in what we call the Great commission, we read:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

“There it is,” some will scream while ignoring that Jesus said this to His apostles, not to you and me, and while ignoring that the verse contents are suspect relative to the most reliable texts. Do you know that most Christian’s churches baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – but did you also know that never in the Bible do we read of the Apostles doing this?

In fact, let’s actually read from the Bible – Acts 19 at verse 1. It says:

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized . . . . (wait for it – wait for it . . . .) in the name of the Lord Jesus.

So, (QUESTION NUMBER 1) is baptism in “the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit” as Jesus commanded . . . or is it in “the name of the Lord Jesus” – as the apostles seemed to have done it? Does this disturb you? Or have you decided you have the answer and everyone else had better fall in line with what you believe. Oh? You don’t care either way? Excellent. You accept anyone's approach to this subject as long as Jesus is involved and you leave it all up to God? We’ll then welcome to subjective Christianity. Something our caller and most of the denoms reject. Then there are those who believe that they can look to church history to determine how baptism must be approached. They study the Greek and the early church fathers.

Historical Context

As stated, the canonical Gospels report that Jesus was baptized—a historical event to which a high degree of certainty can be assigned. Baptism has been called a sacrament and an ordinance of Jesus Christ. In some denominations, baptism is also called christening, but for others, the word "christening" is reserved for the baptism of infants. The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the candidate to be immersed, either totally (submerged completely under the water) or partially (standing or kneeling in water while water was poured on him or her). While John the Baptist's use of a deep river for his baptism suggests immersion, pictorial and archaeological evidence of Christian baptism from the 3rd century onward indicates that a normal form was to have the candidate stand in water while water was poured over the upper body. Other common forms of baptism now in use include pouring water three times on the forehead, a method called affusion.

Martyrdom was identified early in Church history as "baptism by blood," enabling martyrs who had not been baptized by water to be saved. Later, the Catholic Church identified a baptism of desire, by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved. As evidenced in what is a rather common Christian practice (infant baptism), water baptism has been almost universally seen by Christians as having some tie to literal salvation. This was the case until the 16th century when Zwingli denied it as a necessity. Today, some Christians, particularly Christian Scientists, Quakers, The Salvation Army, and Unitarians, do not see baptism as necessary, and do not practice the

Water Baptism Practices

Among those that do practice water baptism, the differences are vast in view and mode. Almost all Christian sects baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (following the Great Commission), but there are a few who baptize in Jesus' name only. And where more than half of the world's population of Christians baptize infants, there are close to half of the remaining Christians who believe water baptism is only right or true if received by believers – something an infant couldn’t be. Some say the head must be washed, others say total submersion (or at least partial) is requisite.

Word Origins of Baptism

Let’s then look at word origins and see if this helps us understand baptism. The English word baptism is derived indirectly through Latin from the neuter Greek concept noun baptisma (Greek ????????, "washing-ism"), which is a neologism in the New Testament derived from the masculine Greek noun baptismos (?????????), a term for ritual washing in Greek language texts of Hellenistic Judaism during the Second Temple period, such as the Septuagint. Both of these nouns are derived from the verb baptiz? (???????, "I wash" transitive verb), which is used in Jewish texts for ritual washing, and in the New Testament both for ritual washing and also for the apparently new rite of baptisma. The Greek verb bapt? (?????), "dip", from which the verb baptizo is derived, is in turn hypothetically traced to a reconstructed Indo-European root *g?abh-, "dip". The Greek words are used in a great variety of meanings. Because of the variety of meanings and applications we are not going to come to a stable approach through a study of the original language.

Biblical History of Water Baptism

Let’s look at the Biblical history of water baptism then. It seems to have originated from Jewish purification rituals which were required for all sorts of things including conversion to Judaism and which were repeatable. And while John the Baptist came and offered a baptism of repentance, Jesus had no need to repent and so we must see his baptism as fulfilling – fulfilling something else – possibly all righteousness under the law. And while it was John the Baptist who baptized Jesus Himself, Paul distinguished between the baptism of John, ("baptism of repentance") and baptism in the name of Jesus. In fact, those who were baptized by John were later rebaptized in Jesus name, an event that speaks volumes about the need for John’s baptism (of repentance) in the church ever since.

Taking Jesus' relation to water baptism, some have, despite the evidence just presented, taken Jesus' implementation of water baptism as a sure sign that a person must receive water baptism to enter into heaven. Again, in my estimation, if someone believes this, they’d better do it. And I’d do it for them, but I would never teach such a thing. Remember, the earliest Christians were Jews, and washings were woven into the faith from which they exited. Paul, however, said of water baptism that he was pleased he didn’t do them – with a couple of exceptions – but instead focused on preaching the Gospel – clearly showing that water baptism is NOT part of the Good News.

Early Christian Baptism Practices

The earliest Christian baptisms were probably by immersion of some sort, meaning partial or, but other modes were used. The first recorded liturgy of baptism is found in Apostolic Tradition written down by Saint Hippolytus of Rome who lived from 170–235 AD. In that short period of time, listen to what this Saint said of water baptism. First, he required women and children to remove all clothing, including all foreign objects such as jewelry and hair fastenings. Then it says: “At the hour in which the cock crows, they shall first pray over the water.” Then the person comes to the water, the water shall be pure and flowing, that is, the water of a spring or a flowing body of water. Then they shall take off all their clothes. The children shall be baptized first. All of the children who can answer for themselves, let them answer. If there are any children who cannot answer for themselves, let their parents answer for them, or someone else from their family. After this, the men will be baptized. Finally, the women, after they have unbound their hair and removed their jewelry. No one shall take any foreign object with themselves down into the water.”

By the third and fourth centuries, baptism involved catechetical instruction as well as exorcisms, laying on of hands, and recitation of a creed. These continue to this very day.

Historical Background and Diverse Perspectives on Water Baptism

Water baptism "devolved" and pick the subject back up in the sixteenth century where Martin Luther held to the Catholic idea that water baptism was a sacrament but where the Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli considered baptism and the Lord's Supper as merely symbolic. The Anabaptists denied the validity of baptisms that were done outside their group and re-baptized converts who accepted their ways alone. From here every opinion and approach under the sun bloomed as Sola Scriptura took hold of the hearts of some believers and with it, hundreds of opinions on the purpose, place, and approaches to water baptism.

Of course, the diversity of opinions on the subject led to Restorationist groups stepping in (like the LDS, the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Seventh Day Adventists) and claiming to restore everything to its proper order. Now listen, I am aware of the various interpretations and opinions floating around out there on the subject. I fully understand being buried with Christ and the symbolism in immersion. I fully understand outward evidences of inward faith and public profession. I also have witnessed firsthand great meaning in the rite of water baptism and personally consider it a gift of God for people to enjoy. But what I think and what I know is not only irrelevant in the scope of the subject it is in opposition to what other sound believers think they know about subject too. Wherein lies the truth, folks.

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Practices

The liturgy of baptism for Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist makes clear reference to baptism not only as a symbolic burial and resurrection, but an actual supernatural transformation, one that draws parallels to the experience of Noah and the Ark and the passage of the Israelites passing through the divided Red Sea. Catholics believe that baptism is necessary for the cleansing of the taint of original sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., and for that reason infant baptism is a common practice. The Eastern Churches (Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy) also baptize infants. Most Orthodox approached to the faith believe that baptism removes what they call the ancestral sin of Adam.

Anglicans believe that Baptism is also the entry into the Church and therefore allows them access to all rights and responsibilities as full members, including the privilege to receive Holy Communion. According to evidence which can be traced back to at latest about the year 200 sponsors or godparents are present at baptism and vow to uphold the Christian education and life of the baptized.

Protestant Views on Baptism

Baptists argue that the Greek word ??????? originally meant "to immerse" so they interpret most Biblical passages concerning baptism as requiring submersion of the body in water. Baptist Churches baptize in the name of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, they do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation; but rather that it is an act of Christian obedience. Some "Full Gospel" charismatic churches such as Oneness Pentecostals baptize only in the name of Jesus Christ, citing Peter's preaching baptism in the name of Jesus in Acts 2:38. These believers actually provide proofs from 200 AD that show believers were baptized in Jesus' name alone until the development of the man-made title for God known as Trinity.

In a document published by the World Council of Churches in 1997 we read this attempt to harmonize the Christian stance on Baptism. In “Becoming a Christian: The Ecumenical Implications of Our Common Baptism,” we read: “…according to Acts 2:38, baptisms follow from Peter's preaching baptism in the name of Jesus and lead those baptized to the receiving of Christ's Spirit, the Holy Ghost, and life in the community: 'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers' [2:42] as well as to the distribution of goods to those in need.”

I would remind the authors of this attempt that in Acts 2:42 Peter was speaking to 3000 Jews and that the application of water baptism had a much different meaning then than it did when performed on Gentiles under Paul, who remember, did not care to even participate in the ritual.

Validity and Criteria for Baptism

Because the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist, and Lutheran churches (as well as the LDS and some Protestant groups) teach that baptism is a sacrament that has actual spiritual and salvific purposes, most of them include key criteria that must be complied with for the baptism to be valid (or to actually serve to help save the soul). I’m not going to even begin to explain the different words each group insists must be used to make the water baptism valid. There are rules.

Understanding Baptism Across Denominations

for water type, water applications, water amounts, memberships associated with water baptism and on and on and on. Then there is the question on who or what denomination will accept the baptisms performed by other denominations. Quakers – who as a people love God and the Lord Jesus Christ reject all forms of water baptism. They cite their interpretation of Matthew 3:11 to explain that John the Baptist’s baptisms with water were nothing compared to the spirit baptism Jesus would bring. My cousin is a big wig in the Salvation Army. Does he love the Lord? Seems to. Believe in the Lord. Again, yes. But they say no to water baptism as well. Hyperdispensationalists – those who typically only accept Paul’s epistles as having application today also reject water baptism (among other things). I have a chart here that I printed which details some of the more prominent views on water baptism from various faiths claiming Jesus. Let me review them for a second. (REVIEW CHART CONTENTS)

Last week – and for a number of years now – we have had people call in and claim that the Bible determines everything for us clearly. These folks make the most absurd claims about “possessing the truth,” belonging to a “true” church, or having the ability to know how things ought to be interpreted. It’s the claim of every scholar, every church, every person who thinks that the Bible clearly explains things. I would AGAIN strongly suggest that the Bible really only clearly sends one message – Jesus. And even that singular subject is open to debate.

Approaches to Baptism

So what do we do in the face of all of this? Before we open the phone lines let me appeal to the subject of baptism to explain. To those who seek baptism we provide it. To those who reject it we don’t. Those who want immersion are immersed, those who want sprinkling or pouring or living waters or pool waters, those who want a program and singers and those who want to be baptized alone – yes. Sure. “What’s that?” You say? “you want your sister to baptize you. Why not. You want to share your testimony beforehand – A-OKAY. You want to be baptized in Jesus name alone? The Father Son and Holy Spirit, the Father and Son period? Have at it.

(beat)

“You mean it's up to me?” comes the question. “Yes, it is,” comes the reply. “But why?” “Because your faith and walk is between you and God, that’s why,” comes the reply. Does it matter . . . you know . . . how I do my baptism,” comes the final question. “What matters is why you are doing a baptism to begin with?” comes the reply.

(beat)

“Because I believe in Jesus.” As the manager and proprietor of this faunt I want to say officially – that’s good enough for me.”

(beat)

Let’s open up the phone lines (801)

Whilst the Operators are clearing thy calls please consider the following.

Comparative Summary of Baptisms

Comparative summary of Baptisms of Denominations of Christian Influence.[188][189][190] (This section does not give a complete listing of denominations, and therefore, it only mentions a fraction of the churches practicing "believer's baptism".)

Denomination

Beliefs about baptism

Type of baptism

Baptize infants?

Baptism regenerates / gives spiritual life

Standard

African Methodist Episcopal Church[191]

Baptism is a regeneration sign and a profession of faith. Immersion, sprinkling, or pouring Yes Yes Trinity

Anabaptist

Baptism is considered by the majority of Anabaptist Churches (anabaptist means to baptize again) to be essential to Christian faith but not to salvation. It is considered to be an ordinance.

The Anabaptists stood firmly against infant baptism in a time when the Church and State were one and when people were made a citizen through baptism into the officially sanctioned Church (Reformed or Catholic).[citation needed] By submersion, immersion or pouring. No No. Belief and repentance are believed to precede and follow baptism. Trinity

Anglicanism

"Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God."[189] By submersion, immersion or pouring. Yes (in most provinces) Yes (in most provinces) Trinity

Baptists

A divine ordinance, a symbolic ritual, a mechanism for publicly declaring one's faith, and a sign of having already been saved, but not necessary for salvation. By submersion only. No No Trinity

Brethren[192]

Baptism is an ordinance performed upon adults in the name of the Father, Son,

Beliefs and Practices of Baptism Across Denominations

and Holy Spirit. It is a commitment to live Christ's teachings responsibly and joyfully. Immersion only No Yes Trinity Calvary Chapel

Baptism is disregarded as necessary for salvation but instead recognizes as an outward sign of an inward change Immersion only No No Trinity Christadelphians

Baptism is essential for the salvation of a believer. It is only effective if somebody believes the true gospel message before they are baptized. Baptism is an external symbol of an internal change in the believer: it represents a deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. to an old, sinful way of life, and the start of a new life as a Christian, summed up as the repentance of the believer—it therefore leads to forgiveness from God, who forgives people who repent. Although someone is only baptized once, a believer must live by the principles of their baptism (i.e., death to sin, and a new life following Jesus) throughout their life. By submersion only No Yes The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (although Christadelphians do not believe in the Nicean trinity)

Churches of Christ

Baptism is the remissions for sins, it washes away sins and gives spiritual life; it is a symbolization through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Churches of Christ have historically had the most conservative position on baptism among the various branches of the Restoration Movement, understanding baptism by immersion to be a necessary part of conversion. By immersion only No Yes; because of the belief that baptism is a necessary part of salvation, some Baptists hold that the Churches of Christ endorse the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. However, members of the Churches of Christ reject this, arguing that since faith and repentance are necessary, and that the cleansing of sins is by the blood of Christ through the grace of God, baptism is not an inherently redeeming ritual. Baptism is understood as a confessional expression of faith and repentance, rather than a "work" that earns salvation.

Trinity The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints An ordinance essential to enter the Celestial Kingdom of Heaven and preparatory for receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. By immersion performed by a person holding proper priesthood authority. No (at least 8 years old) Yes Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost (the LDS Church does not teach the Nicean trinity, but rather in the Godhead) Community Churches

Not necessary for salvation but rather a sign as Christ's followers. It is an act of obedience to Christ that follows one's acceptance of salvation by God's grace. Baptism is a symbolization of cleansing of the spirit through God's divine forgiveness and a new life through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Immersion only No Yes Trinity Disciples of Christ

Baptist Practices

Baptism is a symbolization of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It also signifies new birth, cleansing from sin, individual's response to God's grace, and acceptance into the faith community. Mostly immersion; others pouring. Most Disciples believe that believer's baptism and the practice of immersion were used in the New Testament. No Yes Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church

Baptism is the initiator of the salvation experience and for the remissions of sins and is the actual supernatural transformation Immersion Yes Yes Trinity Evangelical Free Church

An outward expression of an individual's inward faith to God's grace. Submersion only No No Trinity Foursquare Gospel Church

Baptism is required as a public commitment to Christ's role as Redeemer and King Immersion only No Yes Trinity Grace Communion International

Baptism proclaims the good news that Christ has made everyone his own and that it is only Him that everybody's new life of faith and obedience merges. Immersion only No Yes Trinity Jehovah's Witnesses

Baptism is necessary for salvation as part of the entire baptismal arrangement: as an expression of obedience to Jesus' command (Matthew 28:19–20), as a public symbol of the saving faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10), and as an indication of repentance from dead works and the dedication of one's life to Jehovah. (1 Peter 2:21) However, baptism does not guarantee salvation. By submersion only; typical candidates are baptized at district and circuit conventions. No No Jesus

Denomination and Beliefs

Lutherans The entry sacrament into the Church by which a person receives forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation. By sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Yes Yes Trinity Methodists and Wesleyans

The Sacrament of initiation into Christ's holy Church whereby one is incorporated into God's mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the spirit. Baptism washes away sin and clothes one in the righteousness of Christ. By sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Yes Yes, although contingent upon repentance and a personal acceptance of Christ as Saviour. Trinity

Metropolitan Community Church Baptism is conducted in the order of worship. Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion Yes Yes Trinity Moravian Church The individual receives the pledge of the forgiveness of sins and admission through God's covenant through

The Role of Baptism in Faith Traditions

Baptism signifies the acceptance of Christ Jesus as Saviour and a willingness to obey him righteously and in holiness. It is performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Yes, it includes infant baptism and regeneration, and it acknowledges the Trinity. This practice is seen in Nazarenes and many Holiness groups. Oneness Pentecostals also engage in baptism, acknowledging it as necessary for salvation because it conveys spiritual rebirth. Being baptized is an ordinance directed and established by Jesus and the Apostles.

Variant Practices and Beliefs

By submersion, Pentecostals (Trinitarian) stress the necessity of a baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 8:14–17, 35–38). They do not baptize infants but affirm regeneration through baptism and a belief in Jesus. Water Baptism is an ordinance, a symbolic ritual used to witness having accepted Christ as a personal Saviour. Presbyterian and most Reformed churches practice baptism by submersion, emphasizing the necessity of a "second" Baptism—the special outpouring from the Holy Spirit—do not baptize infants and vary in belief concerning baptismal regeneration, acknowledging the Trinity.

Sacramental Perspectives

A sacrament, baptism serves as a symbolic ritual and seal of the adult believer's present faith, an outward sign of an inward grace. Administered by sprinkling, pouring, immersion, or submersion, it is practiced to indicate membership in the New Covenant. Quakers, however, only view it as an external symbol no longer practiced, instead focusing on an inward, ongoing purification of the spirit through a disciplined life led by the Holy Spirit. They reject water baptism and acknowledge the Trinity.

• Denomination (continued)
• Beliefs about baptism
• Type of baptism
• Baptize infants?
• Baptism regenerates / gives spiritual life

The Roman Catholic Church practices baptism as necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. Usually by pouring in the West and by submersion or immersion in the East, sprinkling is admitted only if the water then flows on the head. Baptism includes infants, regeneration, and a belief in the Trinity.

Seventh-day Adventists do not state baptism as a prerequisite to salvation but regard it as a prerequisite for becoming a church member, although nonmembers are still accepted. It symbolizes death to sin and new birth in Jesus Christ. Baptism affirms joining the family of God and sets one apart for ministry, performed by submersion with no infant baptism, rejecting regeneration and acknowledging the Trinity.

Recognized as one of two sacraments, baptism is an outward sign of God's inward grace and may not be necessary for local congregation membership. It is common for infants and adults, practiced by sprinkling, pouring, immersion or submersion, indicating New Covenant membership without affirming regeneration.

Distinctions in Church Practices

The United Church of God practices baptism through the laying on of hands with prayer, allowing the baptized believer to receive the Holy Spirit and become part of the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. Immersion is the only practice, with no infant baptism or affirmation of baptismal regeneration. Although they acknowledge the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, members believe doctrinally in Binitarianism, viewing the Holy Spirit as a power rather than a separate person.

In Vineyard Churches, baptism is a public expression of faith for a person committed to following Jesus. It symbolizes cleansing from sin and offers a platform for open profession of faith before the church, friends, and family. It is practiced by immersion only, not performed on infants under six years of age but incorporating regeneration and the belief in the Trinity.