A question for Christians? (details inside)?

Your mother is absolutely correct.

You'll be just fine and will continue to grow spiritually if you keep your thoughts and heart aligned with Absolute Autarchy ("God") and the supernal. Baptism 2000 years ago was a symbolic ritual used for reinforcing a change of heart ("metanoia" in Greek) and acceptance of the Divine Order and Plan.

To wit, God would no sooner throw his children into a "hell" any more than a responsible parent would throw their child into a bonfire for making a mistake. Furthermore, "Gehenna of Fire" (an oft mistranslated reference to "hell" in Matthew) is an Aramaic term - slang actually - for "anguish, guilt, regret, or mental torment", that's all.

"Ye are Gods, and Children of the Most High" - Psalm 82:6

With blessings and light,

Eva

It depends on which denomination you are asking. Most say you aren't a Christian if you haven't been baptized. Some get super specific; for example, the Church of Christ believes you are only a Christian if you were baptized in the Church of Christ. Baptist churches won't allow you to be a member of the Baptist church unless you were baptized in a Baptist church but DO believe that other denominations are still Christians. Wild, huh? So many different beliefs amongst one group!

The Bible says you should desire to be baptized in order to show your commitment and make it known among other Christians. However, it does not say that you must be baptized in order to be saved. The simple act of praying for God's salvation sufficed; you absolutely are a Christian. That being said, it's not a bad idea to try to get involved in a church and have a baptism there.

A baptism is an IMMERSION. A person who has been baptized is a person who has been immersed in something, because that's what the word means.

Many have the idea that all baptisms are WATER baptisms, but this isn't true. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist speaks of THREE different baptisms in one verse. He mentions WATER baptism, HOLY GHOST baptism, and FIRE baptism. One gets you wet, one gets you into the body of Christ, and one gets you into Hell! There's more than one kind of baptism, so we need to avoid using the word too loosely.

A person is baptized by the Holy Ghost the very moment they receive Christ as Lord and Savior (I Cor. 12:13). This particular baptism is a SPIRITUAL baptism, and it should never be confused with WATER baptism (although it usually is). This spiritual baptism can be found in I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, and Galatians 3:27. It is not a water baptism, for water baptism places no one into the body of Christ. A person is saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Paul said that Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel in I Corinthians 1:17, and "the gospel" does NOT include water baptism (I Cor. 15:1-4).

Does this mean that water baptism isn't important? No, it does not. Water baptism is very important, for it pictures the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ. I Peter 3:21 tells us that it is a "figure." Obedient Christians will submit to water baptism, but they should never confuse it with their salvation. Remember, the repentant thief was saved WITHOUT being baptized in water (Luk. 23:42-43), and the eunuch of Acts chapter eight wasn't permitted to be baptized until he first BELIEVED on Christ (Acts 8:37-38).

Baptism (immersion as a result of a mature faith) is the point in time when God forgives sins. It is our participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (see Romans 6, below) and is our 'spiritual resurrection'. So yes, you need to be baptized to be saved.

Act 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

Rom 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

1Pe 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

On another note, you've *got* to read your Bible. Otherwise, you're trying to live your faith based on what other people say, instead of what you're reading and learning. That's a bad idea over the long haul.

So many answers. So many lies. The truth is in the bible. You won't find it anywhere else. If you really want to be a Christian and acceptable to God, you need to contact Jehovah's witnesses. They are the only ones who have the truth and are being led by Jesus.

Do you ever wonder why there are so many different opinions as to what a Christian is? Do you not think that if all these people were really Christians, they would all believe the same thing?

To get you started, hell is a pagan concept not taught in the bible.

Baptism is a requirement for a Christian.

I'm not sure what a " simple christian" is but as any true christian i suggest you read the bible. This incident could be that which make you realize that as a christian we have to be able to discern and make decisions based on scripture. as humans we can only be baptized with water, and God baptizes with the holy spirit. you having the state of being a Child of God doesn't depend on human baptism but rather the holy spirits. its more symbolic that anything else.

read the bible! you should want to learn about the word of God and have all these issues answered and you will be able to defend, spread, speak, and live Christianity to its extent as any regular, simple christian should.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:42-43 (NKJV)

The thief on the cross believed, and it was credited to him righteousness, just as Abraham believed. Neither one required baptism because there is nothing we have to DO to attain salvation, but only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Church is good for you. All those other people are your brethren in Christ. I recommend you find a good bible-teaching church (one that teaches the whole bible, verse by verse, not a topical "seeker" church). Don't be afraid to ask questions of the other church goers, what they like about that church and why they chose it.

In order to be saved, we must be baptized by the Holy Spirit (baptism by fire). Water baptism is elective but I see no reason why anyone would shun it. It is a beautiful, moving experience that testifies to the world your faith in God. It is a form of personal witness.

If you die without being water baptized, it will be your reason(s) for not doing so that God will inspect and judge. Hopefully you are not ashamed of him or the Gospel because he will then be ashamed of you.

Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels.

Some people (like Baptists and other kinds of fundamentalist Christians) are quick to decide who is going to hell and who is not. I would never do that - my Church actually teaches that we can't speak for God and tell people they will go to hell (I'm Catholic). So I wouldn't listen to any friend who is telling you that you're heading into hell.

We Christians show our love for Jesus in a lot of ways. One way we show our love for Him is to go join others and worship Him in unity. In fact, the Bible actually says we are not supposed to give up going to church for community worship. So you need to think about that.

Another way we show our love for Jesus is to do what He tells us to do. In the Bible, He tells us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and shelter the homeless and all that...He also told us to be baptized and to share the truth about Him with other people and baptize them.

So, now. It seems that you have some decisions to make. You obviously love Jesus.

Do you love Him enough to learn what He told people to do? Then start reading the Bible. Go to websites like lifeteen.org and seekingtruth.org to learn more about Him.

Do you love Him enough to do what He told us to do? Then think about getting baptized (even if your mom says it's not necessary - it's one thing to not have a chance to be baptized. It's another to have ample opportunity and refuse to do it.)

Do you love Him enough to stand with other people publicly and say you love Him? Then you need to go to church.

Neither one is correct about what the Bible itself teaches,

(however there are many churches that teach what they are each saying) . . .

~First, there is no such thing as 'hellfire' / 'eternal torment',

not even for the most wicked of the wicked, as God's Word clearly states:

"The *future* of wicked people will indeed be *cut off*."---Psalm 37:38b

"These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of *everlasting destruction*."---2 Th. 1:9a

“Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate.”—Psalm 145:20

"Exposed---Six Myths About Christianity":

- Myth #1: 'The Soul Is Immortal'

- Myth #2: 'The Wicked Suffer in Hell'

http://watchtower.org/e/20091101/article_01.htm

~Secondly, faith alone is not enough, even if it is based on truths.

Nor is blind faith acceptable to God:

"Was not Abraham our father *declared righteous by works*. . . 

You behold that *his faith worked along with his works* and *by his works his faith was perfected,*

and the scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah/God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called “Jehovah’s friend.”  You see that *a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone.*  In the same manner was not also Ra′hab the harlot *declared righteous by works,* after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way?  Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."---James 2:21-26

'. . . Receive the word with the greatest eagerness of mind,

*carefully examining* the Scriptures daily as to whether these things are so.'---Acts 17:11

". . . *Prove to yourselves* the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."---Romans 12:2

"Beloved ones . . . *test* the inspired expressions *to see whether they originate with God,*

because many false prophets have gone forth into the world."---1 John 4:1

"God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him MUST worship with spirit and *truth*."---John 4:24

"What Must I Do to Be Saved?"

http://watchtower.org/e/19960201/article_02.htm

"Your Decision to Serve God"

http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_16.htm

The articles I posted links to are all based upon the Bible itself, and provide ample Scripture-links to help you compare them with what the Bible itself says, with ease.

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