Hi FHII,
Soooo let me see if I got your theory right.
Sadly, but predictably, you don't. It's like you received a memo on my post but didn't actually read my post.
Jesus was baptized (
Matthew 3) but
we don't have to be baptized and follow his example?
Well he also literally died on the cross. We died with him on that cross, but must we die on a literal cross as well?
Besides, I am not against baptism. Not even water baptism, but I do proclaim we must be baptized. It is necessary. We must be baptized (immersed) in him. Being baptized in water isn't necessary. It's ok, it's good, it's edifying... But not necessary. Being baptized in him IS necessary.
Jesus told the Apostles to baptize (
Matthew 28)
That's right, and he told them how to baptise:
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20]
Teaching them to observe all things...
Did you see the colon after the word "Ghost"? A colon dictates that a list or method (in this case) is going to explain how it is going to be done and defined what it is.
The baptism is done by teaching. That is the real baptism. It's kind of like communion... The eating of bread and drinking of wine... I LOVE bread and wine! So I am not against that. I am also not against toasting Jesus when it's appropriate. But there is a greater meaning to the ritual. The ritual is a shadow... Not the real thing. I say it's ok to do the shadow, but it's necessary to do the real thing.
we don't have to be baptized and follow his example?
I never said that. I never even said not to... By the way, John bapised with water... John said Jesus would baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
I've never been baptized with literal water, but I will make a deal with you... I will be baptized with John's baptism (literally) if you take on Jesus's literal baptism with fire.
You ok with that?
but that practice ended when the Apostles died because they were "in the Bible" and we are not?
Well that's more stuff you are making up... I never said that. In fact, I do believe and know they baptized. They went beyond baptizing. Besides baptizing the way Jesus said, they also did water baptism.
The Apostles baptized and told converts they had to be baptized and the necessity of baptism (MULTIPLE passages that you should know already) but anyone that was converted to Christianity AFTER that didn't have to be baptized since they did not live during biblical times?
Again, I did not say that...again, they did baptize... They taught. They did what Jesus told them to do. Even today some are baptising by teaching.
So when your Church baptised, what are they doing?
The thief on the cross was baptized. Yet he didn't see literal water...
Marymog... Hold to your tradition! I will not stop you, and I encourage you to continue!