While Jesus told Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5), he did not set baptism as a hindrance to salvation but just the opposite. We so often judge things by human standards, but God is not restrained by our standards.
We Must Be Baptized for the Remission of Our Sins
The Apostle Peter taught, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Following Paul's conversion, Ananias said to him, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).
In Catholicism, a catechumen is an adult who has never been baptized into any Christian faith, who undergoes study and spiritual preparation for initiation into the Church.
Limbo is the nether region where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, unbaptized babies go after death. It's a pleasant enough place, though devoid of the bliss of God's presence.
Baptism marks the personal identification with Christ
When we come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, our lives become united to Christ's life. We begin a journey of faith, united to Christ. We renounce service to sin and give our loyalty and service to Christ.
When should a child be baptized? The simple answer is that a child should be baptized after they become a believer in Jesus Christ. Baptism is for those who have turned from their sins and put their faith in Christ. Baptism is for believers (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47; 16:30-34).
Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated. The baptisms of those to be received into the Catholic Church from other Christian communities are held to be valid if administered using the Trinitarian formula. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: 1256.
In other words, every Christian, by definition, has the Holy Spirit. If you want to be re-baptized out of obedience to Christ, that is one thing. But, if you are already a Christian, then there is no need for you to be baptized again in order to receive the Holy Spirit – you already have the Spirit!
Quakers and the Salvation Army do not practice water baptism at all. Among denominations that practice water baptism, differences occur in the manner and mode of baptizing and in the understanding of the significance of the rite.
WHY DO WE EXPRESS SUCH JOY AND EXCITEMENT WHEN SOMEONE IS BAPTIZED? Jesus taught that there is great rejoicing in heaven over each person who repents of his or her sin and acknowledges Him as Savior.
Since a person is saved by the gospel (Ro- mans 1:16), which does not include baptism (1 Corinthians 1:17; 15:3– 4), then a person can be saved without being baptized.
You will need to be baptized before you are confirmed. If you were not baptized as a child and want to make a commitment of faith, you can be baptized and confirmed in the same service, or baptized at a separate service shortly before your confirmation.
Believer's baptism or adult baptism (occasionally called credobaptism, from the Latin word credo meaning "I believe") is the practice of baptizing those who are able to make a conscious profession of faith, as contrasted to the practice of baptizing infants.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).
He said, “And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:27). This detail about gospel administration is an example of how God reveals things “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30).
Baptism is practised by nearly all Christian denominations as it is seen as an instruction from God and a way of following Jesus' example. However, the denominations practise baptism in different ways.
Short answer: yes!
Traditionally, the origin has been ascribed to the sin of the first man, Adam, who disobeyed God in eating the forbidden fruit (of knowledge of good and evil) and, in consequence, transmitted his sin and guilt by heredity to his descendants. The doctrine has its basis in the Bible.
If you would like your child to be baptised or feel you are ready to be baptised yourself, you can contact the vicar at a church near you to begin the journey. You may be asked by the vicar to attend a few sessions where you will explore what it means to be a Christian.
Do I have to be baptized in water in order to be saved? No! Over and over again in the New Testament we find the same truth declared that's stated in Ephesians 2:8-9, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
For them, the Holy Ghost may produce a subtle feeling of gratitude, peace, reverence, or love (see Galatians 5:22–23). The scriptures also describe the Holy Ghost as a “burning” in the bosom (see Doctrine and Covenants 9:8–9). But the intensity or degree of that “burning” can be different for everyone.
A response to God's love
Whenever it happens, whether as a baby, child or adult, baptism is at the heart of an amazing journey of faith as a follower of Jesus Christ. You are never too old to take this step, and being baptized as an adult is a wonderful experience.
“Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation.