John Piper - Baptism is Symbolism

What Is Baptism, and How Important Is It?
July 20, 2008

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[atomicsoda88]

john pipers messages are AWESOME!

ive always been confused on this topic

but greatly agree that baptism is symbolism

[captnMorgan41424]

funny how he doesnt use 1 verse of scripture to support his view that baptism is just a symbol. rather the scripture he reads Romans 6, says IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE thats very literal not symbolic

[JoshHatchTheMusicMan]

@Bobsblues Perhaps then, you did not read the scripture that says the gentiles received the holy spirit before they were baptized? Acts 10:44

[Bobsblues]

It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being Baptized, but [it served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions; being spiritually regenerated as new-born babes, even as the Lord has declared: “Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

[ Irenaeus ]

[Bobsblues]

@07Braves - Yes , you are baptized by God, but nonetheless , it IS still water that is required for a baptism. And No you dont recieve the Holy Spirit from your pretend self baptism.

As for Luther previously being a Roman Catholic, well, his views on this just happen to line right up with what was being taught by all of the early Christian

churches right down from the Apostles.

[07braves]

@Bobsblues ..but whom is the baptizer and whom are you baptised into?...you are NOT baptized by priest, nor preachers, nor a reverend..you are baptized by CHRIST..SPIRITUALLY..and you are NOT baptized into h2o to be saved..you are baptized (IMMERSED)..into CHRIST..by and with the HOLY SPIRIT. John said..i baptize you with water (h2o)..BUT..HE (JESUS) will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE, a clear difference!.We must remember.Luther was a RC and still had some RC teachings to get rid of

[Bobsblues]

"But if they say, as they are accustomed: Still Baptism is itself a WORK, and you say works are of no avail for salvation; what then, becomes of faith? Answer: Yes, our works, indeed, avail nothing for salvation; Baptism, however, is not our work, but God's . God's works, however, are saving and necessary for salvation."

{ Martin Luther }

[h3artands0uLL]

@captnMorgan41424 I agree completely. It's not symbolic. Even the scripture in 1 Peter 3:21 says the WATER from Noahs ark symbolizes baptism...just the water from long ago though...and that it NOW SAVES you also. Its not just this removal of dirt from the body (in other words this "outside thing" or symbol) but you are clearly participating in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans6) when under the waters of baptism and coming up again. I love John Piper but he's clearly wrong here

[Bobsblues]

"Therefore it is pure wickedness and blasphemy of the devil that now our new spirits, to mock at Baptism, omit from it God's Word and institution, and look upon it in no other way than as water which is taken from the well, and then blather and say: How is a handful of water to help the soul?.. continued ..

[Bobsblues]

continued ... But how dare you thus interfere with God's order, and tear away the most precious treasure with which God has connected and enclosed it, and which He will not have separated? For the kernel in the water is God's Word or command and the name of God which is a treasure greater and nobler than heaven and earth.

{ Martin Luther }

[5rdx5rd]

@captnMorgan41424 its funny how you watch Piper for three minutes and think you listened to the whole sermon