My Congregation's Position

[Jaime]

I posted this in the Baptism thread on the Theology Forum and it didn't get much response.

Our preacher at our Church of Christ congregation preached a sermon on baptism this Sunday. The first one in over 3 years by the way. I took notes, which is unusual for me. I just wanted to post some of his quotes and get some reactions to see from other cofc'rs as well as see how these quotes line up with what your congregation teaches or you believe.

I'm not looking to extend the usual baptism fight, but just kinda wanted to get some feedback about where my congregation is on the conservative/liberal spectrum.

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"It is Jesus  who saves, not Baptism."

"Baptism does not do one thing to merit salvation. Jesus saves"

"It is that visible expression of the inward desire to be joined to Jesus and His saving blood.

"Apart from the death, burial and ressurrection, baptism has no significance at all."

"Baptism is a willing plunge of body and soul into the power of Christ."

"It is an immersion into the fullness of Jesus Christ."

"Baptism is the step that declares to Heaven and Earth that we are submitting our will to Christ's."

"Churches tend to either deify or dismiss baptism. Both extremes are wrong."

"It is an appeal to God with a good conscience."

"It is a stake we drive down as a marker of our new beginning."

"Every convert in the Book of Acts was baptized into Christ."
 

[Serenity432001]

Sounds to me like its headed in a good direction.  I'd say its probably not extreme conservative place.  Would I be right?

[Snargles]

3rd point sounds kind of Baptist.

I would say that God's grace saves us rather than Jesus but overall the list looks pretty good.

[Bocephus]

3rd point sounds kind of Baptist.

I would say that God's grace saves us rather than Jesus but overall the list looks pretty good.

It all kinda sounds Baptist.

[James Rondon]

I would say that God's grace saves us rather than Jesus

God's grace saves us rather than Jesus?

[sopranette]

I posted this in the Baptism thread on the Theology Forum and it didn't get much response.

Our preacher at our Church of Christ congregation preached a sermon on baptism this Sunday. The first one in over 3 years by the way. I took notes, which is unusual for me. I just wanted to post some of his quotes and get some reactions to see from other cofc'rs as well as see how these quotes line up with what your congregation teaches or you believe.

I'm not looking to extend the usual baptism fight, but just kinda wanted to get some feedback about where my congregation is on the conservative/liberal spectrum.

************************************************************************

"It is Jesus  who saves, not Baptism."

"Baptism does not do one thing to merit salvation. Jesus saves"

"It is that visible expression of the inward desire to be joined to Jesus and His saving blood.

"Apart from the death, burial and ressurrection, baptism has no significance at all."

"Baptism is a willing plunge of body and soul into the power of Christ."

"It is an immersion into the fullness of Jesus Christ."

"Baptism is the step that declares to Heaven and Earth that we are submitting our will to Christ's."

"Churches tend to either deify or dismiss baptism. Both extremes are wrong."

"It is an appeal to God with a good conscience."

"It is a stake we drive down as a marker of our new beginning."

"Every convert in the Book of Acts was baptized into Christ."
 

Amen!  And manna for you!

love,

Soprantte

[Snargles]

We receive God's grace after putting on Jesus through baptism. It may be straining at gnats. In the CoC we have had problems coming to terms with grace.

[Imabear]

I posted this in the Baptism thread on the Theology Forum and it didn't get much response.

Our preacher at our Church of Christ congregation preached a sermon on baptism this Sunday. The first one in over 3 years by the way. I took notes, which is unusual for me. I just wanted to post some of his quotes and get some reactions to see from other cofc'rs as well as see how these quotes line up with what your congregation teaches or you believe.

I'm not looking to extend the usual baptism fight, but just kinda wanted to get some feedback about where my congregation is on the conservative/liberal spectrum.

************************************************************************

"It is Jesus  who saves, not Baptism."

"Baptism does not do one thing to merit salvation. Jesus saves"

"It is that visible expression of the inward desire to be joined to Jesus and His saving blood.

"Apart from the death, burial and resurrection, baptism has no significance at all."

"Baptism is a willing plunge of body and soul into the power of Christ."

"It is an immersion into the fullness of Jesus Christ."

"Baptism is the step that declares to Heaven and Earth that we are submitting our will to Christ's."

"Churches tend to either deify or dismiss baptism. Both extremes are wrong."

"It is an appeal to God with a good conscience."

"It is a stake we drive down as a marker of our new beginning."

"Every convert in the Book of Acts was baptized into Christ."
 

Jaime, When I read this post in the Baptism thread, I was going to reply  , but since the Baptism thread had moved 5 or 10 pages past your post already, I didn't.

I also add that Baptism as a public confession of faith.
   
I don't care if it sounds Baptist.  It looks like sound teaching to me. 
I wish what my own church taught was closer to that. 
Of course, I'm not CoC, so my opinion might not matter here.
If a CoC congregation near me taught this and would add some IM, I just might think about joinin' 'em.  :)

[Bocephus]

the congregation should be renamed Free Will Baptist A capella Church of Christ.

[marc]

If we are to go back to what our movement was intended to be, we'd stop worring about who we sounded like and who we didn't.

[stevehut]

"It is Jesus  who saves, not Baptism."

"Baptism does not do one thing to merit salvation. Jesus saves"

Refreshing perspectives from a COC person.

After studying church history for several years now (which I recommend for everyone), I have a theory about why people fight over this so much:

For centuries, the Catholic and Orthodox churches were practically all that existed.  They teach that the water of the baptistery itself saves, even in the absence of personal faith.  (And of course, many of the Reformation-era churches still teach this.)  And in every instance of infant baptism, this is certainly the case.

Under these circumstances, I can easily see why people rebelled against such a superstitious doctrine and practice.

Perhaps they threw out the baby with the baptism water?   

[Jaime]

If we are to go back to what our movement was intended to be, we'd stop worring about who we sounded like and who we didn't.

True.

Gary and I just like to take good natured jabs at each other since he's not a typical Baptist and I'm not a typical cofc'r. He's fundagelical and I'm Campbell-gelical.