Baptism and Protestants

[Gabbanelli911]

On my way home from work today I was listening to a Christian radio station (“Non-Denominational”). The preacher than said that Baptism is not necessary for salvation but faith alone, and that they were baptized but not for salvation but to be obedient. I had an understanding that protestants believe in faith alone for salvation but I did not know that they believed that baptism was not necessary for salvation. So, why are they called born again Christians???

This does not confuse my catholic faith but only confuses my understanding of our separated (lost) brothers and sisters.

 

[SMHW]

On my way home from work today I was listening to a Christian radio station (“Non-Denominational”). The preacher than said that Baptism is not necessary for salvation but faith alone, and that they were baptized but not for salvation but to be obedient. I had an understanding that protestants believe in faith alone for salvation but I did not know that they believed that baptism was not necessary for salvation. So, why are they called born again Christians???

This does not confuse my catholic faith but only confuses my understanding of our separated (lost) brothers and sisters.

There is not a single view of baptism amongst Protestants. Usually the more liturgical Protestants hold a view a baptism which is similar to that of Catholics. Baptists and the more evangelical varieties of Christianity usually do not.

Those who do not view baptism as necessary for salvation generally see being born again to be the result of accepting Jesus as Savior. In other words, they see baptism as an act of obedience by those who have already been born again through the Spirit. They don’t see baptism as the normal means of being born again through the Spirit.

 

[whoisdiss]

Well, it actually depends on the type of Protestant. The type of Protestant you were listening too was a Non-denominational, and they are mostly Evangelical. The Evangelical movement says that literally faith alone is what is needed for salvation. Now, if you were to listen what an Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and a few other types of Protestants have to say about baptism they would agree baptism is nessacarry for salvation. They teach that it is our faith that free us from future sin, and that good works is not a way to get grace, but that good works comes from grace. That is what Martin Luther originally meant when he composed the doctrine of Sola Fide (Latin for, Faith Alone.) He never actually meant that we literally need faith alone to be saved. Just that, after we have died in Christ (baptism) faith is all we need to keep our salvation. Of course groups like Baptist, Presbyterians, Non-Denominational, etc. have said that literally faith is all you need. So, there are differences between Protestants on where baptism stands in the sight of salvation.

---

Former Baptist now Roman Catholic.

 

[po18guy]

What a foolish man! He will answer for those souls that he is misleading. If he has actually read James 3:1, he most certainly did not take it to heart.

James 3:1
New International Version (NIV)
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

But, this is what you get when you reject the Church that Christ founded.

 

[gravity]

“Saved by faith alone”
Many Catholics are aware that the word “alone” was added my Martin Luther. For some reason, John 3:5 – "Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (NAB) is overlooked.
There are many levels to this debate and it has been played out by great minds for generations. Yes we need to take every step we can to close the divide between our brothers and sisters in faith, the difficulty comes in not alienating one another.

 

[Bob4BVM]

Yeah, another case of the general inability of some folks to believe that God can and will and DOES act in our world, in our time, when we ask Him. Pitiful sense of ignorance of the miraculous. Many think we are performing the act and making salvation happen. Far from it ! It is the Holy Spirit in action. Read the entire NT and note how many times Jesus talks about the necessity of Baptism. He even went to the length of setting the supreme example for us, with His OWN baptism !!!

I continue to be amazed of how much of the Bible some people choose to ignore or modify to fit what THEY want it to mean. Some cases are rediculous, Like the whole “Faith Alone” thing. I have found only ONE place in the Bible where the words ‘faith’ and ‘alone’ even appear in the same sentence. It is in James 5:24: What more can we say ?!!!

17

So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18

Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

19

You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.

20

Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?

21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

22

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.

23

Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.”

24

See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

 

[Jon_S_1]

On my way home from work today I was listening to a Christian radio station (“Non-Denominational”). The preacher than said that Baptism is not necessary for salvation but faith alone, and that they were baptized but not for salvation but to be obedient. I had an understanding that protestants believe in faith alone for salvation but I did not know that they believed that baptism was not necessary for salvation. So, why are they called born again Christians???

This does not confuse my catholic faith but only confuses my understanding of our separated (lost) brothers and sisters.

I came from this tradition.

They would say being “born again” occurs when you pray to “accept Jesus into your heart”

Many of them hold a view that you are at that moment saved, and nothing you can do can change that…become Hitler and kill millions, don’t fear you asked Jesus in your heart and you are saved.

Such a view makes anything religious completely unnecessary. Their goal is simply to find ways to get other people to say the sinners prayer and “get saved”.

They still do baptisms if people want them because the Bible says to do it, but doing so is just “Showing the world they are Christians”

They also do communion, but usually just monthly or quarterly, because they only do it because Jesus said so, to them it is not of much importance.

They are sorely lost and mistaken. They love Jesus and love God, but are just so deceived on what it means to be a Christian.

They need our prayers.

 

[Cat]

What’s wonderful is that the Catholic Church recognizes these baptisms as valid, as long as they are done with the Trinitarian formula. Those Protestants who are baptized are considered “born again” by the Catholic Church, and have the hope of heaven.

This demonstrates the power of God–His Work doesn’t depend on humans being “correct.” God can accomplish His Will in spite of human ignorance.

 

[BiffRuffle]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think many non-Catholic faith communities see baptism more as a public sign of acceptance of the particular community’s teaching - I know one guy who’s been baptised at least three times, by three different faith communities. They have no sense of the sacramentality of baptism, only the physical action. Of course, even if they fail to properly understand, no where does it say ‘without understanding, no one can please God.’