. . . . .I have talked to my Baptist pastor for quite a while, also about the Sacraments and he said that Baptism is not a Sacrament and not needed for salvation, but only an outward sign that you have enthrusted your life Jesus and are willing to walk with Him. . . .
Esdra,
I am a former Southern Baptist.
The SBC believes Baptism is a church ordinance, not a Sacrament. Southern Baptists do not believe any Graces are imparted in Baptism or the Lord’s Supper. In fact, Baptism performed as a Sacrament is not recognized as valid, even if Baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So, if you were Baptized by a Church that believes Baptism is a Sacrament and Graces are imparted, such as the forgiveness of sin; you must be Baptized again in the Southern Baptist Church.
Southern Baptists believe salvation includes
regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification, and none of these are related to Baptism or the Lord’s Supper. See
The Baptist Faith and Message, IV. Salvation, Link:
sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#i
There is an interesting “position” paper on the Southern Baptist Convention website, though it has not yet been adopted by the board of trustees. Final editing is to be made by the chairman of the board.
Southern Baptist Convention Link:
imb.org/main/news/details.asp?LanguageID=1709&StoryID=3840
**Position Paper Concerning the IMB Guideline on Baptism
a. Baptism is a church ordinance.
"Baptism must take place in a church that practices believer’s baptism by immersion alone, does not view baptism as sacramental or regenerative, and a church that embraces the doctrine of the security of the believer.
b. A candidate who has not been baptized in a Southern Baptist church or in a church which meets the standards listed above is expected to request baptism in his/her Southern Baptist church as a testimony of identification with the system of belief held by Southern Baptist churches."**
Baptist beliefs also rule out infant Baptism. There have been some interesting CAF threads on this topic in the past.
Ironically, Southern Baptists look to Scripture for their beliefs. Yet, Holy Scripture clearly connects the forgiveness of sins and even the gift of the Holy Spirit with Baptism. Baptism is not simply a symbolic act. Graces are imparted.
Acts 2:38 (English Standard Version):
38And Peter said to them, "Repent and **be baptized **every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 2: 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
In the above passage being buried with Christ in Baptism, and raised with Him through faith are connected with the powerful working of God. Again, Baptism is clearly more than a church ordinance.
SBC beliefs regarding the Eucharist/Communion/ Lord’s Supper are even more problematic. See
The Baptist Faith and Message, VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Link:
sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#i. The SBC describes The Lord’s Supper as a
symbolic act of obedience, memorializing the death of the Redeemer and anticipating His second coming. If you look at the SBC Scripture references for this belief, you will find that
John Chapter 6 is omitted.
Yet, some critical things are revealed to us in
John Chapter 6, including the revelation that the flesh of Christ is true food, and His blood is true drink; those who feed on His flesh and drink His blood, abides in Him, and Christ in them; the necessity to eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, in order to have life in us–in order to have eternal life and be raised on the last day.
**John 6: 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
John 5: 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.**
SBC beliefs, that
The Lord’s Supper is merely a
symbolic act of obedience; and
Baptism is merely a
church ordinance, directly contradict Scripture.
The “Real Presence” would probably take a thread of its own.
Anna