Ubongdemaga:
Please friends can someone be a born-again Christian without baptism?

Nope! At least not ordinarily

to be Born Again is to receive the new life won for us by Christ death. that means to die to the present life and live the new life of the risen Christ.

the natural path to do that for an adult

1. repent
2. believe
3 be baptized.


Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:38: Peter replied, "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.

to repent is from the Greek metenoia which to to take up a new awareness, this is the work of the holy spirit in us who convicts us of sin and convince us of righteousness.

to believe is to submit and accept in trust all that God is and that which he has revealed particularly the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. again it is the spirit that spurs us to faith. for no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the holy spirit.

lastly is to be baptized, this is the crown of the process, just because you rejected sin doesn't make you clean, you have to appeal to God for a clean conscience and that is what baptism is.
1 pt 3

21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you
also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge
of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ...

how does baptism save? it is an appeal made to God for a new conscience and God in turn makes the person been baptized to share in the death of Christ and then raise him up to share the new life of resurrection, that is what born again means

RM 6
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.


that is what it means to be born again... it doesn't mean to say the sinners prayer.



while the above is the ordinary means to be Born again, God can sometimes fast forward the process and jump hoops just to save some one. eg the thief on the cross didn't even know the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus, he just knew that an innocent man was condemned and the innocent man said he had a kingdom... his simple defense of Jesus and his faith even though it wasn't yet fully formed was enough for God to jump hoops for him.... in order to show Peter the need to bring in the gentiles he let the spirit fall on Cornelius and his house hold even while Peter was still preaching and they haven't yet confessed Christ with their lips.....but even though the spirit fell early on Cornelius and his household Peter still baptized them since that was the normal process.

so to recap,
1. the Bible teaches that to be born again is to repent believe, be baptized so as to receive forgiveness and the holy spirit and thus begins the new life in Christ, these gifts are usually given in baptism hence the Bible says baptism now saves you.

2. God may still go all out to save some one even if his faith isn't yet well formed and he hasn't been baptized.
3. God is at liberty to allow the gift of the spirit manifest in someone who hasn't yet confessed Christ and hasn't yet been baptized so far it serves His purpose but even after they manifest these gifts they are to be baptized as soon as it is doable.
lastly he can even delay the manifestation of the holy spirit until after baptism... until hands are laid on the Christian by a person with ministerial authority aka confirmation.

Gullah:

Yes you can be born again without being baptized. Baptism is not a prerequisite to being born again. The moment you believe in Jesus and ask Him to come into your life, you are saved. However, baptism is an important ceremony for born again Christians to partake in. It's a representation of your death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ, it also symbolizes your partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ. Just like the holy communion, it was one of the ceremonies ordained by Christ Himself to the Apostles and it is very important that after accepting Jesus into your life that you partake in this in obedience to His holy ordinance as not doing so would then amount to living in disobedience to God's ordinance. If a born again Christian however did not have the opportunity to be baptized before he dies, that does not nullify his salvation, The baptism is not what saves, it is believing and accepting Jesus into your life that saves. I know a lot of people who went and participated in baptism without accepting Jesus, some were even baptized as kids when they didn't have full consciousness of their actions, that kind of baptism does not save the recipient of it or make them born again. Don't doubt your salvation if you haven't yet had the opportunity to be babtized after receiving Christ, You are still a child of God!! However endeavour to partake in the baptism ordinance as soon as you have the opportunity to do so

you are contradicting the Bible.

1pt3

even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

solite3:
peter is not talking of water baptism itself but what it stands for.peter explained what he meant by baptism which is a pledge to clear conscience towards God and not the washing of dirt.

Meaning anyone who has the answer of a clear conscience towards God is the real definition of baptism.
This is a smack on your face because you said anyone who is baptised by water is born again but the apostle disagree with you.
It is not the act of getting baptize that saves but an appeal to good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Water baptism cannot save you

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

no dear, baptism itself, that very act is a pledge to God for a good conscience. and because it is and it joins us to the resurrection of Christ, it saves.
1 pt 3
even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

RM 6
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.

baptism isn't just a symbol of an answer to God for a good conscience... it is an answer to God for a good conscience.... it isn't just a symbol of dying and rising with Christ no Paul clearly says in it we truly died and rose with Christ.


RM 6
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.

JMAN05:


Being born again is not the definition people or some religion give to it. From John 3:3-6 where Jesus brought the matter to the fore, it is glaring that without water baptism, the born again process isn't complete. Merely declaring that you accept Jesus as your personal lord and savior, doesn't make you a born again.

amen

[[quote]quote author=Ubi Mark 16:16( a) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; (b)but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Part A if taken alone it will seem to suggest baptism and believing are needed for salvation but part B contradicts such,
Part B says the condition for damnation is that of unbelief not lack of baptism.
It therefore means that the condition for salvation is believing not baptism. Baptism is just a confirmation of believing.




Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Did you also notice that repentance comes first? A man must be born again before baptism.

Jesus baptism is an outward sign of believing or repentance.



Acts 8:36

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.


Baptism is a sign that a man has believed, if a man believes he would be baptised as a witness, if he refuses to be baptised it means he hasn't believed and will be dammed.



Baptism is of significance only to those who are born again, baptism is not repentance or being born again.
Of what use is baptism to a child or a person who is unrepentant?

You didn't answer my question
How was the theif saved if he wasn't baptised?
How come the people who were not baptised were saved?

JMAN05:


What scriptural reason do you have for your opinion?

To be born again is not of man's will, man doesn't do it but God.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.



John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The water represent the word of God while the Spirit is that of God.




John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

There two ways a man can be born
By flesh and by Spirit

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

To be born again means is by God's word not water baptism



1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

A man who is born again carries God's seed in him and he does not commit sin.

[quote author=Ubenedictus post=67491084] no dear, baptism itself, is the very act is a pledge to God for a good conscience. and because it is and it joins us to the resurrection of Christ, it saves.
1 pt 3
even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ


RM 6
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.

baptism isn't just a symbol of an answer to God for a good conscience... it is an answer to God for a good conscience.... it isn't just a symbol of dying and rising with Christ no Paul clearly says in it we truly died and rose with Christ.

peter is not talking about water baptism but the baptism of the spirit that takes place inside.

RM 6
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a
new life.

he didn't say it is water baptism.

The real baptism is what takes place inside a man who is saved not water baptism

[quote author=solite3 post=67492302][/quote]
One is baptized by water and the Spirit.

You do not isolate the two.

Perhaps you should read from verse 19 of that same chapter.

[quote author=solite3 post=67492302][/quote]what you wrote there is untrue and has no biblical support, baptism means to immerse or ritually clean in a fluid... it is that clear, you are trying to claim that the Bible doesn't mean what it say and baptism now means "inner baptism". that is a dishonest interpretation that sadly originated a 100 years ago, from 1800 years you won't find any Christian who says that the baptism talked about in those passages is not water baptism....



that your interpretation is an invention of the last ages and the Bible warns of people who invent such.

to believe and be baptized is exactly what is meant

Ubongdemaga:
Please friends can someone be a born-again Christian without baptism?

No. My friend, it is impossible for one to born again without the Holy Ghost.

There is one LORD, one FAITH, and one BAPTISM( Holy Ghost overshadowing). Water baptism is just a shadow/simbol of the real and authentic thing to come which is, the Holy Spirit infilling or baptism. Just like how killing of a lamb fore- shadowed Jesus Christ's death.

[quote author=solite3 post=67492302][/quote]

You are right bro. Water baptism is just a ritual which can not save anyone. When Jesus said, "He that believe and is baptized shall be saved." He meant not physically emersing someone in water. He meant "baptism" from on high, which is the true baptism that John the Baptist bears record of.

Dipping someone in water should be put away now, just like killing of animals was put away. The real thing has come

Thank you wonderful friends, ur contributions are all welcome. I want to believe both baptism and born-again walks together. After hearing the Good news about the death, resurrection and the power of Jesus Christ, one who was not opportune to hear such message will make a decision. That decision is refraining from his old ways of life and embrace the new way of life which i call born-again. Its baptism that will make him a full follower of Christ. Baptism is initiation. U accept to take the cross with Christ. Just like joining a cult group, after hearing or being briefed about a particular cult group, u may b eager to join n before joining officially u will automatically change ur mindset from the first day of introduction. Making that choice or changing ur mindset doesn't make u a member yet until u r fully initiated. That's how i see baptism in Christianity. It is very important. Like some church in the village the use to sing a song with the new members to a nearby stream for the baptism and during that time every member of that community will see u who has decided to follow Christ. It is from there that those people will truly believe that since u hav accepted to go to water for baptism they can testify that u r indeed a changed man. Baptism has some would say is just a show is not. When u look @ it in a flesh it will remain a show but when u look @ it in a spiritual eye u will knw the meaning. When u r dip inside water ,u cease ur breath and when coming out, heaven will give u a new breath, a new life and u start all over.

solite3:


To be born again is not of man's will, man doesn't do it but God.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.



John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The water represent the word of God while the Spirit is that of God.




John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

There two ways a man can be born
By flesh and by Spirit

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

To be born again means is by God's word not water baptism



1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

A man who is born again carries God's seed in him and he does not commit sin.

Why then do the disciples of Jesus had to baptize in water since they had already been baptized by Jesus using the written word?

bloodofthelamb:


You are right bro. Water baptism is just a ritual which can not save anyone. When Jesus said, "He that believe and is baptized shall be saved." He meant not physically emersing someone in water. He meant "baptism" from on high, which is the true baptism that John the Baptist bears record of.

Dipping someone in water should be put away now, just like killing of animals was put away. The real thing has come

I don't think I understand the reason behind this conclusion. For example Jesus did baptize people thru his apostles, how then will you abolish what the "real thing" established?

JMAN05:


I don't think I understand the reason behind this conclusion. For example Jesus did baptize people thru his apostles, how then will you abolish what the "real thing" established?

The true baptism is the Holy Ghost baptism, of which the water baptism was a shadow of it. You might be dip into physical water in the name of baptism but that cannot save. It is just a ritual which its significance has passed away.

bloodofthelamb:


The true baptism is the Holy Ghost baptism, of which the water baptism was a shadow of it. You might be dip into physical water in the name of baptism but that cannot save. It is just a ritual which its significance has passed away.

you are right water baptism is a ritual but I still think it should still be done for it is a symbolical way of representing the gospel but it should be explained so that people know what it is and what it is not.

Ubongdemaga:
Please friends can someone be a born-again Christian without baptism?

Absolutely impossible!

Gullah:
■ Yes you can be born again without being baptized. Baptism is not a prerequisite to being born again. The moment you believe in Jesus and ask Him to come into your life, you are saved.
■ However, baptism is an important ceremony for born again Christians to partake in. It's a representation of your death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ, it also symbolizes your partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ. Just like the holy communion, it was one of the ceremonies ordained by Christ Himself to the Apostles and it is very important that after accepting Jesus into your life that you partake in this in obedience to His holy ordinance as not doing so would then amount to living in disobedience to God's ordinance. If a born again Christian however did not have the opportunity to be baptized before he dies, that does not nullify his salvation, The baptism is not what saves, it is believing and accepting Jesus into your life that saves. I know a lot of people who went and participated in baptism without accepting Jesus, some were even baptized as kids when they didn't have full consciousness of their actions, that kind of baptism does not save the recipient of it or make them born again. Don't doubt your salvation if you haven't yet had the opportunity to be babtized after receiving Christ, You are still a child of God!! However endeavour to partake in the baptism ordinance as soon as you have the opportunity to do so

I am afraid that is impossible since Jesus Christ made clear that you must be born of water and born of Spirit to be considered born-again. And being born of water is what you undergo when you practice what was preached by John the Baptist before Jesus Christ even came.

2. John the Baptist did not say that the repentance he preached had to do with turning away from sins. Rather, John stated that it was an abandoning of the Old way in order to begin following the New way — God's Law in the Kingdom of God. So, repentance as some sort of death to sin and resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ is not of Jesus Christ, nor of scripture.

Zanas:
■ It is nonsense because what makes you a child of God is the fact that you are born again and not baptism so how can baptism be better than being born again? What about those who partake in baptism without being saved? Are you saying that they are better than those who are born again?

I would like to add that a born-again isn't necessarily a child of God but simply a sinner who has made it through the first threshold into the Kingdom of God. What the sinner does next, after becoming born-again, determines whether he/she will become a child of God or child of the devil — John 8 vs 31 -44.

Zanas:
■ You become born again when you believe in the lord Jesus and receive him into your life, baptism is a symbolism of what has already happened. Now let me ask you, if someone was preached to while on a journey in a plane or bus and the person repents, asks God for forgiveness and accepts Jesus and before getting to his destination, they have an accident and the person dies, is he saved or not? Even though he isn't baptized yet, is he not a child of God?

Your claim directly contravenes Jesus Christ who defined the term born again as being born of water AND born of Spirit. So, if you have not done both, you are not born-again regardless of the fairy tales fed you by your pastors and mogs.

PaChukwudi44:
Jesus clearly said unless you are born of water(baptism) and the spirit you cannot be saved.Do not allow Pentecostals to deceive you.Without baptism you are no christian

But most card-carrying members of the religion of Christianity are not even born-again. They say they are but they lack the proof that Jesus Christ said would be part of all those who are born of Spirit in John 3 vs 1 - 21. So, it is possible to subscribe to the religion and be called a Christian but remain disconnected from the person of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.