Category: Baptism
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Baptism After the Age of 8 Makes the Individual a “Convert”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps careful track of coverts to the church. Whereas the church was growing by more than 4% in the late 1980s, the rate has dropped to less than 1.5% from 2015-2019. In 2020, that figure dropped to under 1%. Church leaders announce general membership numbers every April…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Water Baptism
Mormonism teaches that water baptism performed through the authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is necessary for a person to not only become a church member but also to receive salvation. Getting immersed into water–typically at a local LDS building–is what is called baptismal regeneration. Verses from the Bible are often…
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I Just Converted to Christianity From Mormonism. Should I Get Baptized Again?
I just converted to Christianity from Mormonism. Should I get baptized again? By Eric Johnson
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Acts 22:16: Is baptism a requirement for salvation?
By Bill McKeever and Eric JohnsonActs 22:16 says, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Is Ananias stressing the act of water baptism in order to wash away a person’s sins? Or is he emphasizing calling on the name of the Lord?…
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John 3:5-6: Is baptism a requirement for salvation?
By Bill McKeever and Eric JohnsonJohn 3:5–6 says, “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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”We must ask…
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Luke 3:3: Does this say baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins?
Luke 3:3: says, “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” The word for (Greek: eis) in “for the remission of sins” can mean with a view to or because of. Those who responded to John’s invitation of baptism had already heard his message of…
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Mark 16:16: “Does this verse say baptism is necessary for salvation?
Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Assuming that water baptism is meant, then the Mormon needs to explain the second half of the verse. If belief plus baptism truly equals salvation, then why wasn’t this formula used when it says that…
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1 Peter 3:21: Are we saved by water baptism?
“Baptism is an essential principle,” President Lorenzo Snow said. “Some deem it wrong to number baptism among the essential principles ordained of God, to be attended to in obtaining remission of sins. In reply, we say that the Savior and Apostles have done so before us, therefore we feel obligated to follow their example.” (Williams, The…
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Acts 2:38: Baptized For the Remission of Sins
By Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson The following is from chapter 21 in Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel, 2013). To get additional help in answering LDS questions, we recommend purchasing the book. Click here to see more. A common passage used to support the view of baptismal regeneration (the necessity to be baptized in order to be saved) is…
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Water Baptism (Definition)
Baptism, Water. Required for the remission of sins. Performed by immersion and valid only if administered by a Mormon male holding priesthood authority. Twelfth President Spencer Kimball explained in a general conference, “Baptism into Christ’s true church by proper authority opens the doors for exaltation in the eternal kingdoms of glory, exaltation to be earned…
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Even Unique Mormon Scripture Teaches That Remission of Sins Is Prerequisite to Baptism
In Acts 17:28, Paul quotes from pagan poetry to make a point that ultimately contradicts pagan theology. He makes a point of connection useful for a larger point of contention. One among other things we can observe from his sermon is that Christians can wisely use non-Christian literature in our endeavor to communicate Christian truth.…