one Lord, one faith, one baptism (three gracEmails)
A sister in California asks what Paul means in Ephesians 4:5, when he says that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
our death with ChristA gracEmail subscriber in the Northwest writes: "In Romans 6, Paul seems to tie baptism to our death with Christ, then speaks conditionally about our resurrection with him. Please comment."
defining conversion (two gracEmails)A gracEmail subscriber writes that he "went forward" as a young man to be saved at an evangelical church. Several years later, he was immersed by a minister of a different Christian fellowship. Now he wonders, "What does it mean to experience conversion anyway? Was my baptism part of my conversion?"
baptism and discipleshipA gracEmail subscriber in the Northeast writes that she believes that we are saved by the grace of God and the actions of Jesus -- not by anything we do here on earth. She also understands Scripture to teach that baptism is for believers and that it is by immersion. "How I can embrace any others as Christian siblings," she asks, "and still teach credibly what I see as biblical baptism?"
Jewish backgrounds of baptismA gracEmail subscriber inquires, "Is there biblical or historical mention of proselyte baptism among the Jews? What did a Gentile do to become a proselyte?" Another subscriber asks for information about pre-Christian Jewish washing ceremonies, and how those who first heard John the Baptist and Jesus would have understood the significance of baptism in that light.
spiritual circumcisionA gracEmail subscriber asks when we are "circumcised" spiritually as mentioned in Colossians 2:11-12. He wonders if it occurs simultaneously with baptism in water.
faith and baptism: important but differentSomeone writes, "I seem to hear you saying that baptism is not essential, or, if it is, that it is not essential in the same way that faith is essential."
baptism in the Holy SpiritA gracEmail reader asks whether we are baptized "in" the Holy Spirit or "by" the Holy Spirit, since the Greek preposition en used in 1 Corinthians 12:13 can mean either, and what difference it makes anyway.
contacting Christ's blood"I have heard it said that we contact Christ's blood in baptism," someone writes, "because Jesus' shed his blood at his death and we are baptized into Christ's death (Rom. 6:3-4; John 19:33-34). What do you think?"
good reason to be baptizedA gracEmail subscriber writes: "If we are saved by being believers, what is the use in being baptized?"
appeal for a good conscienceA gracEmail subscriber asks what Peter means when he speaks of baptism as "the pledge of a good conscience toward God."
baptism: sign and sealThe minister of a large Church of Christ asks, upon reading Romans 4:10-11, whether baptism, like circumcision in this passage, is a "sign" and "seal" of righteousness which we have by faith even before we are baptized.
unusual text about baptismA reader asks concerning three unusual passages involving baptism. What about baptism for the dead? What of the Samaritans who believed and were baptized but did not receive the Holy Spirit? And what of the 12 disciples of John the Baptist whom Paul required to be rebaptized, who then spoke with tongues and prophesied?
how does baptism 'wash away sins'?"How," inquires a correspondent, "do you explain the command given to Saul of Tarsus to 'Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord' (Acts 22:16)?"
what are sacraments?A gracEmail subscriber asks the meaning of the term "sacrament" and whether the notion is consistent with the New Testament and the gospel.