Category Archives: Baptism

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 3 (John the Baptist)

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Jay F Guin

John the Baptist John is truly an enigmatic figure in the scriptures. Jesus praises him, and he was widely received as a prophet, and yet he did no miracles, and very few of his prophecies are preserved. He prepared the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 34 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 2 (Non-biblical Roots)

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Jay F Guin

The Qumran community Beginning around 200 BC, a group of Jews, later known as the Essenes, likely arising from among the priests, made frequent ceremonial washings sacramental. While they emphasized the necessity of a changed heart, they insisted on evidencing … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Baptism: Thomas Campbell on Baptism

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Jay F Guin

“Prospectus of a Religious Reformation” I stumbled across an 1829 tract by Thomas Campbell called “Prospectus of a Religious Reformation” buried in The Memoirs of Thomas Campbell. It was evidently  published only as a tract until The Memoirs of Thomas … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Restoration Movement, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Baptism, an Exploration: Part 1 (Introduction, Review, Old Testament Roots)

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Jay F Guin

A few weeks ago, I started this “The Man or the Plan” series, and I got distracted by a bunch of other things — on the blog and elsewhere. I promised to eventually get to baptism, and “eventually” is now. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 7

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Jay F Guin

The kingdom of heaven is like a man, who trained for years to run the Olympic 400-meter race, and whose hamstring failed, making it impossible not only to win the race, but even to finish. For I tell you that … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 35 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 6.1 (Summary of Arguments Made in the Comments)

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Guy asked, But where’s the bottom? At what point is it not a baptism at all? If there’s no bottom, then no one really needs baptized at all. Because if everything’s a baptism to some degree, then nothing is. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 32 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 6

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Perfect baptism Does God require a perfect faith to save someone? Or a perfect penitence? Then why on earth would he require perfect baptism when faith and penitence are are of the essence? There’s a strain of thought in 20th … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 5.1

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

JMF asked, 1) Jay— Functionally, how would we go about asking if one had received the Spirit? As you said in your book, there are atheists that blow us away in ways that look like Spirit fruit. JMF, That’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 27 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 4.4 (Further on Apollos and the laying on of hands)

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Guy said, (1) The Ephesian disciples would know they received the Spirit because when Paul laid his hands on them, they prophesied and spoke in tongues. That’s entirely true, but it’s not the only way to know whether someone has … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

The Fork in the Road: On Imperfect Baptisms, Part 5

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Jay F Guin

Infant baptism Now, the other place where the Churches of Christ (and Baptists) disagree with most of the rest of Christianity is in the acceptability of infant baptism (even if performed by immersion). I don’t want to re-walk well-worn ground, … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Fork in the Road, Uncategorized | 11 Comments