What the Early Christians Believed About Baptism 

Dude that's a great question. I'm actually struggling with that myself. Did you ever find an answer?

holmes depending where do you live. Where I am there is no other option but The Church of Christ. Some Mennonite assemblies are good too but make sure they stick to the old ways. Some Anabaptist assemblies are good too but make sure they stick to the old ways. God bless and keep you. Just please please do not settle down to evangelical denominations most of them are on their way to condemnation very comfortable.

Is what you're saying that infants are innocent, so aren't yet in need of remission of sin, hence no reason to baptise them?

Was the thief on the cross even baptized? He simply admitted he was guilty and believed.

Hi Adam. It's important to note that the value of the early Christian writings is what light they shed on the Scripture. In other words, we can read what the early Christians believed, however this is inconsequential unless the Scripture (which is our final authority) coincides with what they say. In light of the tenor of what the early Christian writers say on the subject and how seamlessly their belief harmonizes with Scripture, it appears that New Testament baptism necessitates personal belief that rests on a comprehension of the faith which infants are incapable of.

Hi Gin. Like Jesus and the paralytic, the thief on the cross occurred before New Testament baptism was instituted by Peter at Pentecost: 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Matthew 9:6

Awesome response Chris

Hi, please consider listening to the messages How Do We Harmonize Paul and James part 1 and 2 here. These messages address this in detail.

JESUS is King you can't be saved before baptism, because baptism is where your sins are wash away

Please read through the entire book of Acts at all the accounts of people's conversions and look for the common thread in every account. Some accounts will mention one or two or three of these things - hearing, believing, confessing Christ as the Son of God, repenting of sins. But all the accounts mention being baptized (full immersion) as part of having our sins forgiven and becoming a Christian. But NO WHERE in the Bible will you find such a thing as the sinner's prayer for salvation. Read the account of Saul's conversion. He was praying for 3 DAYS while he was waiting for Ananias to come to him as the Lord instructed...but all those 3 days of praying DID NOT SAVE HIM no matter how repentant he most likely was after Jesus Christ himself had spoken to him. The Lord told Saul that Ananias would tell him what he must do. Here is the account of Saul's conversion in Acts 9, followed up by his own retelling of it in Acts 22. Also, read Acts 2:38 where Paul told the people WHAT they MUST DO to be saved. Salvation involves all of these things - hearing the Word, believing, repenting, confessing, being immersed and living faithfully until death. The Word says that it is "in baptism" that we put on (are clothed in) Christ. MEANWHILE SAUL, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem. Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]? And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance]. Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. The men who were accompanying him were unable to speak [for terror], hearing the voice but seeing no one. Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank [anything]. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there]. And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem; Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name's sake. So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized, Acts 9:1‭-‬18 AMPC bible.com/bible/8/act.9.1-18.AMPC I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but reared in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated according to the strictest care in the Law of our fathers, being ardent [even a zealot] for God, as all of you are today. [Yes] I harassed (troubled, molested, and persecuted) this Way [of the Lord] to the death, putting in chains and committing to prison both men and women, As the high priest and whole council of elders (Sanhedrin) can testify; for from them indeed I received letters with which I was on my way to the brethren in Damascus in order to take also those [believers] who were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that they might be punished. But as I was on my journey and approached Damascus, about noon a great blaze of light flashed suddenly from heaven and shone about me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me [harass and trouble and molest Me]? And I replied, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting. Now the men who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear [the sound of the uttered words of] the voice of the One Who was speaking to me [so that they could understand it]. And I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do. And since I could not see because [of the dazzlingly glorious intensity] of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and [thus] I arrived in Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who resided there, Came to see me, and standing by my side said to me, Brother Saul, look up and receive back your sight. And in that very instant I [recovered my sight and] looking up saw him. And he said, The God of our forefathers has destined and appointed you to come progressively to know His will [to perceive, to recognize more strongly and clearly, and to become better and more intimately acquainted with His will], and to see the Righteous One (Jesus Christ, the Messiah), and to hear a voice from His [own] mouth and a message from His [own] lips; For you will be His witness unto all men of everything that you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name, wash away your sins. Acts 22:3‭-‬16 AMPC bible.com/bible/8/act.22.3-16.AMPC Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah)-this Jesus Whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:36‭-‬38 AMPC bible.com/bible/8/act.2.36-38.AMPC For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 KJV bible.com/bible/1/gal.3.27.KJV

JESUS is King Also read Romans 6 and it will become clear to you that it is in baptism where we "die" and are raised a new creature. Not before!

Hi, please consider listening to the messages How Do We Harmonize Paul and James part 1 and 2 here. These messages address this in detail.

Live HOLY They ask Peter, what must we do to be saved? Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...

Romans ad a whole deals with an argument that arose in Acts 15. In Romans ten Paul is saying it is by faith not by Mosaic law that we are saved. Read Romans as a whole in one setting an you will see it. There is no scripture in tha entire Bible stating we are saved by faith alone. That is theology of reformation movement and completely wrong.

1 Peter 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 Chris

Romans was written to disciples WHO WERE ALREADY BAPTIZED. Paul was explaining a point relating to Jewish people not trying to give a new way to be saved. How do we know this? Check what Paul did IMMEDIATELY at the jailer's house? He IMMEDIATELY baptized them all ! Peter presents the Gospel in acts 2:38, and the eunuch responds to Phillips preaching of the gospel, "Here is some water. What would stop me from being baptized?"