[Duncanbelem]

What is baptism? Baptism is exactly what SERay said, and more. It is a promise a covenant toward God. You promise to be born again through Christ and take upon his name.

If you never take upon the name of Christ you will never be saved in the Kingdom of Heaven.

There exist various philosophies of what happens after we Die. Most of Christianity believes you will be judged the moment you die. But there are various differing beliefs.

I do not believe this Paradise, or Persian word for garden is the same thing as Heaven.

For God Resides in Heaven and when Christ appeared to Mary He said.
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." John 20:17

So Where was He, it Peter it says one place He was
Peter 3:18-22
" 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
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:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."

So When Christ was dead in the Flesh he preached to the spirits who died in the flood of Noah. Could He not also Preach to this man in Paradise? And then Christ after He Resurrected on the third day, NOT same day as on cross, he saw Mary and ascended into heaven.

21 is also interesting because is says Baptism saves us, the act of being baptized does not mean you will be saved, in order to be saved you have to turn your life over to Christ and be changed, which is in affect what baptism symbolizes.

Final Judgement in my belief hasn't happened yet. The Spirits of the Dead are awaiting there judgement in prision, or paradise, ....

Matt 6:27
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

Matt 19:28
"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Matt. 25: 32
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats"

Rev 20: 12
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

and then again in peter is says the gospel is preached unto people who are dead, So everyone will have a chance to come to know the Christ.

1 Peter 4:5-6
"Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

So Christ Preached unto the dead so they too might be saved if they believe.
This is my belief. I know there are many other interpretations of these scriptures, but this is how I understand it, for our God is a merciful and just God. He will give everyone a chance.

Now again For Baptism. This is what the Word says.

Matt 3:13-16
"13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest
thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:"

Why Was Christ Baptized? Because He, even though he was perfect, needed to be baptized to fulfil all righteousness. If he needed to be, don't we also need to be?

Christ answers these questions
Mark 10:35-39
"35 ¶ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized"

And again in

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."

I believe a man must enter the water to be baptized as a symbol to take upon his name in order to enter His Kingdom, But I also believe all man will have that opportunity. because God is Just. I respect your beliefs, but this is what I believe with my heart.