[cmnahrwold]

Should a follower of Christ want to be baptised as an adult once they put their faith into Christ?

[Watchman]

Baptism is the next step after Salvation.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 10:47 Can anyone forbid water that these, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, should not be baptized?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay certain days.

There is no age limit on baptism once the person is saved. Jesus was an adult when He was baptized.

Luke 3:21 And it happened in the baptizing of all the people, Jesus also being baptized, and praying, and the heaven was opened.

Scripture indicates that people were baptized immediately or very shortly after salvation.


Hope this helps.
God Bless

[cmnahrwold]

Watchman,

Does being baptized have anything to do with our salvation? Or in other words do we have to be baptized to go to heaven?

Also, is the ceremonial Baptism that we often see in church have anything to do with the baptism that we read about in the bible? Or does the verses that we often read in the bible most often refer to the baptism of the Hoy Spirit?

[Watchman]

Act 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth.
Act 22:15 For you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Act 22:16 And now what do you intend? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Act 19:4 And Paul said, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into Him coming after him, that is, into Jesus Christ.

Act 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught the things of the Lord diligently, knowing only the baptism of John.

Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From Heaven or from men? And they reasoned within themselves, saying, If we shall say, From Heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?

Luke 7:29 And all the people and the tax-collectors who heard Him justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Luke 23:42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

The thief on the cross who repented was not Baptized but was promised eternal life. It was physically impossible for the thief to be baptized and maybe had not long before he passed away. So Baptism is important but not always possible,i.e death bed conversions.

Mat 21:25 shows us Baptism is from Heaven and not man-made i.e. It is a requirement of GOD.

The command to baptize was co-extensive with the command to preach the gospel. All nations were to be evangelized; and they were to be made disciples, admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, by Baptism. Matt 28:19 -Thayer's Dictionary
Baptism is a Greek word and means immersion or fully wetting.
Therefore if we translate the scripture fully into English we get- Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
As for Traditions I cannot answer as there are many variations in Church's and Countries and need more info on which you refer.

S.E.Ray has addressed Baptism on this page much better than I can -http://www.eternalpath.com/forums/rite-baptism/64-getting-baptized-part-salvation.html

God Bless.