Quote:
Originally Posted by savedbygrace89
Hello, I am a 20-something female who was raised Protestant. However, for a few months now I have been attending Apostolic Pentecostal church with a friend. I really enjoy it. I recently feel that The Lord is wanting me to be baptized, but I have a few questions.
1. I have not "received the Holy Ghost" yet/spoken in tongues, although I want to. Am I eligible for baptism or does this need to occur first?
2. What, in a nutshell does baptism mean to you?
3. If I am baptized does this mean I am pentecostal? I wear skirts to church but not outside of church and I cut my hair, etc. will that absolutely have to change? Does this mean I am then a member of the church?
I'm just trying to see if I'm on the right page here before I move forward.
Thanks in advance for the answers.
-savedbygrace
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1. The injunction of Peter on the day of Pentecost was to "repent and be baptized" (
Acts 2:38). The prerequisite for baptism is repentance which infers faith/belief. The infilling of the Holy Ghost will come it is not the prerequisite, repentance is.
2. Baptism is part of the new birth experience (
John 3).
Through it we are buried with Christ that like Christ rose from the grave we also should walk in new life IF we are planted in the likeness of His death (
Rom. 6).
Through baptism our hearts are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands (
Col 2).
Through baptism remission of sins are received (
Acts 2).
3. "Pentecostal" is a term typically used to designate a person who has spoken with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.
May God continue to lead and guide you.