UPCI - Page 6

Sam · #1 02-09-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

Where does the bible say that baptism is a statement of faith about your beliefs on the Godhead? Where does the bible relate anything like this to baptism? ....

The Apostle Peter said that baptism is "not a literal cleansing" but is "the answer (response) of a good conscience toward God." In my opinion that means it isn't an actual cleansing or washing which means to me that it is symbolic. I believe that baptism washes away sin in the same way that the unleavened bread is the flesh of Jesus and the wine is His blood. In other words, it's just symbolic. We may talk about all those sins being left in the baptismal pool but that is a figure of speech. As far as being the response of a good conscience, to me that means that we are justified or saved or born again when we come to Jesus and all our sins are washed away and we have a clear conscience with God so we follow that up with water baptism.

Here are a couple of things Bro. Howard Goss, first General Superintendent of the UPC, said in an article titled “The Blood Covenant” which appeared in the June 1954 Pentecostal Herald, pages 6 and 10

... repentance brings the blood of Jesus to a sinner’s heart to wipe out and cleanse him from all sin, he should then be baptized in water as a confession of his faith in the atonement...

When a sinner fully repents and confesses before God, the blood of Jesus atones for his sins , and cleanses his heart from all sin, and when he is clean then only is he a fit subject for water baptism. After that comes the promise “…you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38)

The blood and power of the Lord Jesus is the only source of regeneration or the New Birth. Water baptism alone has no power to remit sins, else we could baptize infants as do the Catholics. The Roman Catholic teaches regeneration by water baptism, but it is not according to the Word of God. A candidate for baptism in water should be baptized BECAUSE THE BLOOD has cleansed, remitted, forgiven his sins, and not in order to get them remitted, as WATER ALONE CANNOT WASH AWAY SINS. The old hymn goes:
What can wash away my sins,
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

StillStanding · #2 02-10-2010, 08:05 AM

I was raised in the UPCI, and I always loved the people there. Although I witnessed a few bad things, it was mostly very good!

Even when I began to question some beliefs, I never questioned the sincerity and dedication to God of the UPCI people. They are part of the body of Christ!

For the last twenty years or so, I have been going a different direction than the UPCI. At first, I could visit and still worship and feel at "home". This past summer, I visited a UPCI campmeeting and felt uncomfortable and out of place. Maybe I just didn't realize it before, but the worship was forced and a big emotional response was expected. It was more cheer-leading than worship! I'm just sayin'..................

Sam · #3 02-10-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

... This past summer, I visited a UPCI campmeeting and felt uncomfortable and out of place. Maybe I just didn't realize it before, but the worship was forced and a big emotional response was expected. It was more cheer-leading than worship! I'm just sayin'..................

I think we've all been places where worship was "forced" and people just tried too hard to work up some kind of response. That's certainly not unique to the UPC.

Hoovie · #4 02-09-2010, 09:12 PM

The Musicmaster is casting the demons out of AFF!

I agree! - don't no one go messin with Sister Alvear!

Right here in River City.
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!
Now, I know all you folks are the right kinda parents.
I'm gonna be perfectly frank.
Would ya like to know what kinda conversation goes
On while they're loafin' around that AFF Hall?

Sister Alvear · #5 02-10-2010, 06:32 PM

wow...we have got of the title of this thread....ha..

TroubleMaker · #6 02-10-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

wow...we have got of the title of this thread....ha..

So what was it you were saying?

I appreciated your original thoughts and sentiments.

Hoovie · #7 02-10-2010, 07:55 PM

Trouble, that's true in part I think.

What makes it true is knowing that the recipient of baptism really is calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness himself. If that's the case then the words spoken by any third party becomes something of an important secondary issue. I say important, because I can't imagine anything related to initiation into the Body of Christ being unimportant. Even as a formality for clarity it's a good practice to invoke the name of the Lord at baptism.