"It is a public profession of faith...a simple act of obiedience...Choose wisely."

amen!

Excellent and amen :)

I was baptised when I was a baby the traditional catholic way. To me that is improper and unbiblical. A baby does not know whats happening for him/her to profess their own faith of Christ.

Since I've been saved nearly four years ago, I have not been baptised in water yet due to much reasons that I am dealing with personally but I wish to do it when I am ready both spiritually and emotionally. I refuse to forget GOD's commands but remain obedient to His Word.

from what i read in the bible there is a plan to salvation. believe, repent, confess before others and baptism by immersion to receive the gift of The Holy Spirit and a good conscience toward God. i don't know what would happen if a person left one of the steps out.

I was surprised you guys skipped over this verse

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:18-21)

The thing about Baptism isnt the choice. God's grace acts ex opere operato, which means 'in and of itself.' The grace recieved in Baptism isnt as a result of acceptance, but rather it acts because its God's grace and doesnt need us. For Christ died for us even while we were still sinners. Its not so much a personal choice, but more of a change of state, a regeneration of body and soul and washing away of original sin. So I would venture to say that water baptism is far more important than a public profession of faith and a simple act of obedience. Its an infusion of grace that eradicates the old man and gives way to the new man, like in the flood where God destroyed all that was evil on the earth and made way for that which was good.

i don't know how we can get into heaven with out the Holy Spirit or a good conscience toward God. which baptism gives us.

Aside from your attitude, I don't realy have an idea as to what your eternal destination will be.
But then what I or anybody else thinks is pretty much irrelivent isn't it?
After all that is an issue between you and God isn't it?
Scripture says to repent and be baptized. Scripture gives and example in Acts as to how that would look when performed.
I don't believe the act is as important as the reason and motivation one has for doing it.
I was compeled by my belief to be baptized. The desire to obey what I saw as part of the first commandment to a new believer.
It never occured to me that a follower of Christ would have any questions about baptism? I never have.
To say that baptism must be done in a certian manner is to say that it in some way is essential to salvation.
I believe there is way too much emphasis placed on baptism in the church today.Too much worry and controvercy concerning it and how it is to be performed. I understand why ,but that doesn't change the fact that baptism has over shaddowed the purpose for doing it in the church today.
As I see it the only way to be properly baptized is sincerly and truthfuly commiting oneself to Christ. If one isn't doing that then it makes no differance as to how it is performed or if in fact it is performed.
The realy eternily important baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And that is a gift from God.
Waymaker, your question is a good one but you ask it to the wrong ones.
I suspect that is probibly because you don't want to hear from the one who will do more about it than argue.

Baptism is essential to salvation. Jesus says in no uncertain terms that you MUST be born again of water and spirit or you dont get to the final destination.

But thats saying that God's grace is dependent on us. He doesnt need our permission to act. There is two sides to grace. Ex opere operato which is God's grace acts in and of itself or by the very act, and ex opere operatis which is our ability to utilize the grace given. However, it must always act ex opere operato for us to be able to use it ex opere operatis.

Well, grace in general is a gift of God. But Jesus again does say "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)

I would say that both are eternally important, and thats not just my opinion, but seems to be Jesus' opinion as well. Its more than a sign or simple act of obedience. Its a change of state from the old man to the new. A regeneration.

acts 2; 38." and peter said to them , repent and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS and you shall receive the gift of The Holy Spirit." how do you get to heaven if your sins have not been forgiven and you don't have the Holy Spirit.?

Me 2 where batized as a baby. At the age of 32 I did go through Water Batism. This is the scripture that really move me to do it:

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

The bible would suggest that you dont.