What Does Being Born Again Mean?

[Peter Parka]

I'm not starting this thread as a piss take but as something I'm genuinely interested to understand. I know Grace didn't want her husbands baptism thread to get clogged up with anything but congratulations for him so I'm respecting that to ask the stuff I wanted to here. I'm sorry I didn't congratulate him but I genuinely don't understand it. How does dunking someone under water make them a better and new person?:confused

 

[Tim]

Her husband was baptized by being fully immersed in water. Christians believe that once you are Saved "Born again" by accepting Jesus into your heart that you then should be baptized as a way to show that you are ready to fully give your life to Christ.
Full immersion baptism symbolizes death, burial and resurrection. When they are being submersed into the water it represents death (death of an old life of sin) burial and when they are raised from the water it represents the resurrection (start of a new life as a Christian).

 

[Peter Parka]

Oh right, it's a symbol, I think I can kind of grasp that. But why are they supposedly a better person after they emerge from the water then? From my understanding, you don't suddenly become a better person, its something which gradually happens after a lot of hard work to better yourself.

 

[All Else Failed]

Well, they think that you have officially "surrendered" yourself to Christ. At least thats what I get from it.

 

[Tim]

It's a symbolic gesture Peter. It doesn't change you, rather shows your commitment to change.

 

[Peter Parka]

Dosen't hard work show your commitment to change a lot better than diving underwater in a paddling pool?:confused

 

[groundpounder]

Dosen't hard work show your commitment to change a lot better than diving underwater in a paddling pool?:confused

that's a patronizing statement, PP. To believers, it's much more than "diving underwater in a paddling pool," and to call it such shows a lack of understanding of it's symbolism and while not offensive to me because I get the fact that you don't get it, might upset others. So try to be a little more open minded about the answers that are proffered if you're sincere in posing the question.

It's a seminal event in the lives of a Christian, the ultimate act of obedience and faith, in my opinion.

Hard work and good acts do show commitment, but not in the way that being baptized does.

Maybe you can think of it this way: A baptism is an EVENT, whereas commitment to hard work is a process. Not sure if that helps, but maybe it does.

 

[groundpounder]

How does dunking someone under water make them a better and new person?:confused

Which answer do you want tackled first - the one in the thread title or this one? The answers are similar, but definitely different.

 

[Silious950]

It's all symbolism baby! SYM BO LISM

 

[GraceAbounds]

I know Grace didn't want her husbands baptism thread to get clogged up with anything but congratulations for him so I'm respecting that to ask the stuff I wanted to here.

I appreciate that Peter.

Her husband was baptized by being fully immersed in water. Christians believe that once you are Saved "Born again" by accepting Jesus into your heart that you then should be baptized as a way to show that you are ready to fully give your life to Christ.
Full immersion baptism symbolizes death, burial and resurrection. When they are being submersed into the water it represents death (death of an old life of sin) burial and when they are raised from the water it represents the resurrection (start of a new life as a Christian).

It's a symbolic gesture Peter. It doesn't change you, rather shows your commitment to change.

I agree fully with Tim's posts.

 

[All Else Failed]

I never really got the need for such rituals, if you really accept Christ into your heart in the first place, but whatever floats people's boats.

 

[groundpounder]

I never really got the need for such rituals, if you really accept Christ into your heart in the first place, but whatever floats people's boats.

But you're an atheist, so you don't really get ANY of it. :smiley24:

SO why bother posting?

 

[All Else Failed]

But you're an atheist, so you don't really get ANY of it. :smiley24:

SO why bother posting?

Very untrue statement.

 

[TheOriginalJames]

But you're an atheist, so you don't really get ANY of it. :smiley24:

SO why bother posting?

I'm an athiest who gets the point of baptizing.

I can't explain it any better than Tim has, so I'll just agree with him.

 

[groundpounder]

There was actually supposed to be a smiley with that.


An frankly, if you "got" it, you'd believe it.

 

[All Else Failed]

There was actually supposed to be a smiley with that.


An frankly, if you "got" it, you'd believe it.

Nah, I was a Roman Catholic for most of my life. I "get" why people do it, I just don't see the NEED for it.

 

[Boomer]

*Runs in, wipes his sticky hand on AEF's shirt and runs out*

 

[All Else Failed]

wtf. This is a NEW my little pony t-shirt, asshole!

 

[groundpounder]

wtf. This is a NEW my little pony t-shirt, asshole!

remind me to rep that. I must have repped you in the recent past because I get the Nazi pop-up saying I have to spread it around.

That's quality humor.

Now, let's quit jacking PP's thread of understanding!

 

[Peter Parka]

I "get" why people do it, I just don't see the NEED for it.

I think I feel like this about it now, too. Thanks everyone for trying to explain it. Sorry if one or two of you found what I said patronising, I really didn't mean it in that way.