New answers tagged belief
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For many Baptists, the answer is fairly simple and is well conveyed by the saying "Baptism is merely an outward manifestation of an inward decision." For those on that end of the baptismal spectrum (where it is a sign rather than a sacrement), the question is thus fairly moot.
The difficulty in assessing the "validity" of a baptism comes from those who ...
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The Catholic Church provides a clear answer: those who are baptized are members of the Church, period. There are those who die outside the Church who we believe are still redeemed, but it is only in that redemption that they enter into the Church. Yet even these are still said to have a sort of baptism.
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Μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Mark 1:15.
Of course, this cannot be accomplished unless the Father draws a man to His Son, as it is written (John 6:44),
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him on the last day.
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