Peter,
I was raised in the UPCI org...however I don't claim a religion nor a denomination. I am a follower of Y'shua. Baptism is an ordinance and it must be followed. Y'shua told Nicodemus that we could not enter the kingdom of heaven unless we were born again. Being born again means following exactly what Y'shua taught. He taught baptism by immersion. It says in the Bible that Y'shua walked straight way out of the water. Matt 3:16 -And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo the heavens were opened unto hi, and he saw the Spirt of god descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
We all know that the custom of that day when baptism was given that that complete immersed in water. This is an item that has been discussed through the ages and to be honest, sprinkling someone or just pouring water over their head is not baptism. The bible says that we are buried in his death and raised in his resurrection. If that is the case, there is no room for sprinkling nor pouring. Baptism is accomplished by immersion. *If* you believe in sprinkling or pouring then that is between you and God. I am not hear to judge, I am only a humble servant following the commandments of God. God said to baptize.
Baptize = To dip(under) or immerse. Sprinkling was brought on by the evil roman catholic church and that era. A lot of our Bible translation was lost because of them.
However you feel is following Gods commandments is how you feel. I chose to immerse.
To answer the last question, again I do not belong to a religion nor denomination. I believe in but 1 true living God. John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word(Y'shua) and the Word(Y'shua) was with God and the Word(Y'shua) was God. Colossians 2:9 says for in him(Y'shua) dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead Bodily. There is no room for our interpretation here. Y'shua upon many occasions was about stoned to death because he claimed to be the Messiah and God. Y'shua was given a name that was above ALL names, this included the name of God. How could this be? How could he be given a name above all names if he was just a son? Y'shua was GOD MADE MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. God came to earth in the form of a servant and he called himself Y'shua. It was a name that was above every name and it was the final name that God gave his people. It is the only name under heaven that ALL MEN are saved. There is no 3 people. God was never human except when he came in a servant form to earth. He is a spirit. Y'shua was human then became spirit. The Holy Ghost has NEVER been human and never been a person and therefore is a spirit. There is but one living God. His name is well whatever you want to call him. God, Jesus, Holy Ghost. When you say God you mean Jesus, when you say Jesus you mean God, when you say God you mean Holy Ghost and so on. There might have been the deity but it was done to teach us and as long as you have the spirit of God, because those that worship must worship in Spirit and in Truth, then you will understand it. THERE IS BUT 1 LIVING GOD. Period.
