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Question 5
Schiemer’s “three kinds of baptism”—Holy Spirit, water, blood—includes the claim that water baptism is like sealing a letter and “no one would seal a letter without knowing what it contains,” concluding that infant baptism is “sealing an empty letter”; what would it require for your baptism (or church membership) to be a “sealed letter” with real contents, and how would a church discern that without sliding into hypocrisy or mere externalism?
Another way to ask: Schiemer says baptism is like sealing a letter—you should know what’s inside before you seal it. What would need to be true for your baptism (or church membership) to have real meaning, and how can a church check that without becoming fake or focused only on outward signs?

Direct Answer Based on Dean’s presentation, a “sealed letter” baptism requires real inner faith and an “inner covenant with God” before the outward sign, with the Spirit’s work as the true first baptism. Discernment would focus on credible faith and new life, while remembering Dean’s warning that outward obedience alone is “not enough” without Christ’s indwelling.

Support from Transcript:

  • Schiemer teaches “three kinds of baptism…from the Scriptures”: first “with the Holy Spirit,” second “with the water,” third “with blood.”
  • He defines water baptism: “a confirmation of faith and an inner covenant with God.”
  • His analogy: “When one has written a letter, he seals it…no one would seal a letter without knowing what it contains.”
  • Conclusion: “Whoever baptizes a child acts like a man who seals an empty letter.”
  • Dean repeatedly stresses inward reality: “an outward obedience…is still not enough. It must be from an indwelling presence…of Jesus Christ,” and “Faith is not an agreeing to a creed.”
Discussion Follow-ups What kinds of evidence should a church look for that there is “something inside the letter” (repentance, conscience toward God, Christ’s indwelling) without turning membership into a performance?

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