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i posted the article above so those who deny the clear teaching from the Scriptures on baptism, can see what the Church has taught and believed for two thousand years.

If this is what the Church "has taught and believed for two thousand years" no wonder it's confused. From your articles:

NOT INFANT BAPTISM

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED - THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS (c. A.D. 140) - “I have heard, sir,” said I, “from some teachers, that there is no other repentance except that which took place when we went down into the water and obtained the remission of our former sins.” He said to me, “You have heard rightly, for so it is.” (The Shepherd 4:3:1-2)

PEOPLE (ADULTS) MUST BE BAPTIZED FOR THEIR SINS - ST. THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH (c. A.D. 181) - Moreover, those things which were created from the waters were blessed by God, so that this might also be a sign that men would at a future time receive repentance and remission of sins through water and the bath of regeneration — all who proceed to the truth and are born again and receive a blessing from God.

BAPTISM IS A SIGN OF OUR FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS - TERTULLIAN (inter A.D. 200-206) - Baptism is itself a corporal act by which we are plunged in water, while its effect is spiritual, in that we are freed from sins. (On Baptism 1:1; 5:6; 7:2)

BAPTISM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIN BUT ILLUMINATES OUR MIND - ST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (ante A.D. 202) - When we are baptized, we are enlightened. Being enlightened, we are adopted as sons. Adopted as sons, we are made perfect. Made perfect, we become immortal....”and sons all of the Most High” [Psalm 82:6]. This work is variously called grace, illumination, perfection, and washing.

WE OBTAIN SALVATION THROUGH BAPTISM - RECOGNITIONS OF CLEMENT (c. A.D. 221) - But you will perhaps say, “What does the baptism of water contribute toward the worship of God?” In the first place, because that which has pleased God is fulfilled. In the second place, because when you are regenerated and born again of water and of God, the frailty of your former birth, which you have through men, is cut off, and so ...you shall be able to attain salvation; but otherwise it is impossible.

BAPTISM IS FOOD AND SHOULD BE GIVEN TO INFANTS - ORIGEN (post A.D. 244) - Formerly there was Baptism, in an obscure way....now, however, in full view, there is regeneration in water and in the Holy Spirit. Formerly, in an obscure way, there was manna for food; now, however, in full view, there is the true food, the flesh of the Word of God as He Himself says: “My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink” [John 6:55]. (Homilies on Numbers 7:2) The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving Baptism even to infants.

IF A MAN (NOT INFANT) ISN'T BAPTIZED HE'S NOT SAVED - ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM (c. A.D. 350) - If any man does not receive Baptism, he does not have salvation.

BAPTISM DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM FUTURE SINNING (GOD DOES-VERY REFORMED) ST. JEROME (c. A.D. 415) - This much you must know, that Baptism forgives past sins, but it does not safeguard future justice, which is preserved by labor and industry and diligence, and depends always and above all on the mercy of God. (Dialogue Against the Pelagians 3:1)

BELIEF IN IMMERSION-NOT SPRINKLING - ST. GREGORY OF NAZIANZ (c. A.D. 330 - 389) - Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift....We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes;

BAPTISM INFUSES THE HOLY SPIRIT - ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (c. A.D. 354 - 430) - By this grace baptized infants too are ingrafted into [Christ’s] body, infants who certainly are not yet able to imitate anyone. Christ, in whom all are made alive....gives also the most hidden grace of His Spirit to believers, grace which He secretly infuses even into infants.......If anyone wonders why children born of the baptized should themselves be baptized, let him attend briefly to this....The Sacrament of Baptism is most assuredly the Sacrament of regeneration.

If you're trying to say baptism was important in the early church, I won't disagree with you. However, if you are trying to say there is "clear teaching" on baptism then I would disagree. As the above examples show that you posted, there were just about as many interpretations to baptism as there were church fathers. Augustine also taught how there was confusion in the early church over the meaning of baptism. The above is just a small sample.

Baptism IS important. I tend to follow the Baptist on this rather than the Presbyterians. However, I can appreciate the different views. One thing is certain. Baptisms does NOT save a person. It is disappointing that Augustine would write such things as he was saved not by baptism but by his mother's prayers and God's grace. Had he reflected on this prior to his writings on baptism he would have come to the conclusion the Jerome and Tertullian came to. I can only believe that this was one of his early works before he fully understood the doctrine of grace.

LOL!

I read your commentary and then read what the Church Father wrote and there is no connection between the two!

the epistle of barnabas doesn’t preclude infant baptism, hermas doesn’t teach once saved always saved, tertullian isn’t saying baptism is merely a “sign”, clement doesn’t say baptism has nothing to do with sin, origen is speaking of the Eucharist as true food, not baptism, jerome doesn’t say God will keep you from sinning in the future, he says God will forgive your future sins ( i didn’t know the reformed believed baptism forgives past sins, LOL! ) gregory doesn’t teach immersion only, and Augustine teaches what the Church has always taught.

i know how embarassing it must be for baptists and reformed to read these quotes and see how far their teaching on baptism is from the historical, orthodox, biblical faith of the Catholic Church.
( btw, tell me where Augustine taught there was “confusion” in the early Church on baptism )

one thing IS certain from the Scriptures and the early Church Fathers, baptism DOES SAVE YOU.
why does it save us?
1. we receive remission of our sins
2. we receive the Holy Spirit
3. we are placed “in Christ”

as St Augustine says “ the sacrament of baptism is most assuredly the sacrament of regeneration”

how anyone claiming to be a Christian can believe no one properly understood baptism for 16 centuries is beyond me, this way of thinking is straight from the pit of hell.

God is not the author of confusion.