The first and foremost reason is that God commanded baptism and gave the example to do it. One of Christ's final commands to His apostles was, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"Matthew 28:19-20.
Second, there is a process surrounding baptism,repentance and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Savior, followed by baptism, after which a true minister of Jesus Christ lays hands on the baptized individual for God to impart His Holy Spirit.We need baptism because we need God's forgiveness, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
When we repent of sin, we are deeply sorry for having transgressed God's law. We no longer have a hostile attitude toward God and His law of liberty. We no longer have a carnal attitude that is enmity against the law of God. Romans 8:7. After repentance, we want to be in harmony with God's law of love, the Ten Commandments.
God will only give His special spiritual blessings to those who are willing to repent, to believe and to obey Him. As Peter wrote: "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now 'If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?' 1 Peter 4:17-18.
Jesus Christ is our living Savior. We will be saved by His life. Romans 5:10.
I did not say baptism is not essential to be saved but those who are not who are also sanctified but just don’t have forgiveness of sins and communion with God for such sins to be forgiven through it will be saved in the world to come on the very last day of judgement they will be saved because they also obey God and follow all His words. Without baptism you are not saved upon death and you have to be punished for all your sins which is very severe so it is very foolish not to be baptized. They are responsible for their own death but I think if they confessed Christ and prayed to have help to obey all His words they will still on the last day be resurrected. Jesus knows the heart of those who choose not to be baptized if they still love Him and try to obey Him so it may be all believers could still be baptised but He knows if person is still commited and loves Him if he is not
Jesus says he who believes in Me I will raise him up at the last day. He promises it for all believers but He promises those who commune whether it is spiritual or also in an ordinance will be made alive and also be raised on the last day with all believers
do you also say you need communion to be saved ?
John 6:54-57
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
I believe those who commune have eternal life in them now if they are communing with God also but when He says He will raise them at the last day He says in addition to having eternal life now He will raise them at the last day so they should be glad with all believers. Or I believe as Jesus said later He was talking about communing spiritually because of belief in Him as one sacrifice that is how one feeds on Him. But in the ordinance He chooses to be present also and maybe with more appreciation for Him to thank Him or maybe for more to realise His presence to unite one it could also be to bring to life now those who will not die but He would always be present.
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
He wills for all believers to be saved that is because He is able to save all who come to Him but they have to be living in Him He wills them all to partake of Him to have that life which is why I believe communion is first of all a spiritual thing but ordinance may be the only time one can fully commune with God to make one fully united to God but I don't know if that is the case but those who obey His commandments by communing with Him spiritually still commune with Him but He may have wanted the ordinance to fully unite one to God not just to be able to keep the commandments but to have grace to be able to unite one to God now by special communion and grace when you take it but otherwise you can still commune with God to obey His commandments but He wanted to be present when people come together
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