Does one need to be baptized in order to be saved?

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Doveaman

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When I was small I nearly drowned once and it put this fear of being in water that was over my head. To this day the thought of that still isn't an easy thing for me.
I think I understand your situation. But God’s command is clear: "Repent and be baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". That's the general rule. And we cannot change the general rule because of a phobia.

However, I do believe that there are exceptions to the general rule, your phobia might be one of them, but that does not change the general rule; the general rule to "Repent and be baptized"
still stands for those who have no such phobias and can be baptized.

At the same time, such phobias can sometimes be overcome by facing our fears. So maybe taking the plunge will help you to overcome in more ways than one. :)
 
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ARBITER01

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Nor did I ever claim water removed sin.

Sin is not removed by simple "confession" either. Sin is removed by the blood of Christ through faith, a living faith , a faith with obedience, including obedience to God's command to be baptized.

Water baptism is a clear command form God, so failure to obey this command is lack of faith; it's a dead faith, a faith that cannot save.

How can you claim to have faith but then refuse to obey God's command to be baptized?

Show me your faith without deeds...You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did...so faith without deeds is dead...James 2:18-26.

Faith without obedience to God's command to be baptized is dead. God is not about lip service; He is about action.

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...James 2:15-17.


You seem to be establishing different boundaries of salvation that are not in scripture. The only faith required from us is our confession,..

Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

Rom 10:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:

Rom 10:10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:

Rom 10:13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Peter quotes the same thing over in acts at the beginning of the church,..

Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day:

Act 2:21 And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

They were likely immersed in water before it was given, possibly by John the baptist as Christ Himself was as an example for us.
I don't think you are understanding how receiving The Holy Spirit inside is completely pivotal to our salvation,..

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
We receive The Spirit at our rebirth, but He was not given until acts 2 from Jesus, and that after The Father had give Him to Jesus,..

Act 2:33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
So no, no disciple was ever saved until The Holy Spirit was poured out by Jesus at Pentecost. That was when the church started with those 120 disciples, not before it.
 
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Jeneluv

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The argument is that the thief on the cross was under old testament law because Christ had not died yet. And Christ has the power to forgive sins as He did with others, even without baptism. But, that once He died that baptism is now the only way to be saved. In Mark 16:16 Jesus says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned."


I would just like to point out that the quote does not read, "...but he who does not believe *and is not baptized* will be condemned." Jesus refers only to one who does not believe. I believe baptism is symbolic; it is a physical representation of what is happening in our soul when we invite God into our heart and ask to spiritually be washed clean.
 
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cougan

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John was granted The Holy Spirit from The Father as the last of the OT prophets, but no one was granted The Holy Spirit from Jesus until He was granted it from His Father,..

The church started in acts 2, not before that, and anyone that was ever born again by The Holy Spirit has been granted that from Jesus, but He did not start granting that until He sat at the right of The Father in heaven and was granted to do so by HIM.

As we notice, no one was water immersed in acts 2 when folks were finally filled with The Holy Spirit.

You are correct that no one received the promise of Holy Spirit Baptism until Acts 2, just as explained in my post.

What do you mean by "no one was water immersed in acts 2 when folks were finally filled with the Holy Spirit?"

Your statment is too vague for me to fully understand what you are trying to say. The only people that were baptized with the Holy Spirit in acts 2 were the apostles as promised by Jesus. NO ONE ELSE there was.
 
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cougan

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I never did. Maybe through your slant you read it that way.


I don't really have to read all of your posts. More often than not when a person is very strident or convicted about something they will recycle the same points or arguement over and over again. If you've read one of their posts you've more or less read them all.

OK, let me see if I understand this because I either have a very poor understanding of the Bible or I'm just so simple that I can't understand what the Bible says, but does a person need to be submerged in water if they are to be saved and anyone that isn't is without any question or doubt not saved and therefore going to hell? Is that true or not?


While some arguments will be repeated as neccesary, you will find new information in most of my posts. You can not find all my points in one post.

You keep reaching for an execption to what God's Word teaches is neccessary. As I have already stated if God did make execption to His commands it would be rare at best and has nothing to do with you because you did not die on they way to be baptized, you were not stuck in the desert without access to water or whatever what if situation you want to dream up.

The point is that you can either choose to obey God's commands and accept God's grace or you can refuse God's commands such a baptism and be lost.
 
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ARBITER01

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You are correct that no one received the promise of Holy Spirit Baptism until Acts 2, just as explained in my post.

No one received The Holy Spirit from Jesus until The Spirit was granted to Jesus from The Father.

What do you mean by "no one was water immersed in acts 2 when folks were finally filled with the Holy Spirit?"

Your statment is too vague for me to fully understand what you are trying to say. The only people that were baptized with the Holy Spirit in acts 2 were the apostles as promised by Jesus. NO ONE ELSE there was.
Really? That's not what scripture says,..

Act 1:15 And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about a hundred and twenty),
The filling of The Spirit is specifically mentioned in acts 2,..

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And just like Paul taught,..

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
Not one of those 120 disciples were born again until The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost and they were filled with Him.
 
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cougan

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You seem to be establishing different boundaries of salvation that are not in scripture. The only faith required from us is our confession,..



Peter quotes the same thing over in acts at the beginning of the church,..


I don't think you are understanding how receiving The Holy Spirit inside is completely pivotal to our salvation,..

We receive The Spirit at our rebirth, but He was not given until acts 2 from Jesus, and that after The Father had give Him to Jesus,..

So no, no disciple was ever saved until The Holy Spirit was poured out by Jesus at Pentecost. That was when the church started with those 120 disciples, not before it.

He is not establishing new bondaries, he is simply telling you everything the Scriputes say that save instead of trying to limit it to confession like you have. None of the Scriptures you quoted stays that you are saved by faith alone or confession alone they just say they save you. 1 pet 3:21 says that baptism saves you. Based on line argument I should be able to say that baptism alone saves, but I do not do that becasue baptism is, but one of the things the Bible mentions that saves. You have also left our repentance.

So, the difference is that you want to focus in on part of God's Word and people like myself wants to focus on all of God's Word. You do receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when are baptized, which is talking about you being sealed by the Holy Spirit eph 1:13, but that is not the same as what the apostles received in acts 2.
 
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ARBITER01

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He is not establishing new bondaries, he is simply telling you everything the Scriputes say that save instead of trying to limit it to confession like you have. None of the Scriptures you quoted stays that you are saved by faith alone or confession alone they just say they save you. 1 pet 3:21 says that baptism saves you. Based on line argument I should be able to say that baptism alone saves, but I do not do that becasue baptism is, but one of the things the Bible mentions that saves. You have also left our repentance.

You should read my quotes again then. It is our "word of faith" or confession of faith that saves us. Paul was very specific in those passages I listed.

And let's look at what Peter said,..

1Pe 3:21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even immersion, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
Did you see that? Peter is not talking about water here that cleanses the flesh, but of an inward change to the heart. He specifically makes mention against water in that passage. Quoting Peter here in this case does not help you.

So, the difference is that you want to focus in on part of God's Word and people like myself wants to focus on all of God's Word. You do receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when are baptized, which is talking about you being sealed by the Holy Spirit eph 1:13, but that is not the same as what the apostles received in acts 2.
Well I'm sorry my friend, but as I pointed out, no one received The Holy Spriit until acts 2,.. and there certainly wasn't any water immersions listed in scripture happening then. None of those 120 disciples were filled with The Holy Spirit prior to acts 2. None. GOD did not play favorites with the apostles and grant them something above anyone else.
 
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Elecmech

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The only way anyone will see the full truth to any biblical answer is to love Jesus more than your church's doctrinal label, more than your wife and children, more than your income producing jobs, etc.
If you care to read the Psalms where David cried out to the Lord and said, "Create in me a right heart, O Lord". This is the point to being baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This should be the goal of all believers in Christ. To become One with the Godhead.
There are varying depths of baptism, and liquid H2O ain't got anything to do with it, but I still recommend it as a witness to others.

To understand the biblical text it cannot be interpreted by any man, whether saved or not, but by the Holy Ghost, Himself.
All things in the OT are natural. Of the flesh, but symbolic toward what is of the Spirit. The NT is all about the Spirit. Putting off the old and putting on the new. Mankind that has been long dead in the Light of God being drawn back to Him Who sits on the Throne by His Spirit.

The thieves that were crucified along with Jesus were not just mere men. They both railed the same accusations as all the other onlookers in two gospel accounts. But in Luke's account, one malefactor rebuked the other thief's accusations against Christ.
Now do you understand that throughout the bible there is many times made mention those things placed on the left are 'goats', or are of little importance to the Chooser. But those things selected and placed on the right hand of the Chooser are of great importance, held in high esteem, and are also referred to as 'sheep'. The thief on the left, who cared not for the innocence of Jesus, but accused Him continuously was a type of anti Christ. This was Satan, "The accuser of the brethren". [It is written that all who hang from a tree are accursed!] On that day Satan was defeated for all time. The other thief was Adam [the species, man]. The Holy Spirit brought to this thief's remembrance (on the right of Christ) who he was in the beginning; a spirit formed in God's own glory [see Zechariah] that died because he ate the knowledge of good and evil (he could no longer commune with God in the spirit). [in the 'lost books of Adam' you will see where Adam cried for mercy. God told Adam that He would send His Word and save him in five and a half days]
What does any of this have to do with Baptism in the Spirit? Everything! In order for the spirit of man to ascend to God the flesh must descend (must die). Jesus was selected from before the beginning to fulfill this purpose! Those who follow suit must put their flesh under as Apostle Paul did [daily!].
A mere confession will not save you from hell. You must first believe in your heart [spirit] that Jesus is truly Lord and that there must be something greater to life than birth, death, and paying taxes. But, none of this realization will occur unless God draws you [or enables you]. Once He does enable a person, that person begins to seek. If that person should seek God as the Source and hear the truth from those that are "sent" by God [the majority of ordained preachers that are taught in seminaries are not of God at all] he/she will be set free because of the Truth spoken through God's Anointed Ones [the elect]. When that person believes that Jesus is the Way, his spirit [heart] is quickened and made right to be able to stand before God's Glory. This is to be baptized in Jesus's name. And it is required in order to be saved!

As far as salvation goes; Paul teaches that we must grow in our spirit's daily (from glory to glory) while denying the flesh at all costs! If you are contrary to this [in action] there will be a nasty warm place reserved for you in hell. :o:doh::bow::pray:
 
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cougan

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No one received The Holy Spirit from Jesus until The Spirit was granted to Jesus from The Father.

Really? That's not what scripture says,..

The filling of The Spirit is specifically mentioned in acts 2,..

And just like Paul taught,..

Not one of those 120 disciples were born again until The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost and they were filled with Him.

To prove that only the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be seen in following short aricle:

The apostles, and the apostles alone, received Holy Spirit baptism on the day of Pentecost. Shortly before the Lord ascended back to heaven, he promised the apostles that "... ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5).

In Acts 1:26 we read: "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias: and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Continuing, as if there were no division of the record into chapters and verses, we read the following: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1). "What could be plainer than the fact that the antecedent of "they," as used in Acts 2:1, is the word "apostles," as used in Acts 1:26? To go back to Acts 1:15, to find the antecedent of "they" in the "hundred and twenty" brethren is to violate every rule of grammatical construction."

Nothing could be clearer than the fact that it was the apostles, and the apostles only, who received Holy Spirit baptism on the day of Pentecost. To whom had the promise of the Spirit been made? The apostles (Acts 1:8). Who was to be guided into all the truth as a result of the Spirit's coming upon them? The apostles (John 16:13). Upon whom had Jesus breathed, saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost"? The apostles (John 20:22). To whom had Jesus said, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained"? The apostles (John 20:23). Who had been commanded to tarry in Jerusalem until clothed with power from on high? The apostles (Luke 24:49). To whom had Jesus said, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence"? The apostles (Acts 1:5). Who were to be witnesses of Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world? The apostles (Acts 1:8).

When I have time, I will show you more.
 
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ARBITER01

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To prove that only the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be seen in following short aricle:

The apostles, and the apostles alone, received Holy Spirit baptism on the day of Pentecost. Shortly before the Lord ascended back to heaven, he promised the apostles that "... ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5).

In Acts 1:26 we read: "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias: and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Continuing, as if there were no division of the record into chapters and verses, we read the following: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1). "What could be plainer than the fact that the antecedent of "they," as used in Acts 2:1, is the word "apostles," as used in Acts 1:26? To go back to Acts 1:15, to find the antecedent of "they" in the "hundred and twenty" brethren is to violate every rule of grammatical construction."

Nothing could be clearer than the fact that it was the apostles, and the apostles only, who received Holy Spirit baptism on the day of Pentecost. To whom had the promise of the Spirit been made? The apostles (Acts 1:8). Who was to be guided into all the truth as a result of the Spirit's coming upon them? The apostles (John 16:13). Upon whom had Jesus breathed, saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost"? The apostles (John 20:22). To whom had Jesus said, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained"? The apostles (John 20:23). Who had been commanded to tarry in Jerusalem until clothed with power from on high? The apostles (Luke 24:49). To whom had Jesus said, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence"? The apostles (Acts 1:5). Who were to be witnesses of Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world? The apostles (Acts 1:8).

When I have time, I will show you more.


Sorry my friend, the scriptures are quite clear about Jesus not having The Holy Spirit to give until He was seated at the right of The Father, hence why 120 disciples received who were up in the room once Jesus was seated on that throne.
 
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AMR

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Some say you must be baptized in order to be saved. Others say although baptism is very important, it is not imperative in order to be saved. What say you?
No. Else our Lord was lying when He told the thief on the cross that He would be with Him in Paradise that same day.

AMR
 
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i dont see how there's any confusion about this issue:

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."




clearly someone who didnt even have to be baptized did it to show us that this is what he wanted us all to do. if you dont do it then you're disobeying a direct order from God.


it also clearly states that they used water as a way of baptism.



so its not so much whether you think its required or not as its stated point blank that it is. its about whether you'll choose to fulfill this requirement or not.
 
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Stinker

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Only the Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and no one else is ever recorded as having received such in the many days afterward? Was Joel's prophesy forgotten that others were to be given the Holy Spirit as well as the Apostles? Even females.
 
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Doveaman

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Baptism is an important ordinance but it is not required to be saved.
Can a person be saved without obedience?

Was it not disobedience to a simple command in the garden that led to the fall of man in the first place?

Why is it so hard for us to follow a simple command?


Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John...And Jesus...said to him "...it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."...Matt 3:13-15.

Why is this so hard to obey?

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
...Acts 2:37-38.

Faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness, Holy Spirit.

In that order.

 
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Doveaman

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You should read my quotes again then. It is our "word of faith" or confession of faith that saves us.


What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
No good at all, James.
Can such faith save him?
Of course not.
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
I agree.
Show me your faith without deeds
It cannot be done.
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did...?
He most certainly was.
His faith and his actions were working together...
That mush is clear.
And his faith was made complete by what he did.
How can anyone miss that?
A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
I see what you mean, James, but they are some who don't see it.
Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did...?
Yes, just as Abraham was.
Faith without deeds is dead.
I totally agree with you, James.

But they are some who seem to think they can be saved even though they disobey Christ' example to be baptized.
You foolish man...faith without deeds is useless?
Useless indeed, James.

But, still, they are some who are convinced that word of faith alone can save.
Can such faith save him?
I think you know the answer to that, James.
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is that?
No good at all, James.
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
I agree.

And the act of baptism is an expression of a living faith, because it is one of our first acts of obedience at conversion.

I don't see how someone can disobey this clear command and still claim to have faith, because faith without obedience is dead.
 
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JohnnyP

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The thief on the Cross next to Jesus was not baptized but the Lord said to him "today you will be in paradise with me because of your faith". So technically being baptized is not required to go to heaven. It's just about your faith in Christ.

But, if you are not dying on a cross and are able to get baptized then go for it! A public declaration of your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior is a good thing. Even Jesus got baptized.
 
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ProfessorJ

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Easy: Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Now then, I'm not going to say that someone can't go to Heaven without baptising. there may be extenuating circumstances, and those are for God to judge. But in general, I would say baptism is a major part of salvation. Also: Acts 2:38.
 
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cougan

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Sorry my friend, the scriptures are quite clear about Jesus not having The Holy Spirit to give until He was seated at the right of The Father, hence why 120 disciples received who were up in the room once Jesus was seated on that throne.

Did you even read my post? I showed you how it is gramatically imposible for all 120 to have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Did you disprove that by your comment? Absoultly not. Just saying something is true does not make it true.

I have given you proof from the Scriptures and from Grammar, now it is up to you to prove me wrong on this, which cannot be done because the truth is on my side. Please understand that your opinion cannot change grammar rules.

When Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the Apostles only, it proved that Jesus was sitting at the right hand of God. It was only the apostles that stood up and preached that day, not the 120. Also, only the apostles had the ability to impart miracelous gifts through the laying on of their hands. Once the apostels died out, so did the ability of passing on miracelous gifts through the laying on of hands.

I know this thread has gotton long, but those of you who keep going back to the theif on the cross are confused because the theif cannot and never will apply to us today because He was alive during the time Jesus was on the earth, and Jesus had the authority to forgive people of their sins as He did on many occassion. Whether the theif was baptized with John's baptism or not or if this was the first time the theif had heard of Jesus does not matter because the theif died before Jesus gave The Great Commission, which applies to us. No matter how much you want to use the theif on the cross as example of not having to be baptized, he cannot be used.

Here are the facts.

Jesus commanded that we baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Mat. 28:19, and He said that baptism saves Mk. 16:16.

What did Jesus' apostles do? They baptized people FOR THE REMISSION/FORGIVENESS OF SIN. Acts 2:38.

Read every conversion in the books of Acts and you will see that those that were converted were baptized. On several occassion, the people did not rejoice until they were baptized.

Paul stressed the importance of baptism over and over, but perhaps the clearest teaching he gave was in Rom. 6 in which he says that baptism is how we are buried with christ and united with Him so that we might die to sin. If you don't think that is important and neccessary then you need to wake up because it is. If you do not die with Christ and die to sin then you cannot be saved.

Paul makes it clear in col. 2:12ff that when we are baptized we can know that we are being buried with Christ and that our sins are being washed away by our faith in the working of God.

Please read Paul's conversion in Acts 9 - 22 - 26 and you will see that even though he belived in Jesus, repented and confessed Him as Lord, he was not saved until he aroze and was baptized to wash away his sins Acts 22:16.

We know this baptism be spoken of is water baptism because that is the baptism that Philip did to the eunich, Peter did to Cornilus household Acts 10 and Paul did to the jailor Acts 16. Peter specfically draws a comparsion between the water that saved Noah and his family from a corupt world to how baptism in water saves us. 1 pet. 3:20-21.

Some in this thread like to claim the baptism being mentioned is Holy Spirit baptism, but Holy Spirit baptism was promised by Jesus and was adminstered by Him. Man cannot obey a promise, but going back the Great Commission, we can obey and water baptize people.

Other things show us that water baptism is what is being talked about because we see the word washing come up often and the idea of being buried along with the word baptism meaning to immerse, submerge or dip.
All this tells us that water baptism in under consideration.

We also learn that baptism is what puts us into the kingdom/church 1 Cor. 12:13; Jn. 3:5. Since Jeus is the savior of the church Eph. 5:23, we must be in the church/kingdom to be saved. So baptism does save just like Peter and Jesus taught Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21.

Also the Scriptures teach over and over again that we must die to live. Again, go back to Rom. 6 and you will see that we do not die until we are baptized.

Finally, the Scriptures teach that salvation, forgiveness of sins, and every spiritual blessing are found IN CHRIST Eph. 1:3,7, which means if you are not in Christ then you are not saved. Question: When and how does one get into Christ. Asnwer:

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

I kept this as short as possible so all of you might read it because what I have said is easy to understand and proves beyond doubt that water baptism is necessary for salvation. I just hope your eyes will be open to the truth and that you will stop allowing your upbringing or what you feel or have become used to hearing keep you from seeing the truth.
 
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