I think this is a good question to ask. Please reply and submit answers. After enough replies I will give my own answer that I think to be true.
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baptism does not wash away sins, it is a symbol, and here it was done by John the Baptist who testified about the Messiah that he would come and wash away all sins. Many people were baptized to show that they were repenting of thier sins, and to show it publically, this was Jesus testimony of his public ministry an who he was. Ephasis minethaiv said:I think this is a good question to ask. Please reply and submit answers. After enough replies I will give my own answer that I think to be true.
He too followed the rule that you must be baptized before you can enter into the kingdom of God.
1 John 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
received the mantle of elijiah from John ,thaiv said:I think this is a good question to ask. Please reply and submit answers. After enough replies I will give my own answer that I think to be true.
John's baptism was one unto repentance. Did he repent? Yes he did.ChrisB said:How then do you explain Jesus promise to the thief on the cross?
Luke 23
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
The thief did not have the opportunity to be baptised and so I accept that baptism is the norm but it cannot be absolutely essential.
Also the passage you quote refers to being "born again" rather than baptised. I agree you must be born again but this is not identical to baptism.
Be careful, though, because Paradise may not mean Heaven as you have assumed. It may refer to Sheol, since the thief was going to die before Jesus rose again.ChrisB said:The thief did not have the opportunity to be baptised and so I accept that baptism is the norm but it cannot be absolutely essential.