Short study on Baptism not being a neccessity

[christian-only]

First off, before a person can truly baptized, he must already be saved.

Salvation is to have your sins forgiven. You will note that in Acts 2 Peter commands the Jews to be baptized "so that your sins may be forgiven" (NRSV) meaning that they were not forgiven until baptism. Again, although Paul had believed 3 days earlier, Ananias commanded in Acts 22:16 "be baptized, and have your sins washed away," meaning that Paul's sin also were not forgiven until baptism. We see then in both cases that they were not saved until baptism.

Why is a person baptized?

According to Peter, the apostle, "so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38 NRSV) Also, according to Paul, the apostle, "IF we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, THEN we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" or as these word mean, "IF we have been baptized, THEN we shall also receive the forgiveness of sins."

What age is a person baptized?

Whenever they confess their belief, as we find in Acts 8:37 "If you believe with all your heart, you may."

Does it have to be clean water, or can it be a river?

I seem to recall Naaman complaining that the Jordan was filthy compared to the rivers of his own land (2 Ki 5:12), and yet John used it to baptize in. (John 1:28) Whatever water is used is clean by virtue of the Spirit's involvement in baptism.

How can it be done, sprinkle, immersion, pouring?

All instances in Scripture are by immersion, both the baptizer and baptizee going down into the water and coming up out of the water. Besides, Paul refers to it in Col 2:12 and other places as being BURIED with Christ, and burial is certainly immersion.

Who can baptize?

I don't see any restriction in Scripture on who can baptize, but only on who is to be baptized, how, and what one must believe while being baptized in order that the Holy Spirit does operate on him during his baptism.