Indeed, and also why they are unchurched. I have encountered unchurched people here on CF who argued with me church membership is unnecessary if you can believe it.
I'd love to have that discussion at some point but understand CF rules prohibit disagreements on theological discussion if one is not part of a specific faith group. I guess I could be considered part of the group here as I do attend a Wesleyan church, but who knows.
I'd like to get back to Baptism though if I may. But before I do I want to preface this by stating what follows is MY UNDERSTANDING of scriptures. It may come across as me preaching or being argumentative but it is not meant that way. I feel to accurately explain myself and my view I need to expound of it a bit. What follows may ruffle some feathers, I certainly hope not. Again I'm not trying to argue, if you disagree with me that is fine, and again it's not even about that. Merely explaining my understanding so we can have a better basis for discussion. If I'm off may we be able to discuss it in a manner that is wholesome and civil, please!
I appreciate the responses and have kept silent for a while to let the discussion play out some. I can honestly say I'm no believer that babies should be baptized if only because to me reading the scriptures, baptism is something a person does with repentance. An argument can be made that Cornelius could have had some children baptized but I don't think scriptures explicitly state he had children of infant age. It just says he was a centurion and his whole household feared God. Again I'm not saying that he didn't have children. I'm merely pointing out that it only states his household. That could have been him, a spouse, grown children, and/or servants. A centurion would no doubt have children of an older age as they would be experienced Soldiers, experience = age. Now we know he had servants because he sent servants to fetch Simon. Outside of that, we know Cornelius had invited over relatives and close friends. So we know, from scripture people present were servants, friends, relatives, and some Soldiers. Anything other is conjecture and to me not the best basis for forming a doctrine. Again, not trying to argue, just explaining my position on it.
Now as far as baptism being a sacrament or ordinance. I view it as more than an ordinance. Maybe even more than a sacrament, but it's certainly closer to a sacrament than an ordinance to me. From scripture Jesus says you MUST be born of WATER and the Spirit to see the kingdom of God, or born again. Must be. As others have pointed out, Paul says in Romans 6 that we die to our old self in baptism. He writes in Ephesians that we (as a church) are cleansed by the water. He writes in Colossians that baptism is a spiritual circumcision. That's where this gets interesting. We know that Old Testament scriptures were foreshadows of the New Testament. In the Old Testament, you had to be circumcised in order to be a part of God's covenant. But that was a physical process, one that if I explained here I'd be banned from CF so I'll leave it at that. But you had to be. Even at the time of Acts Jewish Christians were trying to convince Gentiles to be circumcised physically before they could join the covenant. I think they were close, but just not physical circumcision. In Deuteronomy 10 Moses tells the people.of Israel to circumcise their hearts so they may fear God and follow him. That is the cornerstone of scripture for this deal to me. So circumcision is necessary to be in covenant, but it's a circumcision of the heart. Which is done when a person is baptized.
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:11-12 ESV
The other aspect of baptism I think about is that we, as believers are called priests of God. Peter (1 Peter 2:5, 9), John (Rev 1:6) and the author of Hebrews writes about this. Before priests were allowed to minister or even enter the Tabernacle or Temple to offer sacrifices they had to be washed with water (Exodus 40:20). So I think along the same lines of foreshadowing, before we can offer sacrifices that are acceptable to God (Rom 12:1, Heb 10:20-22, Heb 13:15-16) we must be washed with water.
So is it necessary for salvation? I would say like this. The thief on the cross clearly wasn't baptized so the immediate and logical answer would be no, because if God didn't require it of him he won't require it of anyone else. I'd say that may be partially true, but scriptures make it clear that baptism is commanded. If we begin our journey of faith with disobedience we show our heart is still not right with God, Jesus said why do you call me Lord and do not do the things I say? (Matt 7:21, Luke 6:46). The thief clearly could not come down off the cross to be baptized, not to mention Jesus had still not died yet, so technically they were still under the Old Covenant at the moment of that conversation. The New Covenant began with the shedding of His blood and resurrection.
Clearly, baptism is a public declaration of faith. There are stories about how Romans would stand at baptisms and take down names of those being baptized so the state could confiscate their possessions and belongings. So back then, it was more than just a welcome to the church thing. It had real world consequences and Jesus told his believers that they should not be ashamed of him publicly.
Also as clear as the gospel was preached with baptism in mind. Peter said repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Phillip told the Eunuch about Jesus and the first thing the Eunuch wants to do is get baptized, so clearly what Philip told him had something to do with baptism. Paul was baptized and baptized the disciples of John in Acts 19 after telling them about Jesus. I just don't see baptism as being anything less than a necessary and vital step to becoming of Christ (or a Christian).
The last aspect of this that gets mentioned is God's grace. Ephesians 2:8-9, we are saved by grace through faith. People think I speak of a works based gospel for salvation which is just not true. We are saved by God's grace, yes. But faith is the vehicle that delivers grace to us. Without faith, there is no grace. And faith in the Bible without some act to demonstrate it is absolutely useless and not valid (Hebrews 11; James 2:14-26, 1 John 3:18) and Baptism in itself, if it is done without faith will not save. Jesus says in Mark 16, those who believe and are baptized will be saved, but those who do not believe will be condemned. Belief is shown and exercised in baptism. But without belief, not even baptism will save. But also, belief without a demonstration of said belief is also equally useless. Jesus prescribes to us how we demonstrate saving faith, baptism in water.