Baptism for Salvation

[singnstitch]

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (Throughout this discussion, words of Jesus will be in red.)

John 3:5 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as our Lord our God shall call."

Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly recieved his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Who were Jesus and Peter speaking to? Everyone...you and me. Some people say it was only for the people who crucified Jesus. You and I crucified Jesus. Our sins put Him on the cross. Our hands are covered in HIs blood and His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we OBEY Him!

So what must we do to be saved? That is what the men asked Peter. He knew they believed, or they would not have asked the question "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:37

Mark 16:16 states, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned."

So, we need to believe and be baptized, according to Jesus. He that isn't baptized doesn't believe, and so, cannot be saved. This is simple. Easily read. Too many people don't like what Jesus has to say, so they reason it away.  "Well, we don't have to do that anymore." They say. Really? Where does it say that? There are a couple of scriptures that say we must confess Jesus...I agree we must do that!

Let's look at Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch...

Acts 8:29-39 "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgement was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  Them Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

We see how the eunuch confessed, but he still needed to be baptized. I love how the scriptures put it...and he preached unto him Jesus. The next and only question he asks after Philip has preached to him is about baptism; and Philip couples baptism with belief..."If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest."   Again, not hard to understand. Note that,  in preaching Jesus, he preaches baptism...in other words, you cannot separate teaching Jesus and teaching baptism...they go together!!

Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost..."

Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were Baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

Did you notice that he DID NOT say, "Everyone kneel and we'll say the Sinner's Prayer together!"?  Nope. Didn't happen. He would have saved everyone a wetting.  But there is no sinner's prayer. That is NOT how we are saved. 

Many people say that Saul of Tarsus was converted and became a Christian on the road to Damascus...I beg to differ. He believed, but he was not saved. How do I know? Let us read what Ananias says to Saul in Acts 22:16 "And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins."  What washes away our sins? Baptism. How does it do that?

This is where the rub is. This is what people don't understand. "How does baptism wash away our sins?"  I will try my best to explain...

John 19:34 "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

Hebrews 9 speaks of this very clearly, but I really don't wish to quote the whole chapter. Let us speak of what the chapter is speaking of, then I'll quote the verse I wish to focus on. The chapter is speaking of the foreshadowing of the Old Testament for the New. How by blood, the Hebrews were not condemned, but their sins were rolled forward to the foot of the Cross, and how Jesus blood santifies us now. Now read this, Hebrews 9: 19 "For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people.

Hebrews 9:20 "Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined to you."

So we see that blood and water were sprinkled on the Book of the Law and the people of God to sanctify them in the Old Testament, and it was mixed with water.

1 John 5:1-8 " Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory  that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is his the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

What did Peter say again? "Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, and recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost." 

When we are baptized, we touch the water, which is "mixed" with Jesus' blood (for the believer) and we recieve the Holy Ghost (or the Spirit).  Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of God...and this is how we enter into the kingdom!  No sinner's prayer (there isn't one found in scripture) and not belief only, not grace only, not anything ONLY! This is OUR part; Grace is GOD'S part. He cleanses us from DEAD WORKS, not the works of righteousness.

1 Peter 3:18-21 "For Christ  also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a-preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now save us (not the putting away of hte filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

When we are baptized, our consciences are now clean because our sins are removed.

So far, we have seen how believing, repenting, confessing, and baptism saves us. Now, let us look at grace...

Ephesians chapter 2 speaks of grace through faith. I do not dispute that at all! But when it speaks of  "not of works, lest any man should boast", it is talking about the dead works of the Old Testament. And not only that, but that God's Grace allowed Gentiles to be saved, who were before this time unclean and not allowed in the Temple, but are now saints and perveyors of the gospel. Ephesians 2:11-12 "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,  and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world,"

But look a couple of chapters over in Ephesians 4:1-6  "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all." 

He put baptism right in there with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!! We need faith and baptism to get into the kingdom of God. This is so very plain!

1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been made to drink into one Spirit "

Romans 6:3-8 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him."

So, if we are not "planted" with him in baptism, we cannot be resurrected with him unto eternal life.

I have taken EVERYTHING in context.  I have read almost whole chapters in some places to show this.  The evidence is irrefutable. The TRUTH is plain. I did not express my opinion, I just explained and highlighted what the Bible has to say. I didn't get this from any man's book or creed. I got this from my own study of God's Word. It is so plain, that a child could understand it. Why must we as adults make it complicated? God has His reasons why He chose this method for us. This is a painless method. He didn't ask us to climb the highest mountain, or cut ourselves with knives. He just asks that we be immersed in water and raised back out of it to live a new life in Him. Not hard. Now, what is stopping you?

 There is a part 2 to this...so please go to my profile page if you have questions.

Baptism for Salvation part 2, Questions answered...

[wahmoftwo]

Jan. 18, 2009 at 10:06 PM

 VERY well done! I'm impressed :)  I can tell you put a lot of hard work into that.  I think an awful lot of people believe that baptism isn't essential because that is what is easiest to believe.

[mummyshome]

Jan. 21, 2009 at 5:12 PM

Amen

[May-20]

Feb. 16, 2009 at 8:00 AM

Thank you for this!

[JESUSCARES4YOU2]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 2:37 PM

amazingly well done! THANKS FOR INVITING ME TO YOUR JOURAL. MAY YOU BE BLESSED.

 

[hinson7169]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 3:43 PM

Amen

[yovonna]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 3:51 PM

AMEN

[KaysMom06]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 6:38 PM

Im wondering if you are saying we have to be baptized in order to get to heaven? Then i ask of you, what about the man who was beside Jesus being crucified.. Jesus said he will be next to Him going into heaven. and the guy obviously didnt get baptized.. so I dont necessarily think you are totally right. Also, what about those who come to know Christ on their death beds.. I dont think Our Lord would not except us for that. I believe the verses you are stating was when John the Baptist was getting ready for Jesus to come and getting all the others ready to except Him. Jesus does say that we need to love Him and follow His commandments, but He is a forgiving God. Thats just my 2 cents and what I believe. The Lord knows how much I love Him, and every day I give myself to Him anew. That is me baptizing myself to Him and giving Him my life and the life of my family in his hands.

[KaysMom06]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 6:41 PM

I also just realize i spelt baptism wrong! lol so please excuse that. sorry.. those were also just my thoughts on the matter. I hope you didnt feel like i was being mean or trying to prove you wrong. I seriously hope i didnt come off that way! :)

[mamadita]

Mar. 10, 2009 at 6:55 PM

[Shari82]

Mar. 11, 2009 at 8:58 AM