Is Water Baptism Really Necessary For Salvation?by Don Snow
Introduction
In this study I shall not spend a lot of time emphasizing the importance of
Christ’s Divine command of Faith in Him and His gospel message. However,
faith in Christ is very necessary for an accountable person to obtain
forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life. In fact, Jesus says in John
8:24, "...if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." And
in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God."
Also, I’ll not be emphasizing the importance of Repentance and turning from
sin which is certainly necessary for salvation. In fact, Jesus says in Luke
13:3, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." And in 2 Peter
3:9, "The Lord...is not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance."
Likewise, I’ll not emphasize the importance of Confessing Christ’s name
before others for salvation. Yet, Jesus says in Matthew 10:32-33 and Luke 12:8-9
that if we’ll confess Him before others, He will confess us before the
Heavenly Father, and the angels of God. But if we deny Him, He will likewise
deny us before the Heavenly Father, and the angels of God. However, I will
emphasize, in the spirit of love, what the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel
message have to say about water baptism.
I. Scriptures Referring To Baptism.
MATTHEW 28:19-20
After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He gave the Great
Commission by saying: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world."
Since the Lord commanded that baptism be done "in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", then baptism should be considered very
important in the hearts of those who believe in Christ and desire to obey God
for salvation.
MARK 16:15-16
Here Jesus says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
In these verses Jesus made two statements: one a positive statement, and
the other a negative statement. The positive statement is: "He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved." The negative statement is:
"He that believeth not shall be damned." However, some people
contend that since the Lord did not include the words "and is not
baptized" with the words "he that believeth not shall be damned",
then the first part of Mark 16:16 DOES NOT MEAN WHAT IT SAYS. But, do you really
think that someone will obey Christ’s command of baptism in water, if he doesn’t
believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Savior, and Son of God?
The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The
person who believes the gospel as a revelation from God and is baptized, takes
upon himself the profession of this good news, and thus obligates himself to
live according to its precepts. And he who "believes not" is rejecting the
only provision for his soul’s salvation and is going to die and face God with
his sins.
Of course, many who hold to salvation by "FAITH ONLY" quote John 3:15, "That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." But,
"should not perish" is a long way from "will not perish", because
one’s obedience to the Lord’s gospel is likewise necessary for eternal life
(Matthew 7:21- 23, Ephesians 2:10, I John 2:17).
ACTS 2:14 thru 39
In this chapter Peter preached of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and
return into heaven. After proclaiming this gospel message, Peter was asked by
some believers in Christ: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" To this
question Peter replied, "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 Spirit."(Acts 2:38) "...Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized...:" (v. 41). Then verse 47, "And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved" (KJV) OR "...those who were
being saved" (NKJV) (Please take note that even though these people were
BELIEVERS in Christ, they were still commanded by Peter to repent and be
baptized FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.).
Some people who promote salvation by "faith only" quote Acts 2:38, "repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins" and then argue that if "for" means to obtain remission of sins, then why did Jesus, after He had healed a
leper (Luke 5:13-14), tell him to "go, and shew thyself to the priest, and
offer FOR thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, FOR a testimony unto
them." Well, the answer to this question is that the words "for" in
these two verses of scripture are from different New Testament Greek words.
In Acts 2:38 the word "FOR the remission of sins" is referenced in the
Interlinear Greek- English New Testament with the Reference Number:
1519. In Luke 5:14 the first "FOR thy cleansing" is referenced in the
Interlinear Greek-English New Testament with a Reference Number: 4012, which
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says: "of the cause for (on account of) which a thing
is done, or of that which gave occasion for the action or occurrence". The
second "FOR a testimony" is referenced by Number: 1519 (the same
reference number used in Acts 2:38). Here the word "For" is a primary
preposition, indicating the point reached or entered.
Now it is still argued by some that one would not take two aspirin in order to
OBTAIN a headache. OF COURSE NOT! People take aspirin in order to remove a
headache, or obtain the release of a headache. Just as believers in Christ
repent and are baptized for the remission and forgiveness of sins!
While there are no saving chemicals in the waters of baptism, yet the person who
is willing to REPENT & turn from sin, CONFESS his or her BELIEF in Christ before
others, and OBEY the Lord’s command of BAPTISM in water, receives the
forgiveness of sin from God. And this forgiveness is available because of the
sacrifice of Christ and His gospel message.
ACTS 8, BEGINNING IN VERSE 26
In this scripture Philip, an evangelist, was instructed by an angel of the Lord
to make connection with the treasurer of Ethiopia. This Ethiopian had gone to
Jerusalem to worship God by the law of Moses. When Philip joined-up with the man
in his chariot, he asked Philip about the words recorded in Isaiah 53, which are
foretelling the sufferings of the coming Messiah by the hands of wicked people.
Then in verse 35 of Acts 8, the Bible reads: "Then 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 both 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."
Why did the Ethiopian man ask to be baptized? It is obvious that Philip had
explained to him the whole PLAN of God’s salvation, and the WAY by which
believers in Christ may be saved and brought into the Lord’s church. And so this
man, willing to surrender his heart, his will, and his affections to the Lord
and the truth of Christ’s gospel, said "See, here is water, what doth hinder
me to be baptized?"
ACTS 22
In order to properly appreciate what the Apostle Paul is saying in Acts 22, let
us go back and review the events prior to Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, beginning
in verse 1. At this time his name was Saul, and he was from the city of Tarsus.
Saul, with letters of authority in hand from the high priest, was on his way to
Damascus to arrest disciples of Christ and take them back to Jerusalem to be
punished and slaughtered (v.1). Accompanied by several men, Saul had come near
Damascus when a light shown about him and he fell to the ground, blinded. A
voice spoke to him, and when he inquired "Who art thou, Lord?", the Lord
replied, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks". (It was EVIDENT that Saul was fighting against the Lord
by aiding in the killing of Christ’s disciples). Saul asked, "Lord, what will
you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and
you will be told what you must do.’ " (Acts 9:6). For the next three days
Saul, still blind, did not eat nor drink but spent his time praying!
Here is a man who has had Jesus speak to him personally, has had a bright light
shine on him, has been struck blind, has fasted and prayed for three days, and
he is still waiting to be told what to do! Many people would tell you that Saul
was already saved. But, NO, that is not the case.
Jesus then speaks to a man named Ananias and tells him to go to Saul "for he
is a chosen vessel unto me." When an apprehensive Ananias entered into the
house where Saul was praying, he laid hands on Saul and immediately he received
his sight and he arose and was baptized (Acts 9:18). We get a more complete
picture of what happened in Acts 22, when the Apostle Paul recounts these events
to the people in Jerusalem and to the soldiers who had arrested him. He says in
verse 16 that Ananias said to him, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Hence, Paul was NOT saved on the road to Damascus if he was told by Ananias to
be baptized and "wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
ROMANS 6:3
The apostle Paul records these words: "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. "
Then Paul sums-up in verse 17, by saying: "But God be thanked, that ye were
the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants
of righteousness."
What is this "form of doctrine which was delivered", and how did
these Roman Christians obey a "form" of Christ’s doctrine,
"being then made free from sin"?? Well, the answer to this question is
given in I Corinthians 15:1- 4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the
gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye
stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:" So we see then, that the "form of doctrine"
was: (1) Christ DIED for our sins; (2) He was BURIED; and (3) He ROSE again.
Yes, these Romans (who had DIED to sin) had been BURIED in baptism into Christ
and His death, and had been RAISED from the waters of baptism to walk in newness
of life. And this was a "FORM or FIGURE" of Christ’s DEATH, BURIAL, AND
RESURRECTION for our salvation. Therefore, baptism in water completes and
manifests "The form of Christ’s doctrine" - "Being then made free from
sin."
I believe at this point the question should be considered: "WHEN and WHERE does
a person come in contact with the BLOOD AND DEATH of Jesus Christ?" Is the
contact made at the time of BELIEF in Christ, as some claim, or is it when a
PENITENT BELIEVER (a believer who is sorry and ashamed for doing wrong, and
is willing to change and make amends) is BAPTIZED by the authority and
command of Christ, the Lord? No doubt it is when the penitent believer is
obedient to the Lord’s command of baptism.
I PETER 3:21
This verse reads: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Here the "like
figure" is referring back to Noah and the other seven souls being "saved
by water", or through the substance of water (v. 20). Just as Noah and
his family were "saved by water" in the flood, we are now in
"the like figure" saved by baptism. Some may argue that this doesn’t
mean what it says, but we need to decide whether we will believe a church’s
creed and doctrine or believe what the Bible says.
It is true that water, ITSELF, does not save a sinner, just as water, ITSELF,
did not heal Naaman of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1 thru 14) when he was commanded
to go and dip seven (7) times in the Jordan River and he would be healed. The
forgiveness comes as a result of our willingness to OBEY God’s command. God will
forgive and save because of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, who gave this command, because He is the promised Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
ACTS 10
In these verses of scripture the Bible states that the apostle Peter went and
preached the gospel of Christ to Cornelius, his relatives, and friends. Then in
verse 44 it reads that the "Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the
word." "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter (these were six Jewish brethren - Acts 11:12, D.S.),
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost"
(v. 45).
Some people use this scripture to ASSUME and ARGUE that these Gentiles were
saved by the Holy Spirit EVEN BEFORE THEY HAD HEARD THE WORDS BY WHICH THEY
SHALL BE SAVED (Acts 10:6 & Acts 11:14). So these people go to great lengths
in declaring that Peter preached a message, and during (or when the message
ended), the Holy Ghost came upon them and saved them because they believed in
Jesus for their salvation. Therefore, their conclusion is that Cornelius and his
household were saved before they ever got water baptized. However, this
reasoning and argument forces a deception or a contradiction within the
Word of God:
1st, we’re told in Acts 10:5-6, "And now send men to Joppa, and
call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner,
whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest TO DO.
(King James Version). Then in Acts 11:13-14 Peter rehearsed this event (with
Cornelius) to the Jewish brethren by saying: "And he shewed us how he had
seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa,
and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby
thou and all thy house shall be saved."
2ndly, we’re told in Acts 10:44, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on them which heard the word." Later when Peter rehearsed this
event to the Jewish brethren in Acts 11:15, he says, "And as I began to
speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning" (KJV).
The New King James Version reads:
"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the
beginning." The American Standard Version reads, "And as I began to
speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning." The
New International Version reads, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came
on them as he had come on us at the beginning." Of course, I don’t know what
you think the words "AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK" mean, but I understand
them to mean: AS I STARTED, BEGAN, COMMENCED, EMBARKED, INITIATED, OR HAD
SCARCELY BEGUN TO SPEAK -- (Defined by Webster’s Dictionary & Thayer’s Greek
Lexicon, REF. # 757) . However, the statement: "as he had come on us at the
beginning", is referring back to the day of Pentecost, Acts 2, verses 3 & 4.
3rdly, we’re told in Acts 10: verses 45 thru 48 that the six Jewish brethren who
went with Peter were "ASTONISHED" at this event, "because that
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard
them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ‘Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the
Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days".
If it’s really true that the Holy Spirit saved Cornelius and his household when
He came upon them as Peter began to speak the gospel of Christ, as some claim,
then these Gentiles got saved before they ever heard what they oughtest (or
must) do to be saved. Therefore, this argument and doctrine that the Holy
Spirit saved them makes the word of God meaningless which says: "Who
shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.". In
fact, if this reasoning and argument is true, then God could have sent the Holy
Spirit and saved Cornelius and his household without them ever seeing Peter, or
even hearing and obeying the words of the gospel message of Christ "whereby
thou and all thy house shall be saved." Because in Acts 10:2, it says that
Cornelius was already a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave
alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
No, this coming of the Holy Spirit was not to save Cornelius and his household
who were Gentiles, as some reason and argue. They were going to be TOLD WORDS
WHEREBY THEY COULD BE SAVED. This direct coming of the Holy Spirit (or baptism
of the Holy Spirit) from God, as Peter BEGAN his gospel sermon, was no doubt to
show (and convince) the Jewish brethren in Christ of God’s acceptance of
Gentiles. It was to show that the Gentile people have every right to obey the
gospel of Christ, to receive remission of sins and be saved, to be a part of the
Lord’s church just as the Jews, and to be allowed to glorify and worship God in
spirit and truth (John 4:24). Therefore, Peter asks in verse 47 of Acts 10,
"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received
the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he COMMANDED THEM to be baptized in the
name of the Lord." Friends, I don’t think you COMMAND someone to do
something that is an option, a choice, and is not necessary for salvation.
Therefore, in Acts 11:1 thru18 when Peter rehearsed this matter to the brethren
in Judea and expounded it by order unto them, they said "Then hath God also
to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
ACTS 16:25 thru 34
In these verses the Philippian Jailer is saved. Please read Acts 16, verses 16
thru 34 to understand the situation. Now the gist of this scripture is
that the jailer asked: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul
and Silas answered "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house." (Then notice) "And they spake unto him the word of
the Lord, and to all who were in his house (v. 32). And he took them the same
hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all
his family were baptized." Friends, does this not sound as if the jailer and
his family are showing evidence of repentance? Therefore, if baptism is not
necessary for salvation and the jailor was already saved by belief, then why did
the jailor and his family go the same hour of the night and get baptized? Why
didn’t they just wait until morning, or some convenient time later?
II. BAPTISM NECESSARY TO PUT ONE INTO CHRIST.
GALATIANS 3:27
In this scripture it reads: "For as many of you as were baptized INTO Christ
have put on Christ" Some argue that since there are plural baptisms
mentioned in Hebrews 6:2, then "this baptism doesn’t necessarily mean water
baptism in order to put one into Christ". Yes, there is:
1. The baptism of Moses mentioned in I Corinthians 10:1-2.
2. The baptism of John the Baptist mentioned in Matthew 3:1-12.
3. The figurative baptism of pain and suffering that Jesus went through
mentioned in Matthew 20:22-23.
4. The baptism of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Matthew 3:11, as well as the
baptism of fire mentioned in Matthew 3:11.
5. Then there is the Lord’s Baptism mentioned in 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 Spirit." Now which "baptism" do you think
puts one INTO Christ, where salvation and forgiveness of sins are available?
EPHESIANS 4:4-5
Here we’re told that: "There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one
faith, ONE BAPTISM, and one God and Father of all." Again, which "one
baptism" do you think puts a person INTO Christ??
ROMANS 6:3
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized INTO Jesus Christ, were
baptized INTO his death?" (Capital letters are mine, DS). Here the ‘faith
only" argument is made that "a person who is already saved identifies with
Christ’s death, burial and resurrection in a symbolic way." No, to be
baptized INTO Christ means to enter into a vital and important union with
Christ, and be found in Him. However, the important question is: "What
must I do to get INTO Christ and be saved?" Is it belief only that saves and
puts one into Christ? In James 2:19 it reads, "Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Are demons
put INTO Christ because they believe and tremble? I don’t think so! But what
about sinners? How do sinners get into Christ for salvation? By belief only???
I 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 all made to drink INTO one
Spirit."
Here the argument is made by some people that it’s not the waters of baptism
that puts a person into one body, but "by one Spirit". However,
the meaning might be that those believing Jews and Gentiles had become members
of the one body of Christ, the church (Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22-23 & Colossians
1:18), because they had been obedient to Christ’s command of water baptism (read
I Cor., chapter 1). Therefore, by means of the "one Spirit"
they had been put into the one body of Christ, because they had obeyed the
gospel message of Christ, and had been made to drink into one Spirit. But, let’s
keep in mind, too, that THIS was all made possible because of the death, burial,
and resurrection of Christ!
III. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORDS: "INTO" and
"UNTO".
The word "INTO" means or suggests: ‘IN, INSIDE, or WITHIN’. The
word "UNTO" means or suggests: ‘TO or TOWARD’
ROMANS 10:10
"For with the heart man believeth UNTO righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made UNTO salvation.
The heart or mind of a person is where the fountain or seat of one’s thoughts,
desires, purposes and endeavors dwell. It is here (in the heart) that a person
believes UNTO righteousness through the God-given gospel of Christ. And with the
mouth of that person the faith of his heart is openly confessed UNTO salvation.
But notice that both BELIEF is "unto righteousness" and CONFESSION
is "unto salvation", not "INTO".
ROMANS 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God UNTO
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, ‘The just shall live by faith’" In 2 Timothy 3:15, "And that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise UNTO salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
The gospel message of Christ is the power or means of God to save the soul of a
sinner, but it requires obedience to the gospel message through faith in order
to receive God’s blessings and salvation. In fact, it reads in 2 Thessalonians
1:7-10, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall
be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance
on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in
his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony
among you was believed) in that day."
I PETER 1:3-5
Peter speaking to Christians says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again UNTO
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith UNTO salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time."
This inheritance is reserved for those who are kept safe by God’s power (Romans
1:16-17) through faith, so that they endure to the end. But read and consider
God’s "whole armor" for the Christian recorded in Ephesians
6:10 thru 18, so that the child of God may be kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation.
Right here it’s important that we keep in mind whether something (whatever it
might be) is "UNTO" OR "INTO". In fact, Jesus told the Christians in the church
at Smyrna that they would suffer tribulation, poverty, and even prison, but
"be thou faithful UNTO death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation
2:10)."
I PETER 2:9
Here speaking to Christians, Peter says: "But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth
the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness INTO his marvelous light"
"Darkness" is an ‘emblem of ignorance, sin and misery’. "Marvelous
light" is an ‘emblem
of love, goodness, righteousness, and salvation’. This "marvelous light" is
given to us through Jesus Christ. But we come into this "marvelous light"
through our knowledge and obedience to Christ’s gospel commands and examples
(Matt. 7:21- 29 and Eph. 2:10).
Now when Philip and the treasurer of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26 thru 39) "went down
both INTO the water", after the man had confessed with his mouth "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God", (and was BAPTIZED by Philip)
did they go ‘to or toward’ the water? Or did they physically go ‘in,
inside, within’ the water? AND if one today is baptized INTO Christ and His
death, does this person go ‘toward’ Christ and His death, or does he go
spiritually ‘within’ Christ, and His death? Of course, scriptural BAPTISM
means to dip, plunge, or immerse a person into Christ. Recorded history reveals
that "sprinkling" for BAPTISM was first introduced by common men into the Lord’s
church about 250 A.D. (page 34, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH Through the Ages, Robert
H. Brumback). However, with "sprinkling" and "pouring" you only have to go
"UNTO" the water, not immersed "INTO" the water.
CLOSING REMARKS
Today, and in times past, some people have attempted to disparage baptism by
quoting the words of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 1:17 which read: "For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." Instead of
considering the context, these people think this scripture weakens or nullifies
the importance of baptism in our salvation. This is not the case, however. This
scripture is only showing the division of labor. Paul’s principal mission, as an
apostle of Christ, was to preach the gospel. It was he who had been endowed by
the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word of God. Others could do the baptizing of
those penitent believers. While Paul had personally baptized a few, yet he did
not want others to think that he had baptized in his own name (v. 15), or was
bragging of numbers.
God loves everyone, and is not willing that any should perish. And it’s your
decision whether you will BELIEVE in Christ, REPENT of sins, CONFESS the name of
Jesus Christ as the Son of God, be BAPTIZED in water for the remission of sins,
WALK in newness of life, and WORSHIP God in spirit and in truth.
And while you may say that "water baptism is not necessary for salvation",
or declare that "a person can be baptized MANY times and it wouldn’t do
him or her a nickel’s worth of good", yet the scriptures still read TO
AN ACCOUNTABLE, RESPONSIBLE PERSON: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit" - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved:" - "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 Spirit." - "Arise and
be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - "The
like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us,..." - "And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."
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