There are those who
teach that only faith In Jesus Christ is required to be saved and born again.
True faith is followed by works of faith after a confession of faith. Baptism in itself does not save a person from the eternal lake of fire.
Mark
16:15. And He said to them, "Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16.
"He who believes and is baptized will be
saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
The only one instance in the Bible where water baptism
wasn’t included in accepting Christ is the thief on the cross next to Jesus
before his death. He was obviously unable to perform this sacrament and the
Father is a merciful God whose grace is without measure. The thief did not go
straight to heaven, but died with Jesus and went down into Abraham's’ bosom
where our Lord preached to the saints before they were allowed to ascend into
heaven and thus completing the old covenant. So in this manner he was literally
baptized as he died with Christ, which is what baptism is symbolic of along
with the cleansing of unrighteousness which was John’s baptism.
Romans
6: 3. Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. 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.
Rising up out of the
water represents coming out of the water from your mothers womb, hence the term
“born again” and also to resurrect from the dead, having died to the old man
and becoming a new creation in Christ.
John
3:3. 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.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus
answered, 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. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto
thee, Ye must be born again. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and
thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the
Spirit.
Anyone fit and able must repent and be baptized as commanded by Jesus in order
to complete the being born again process. To repent is to change
direction or your ways toward the way of God.
1 Peter
3: 21. 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.
The main scriptural
argument of false teachers against the necessity of water baptism is found in 1
Corinthians 1:12.
Now
this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you?
or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14. I thank God that I
baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15. Lest any should say
that I had baptized in mine own name.
It is obvious that the apostle only wanted to make it clear
that he did not want to take the place of Christ and have people glorifying
that they were baptized into Paul. Jesus is the only name under heaven in which
one can be saved and baptized. This scripture also proves that Jesus did not
want all these differing denominations that all have their unique set of false
doctrines, never taking into account the Bible as a whole.
Luke
6:46. "But why
do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
There are also many who will say that we are not saved by
works. It is true that we cannot be saved by works
of the law, but works of faith after
believing are evidence of a person’s heart toward God. Those unwilling to do as
Jesus commanded are not saved.
James
2:17. Even so faith,
if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I
have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
It must also be noted
that there are many who make an outward show of works by being baptized,
partaking of the Lord’s supper, praying and attending church but inwardly they
do not have true faith in the Lord Jesus. Only God knows for certain the heart
of man.
I believe the
teaching that baptism is not necessary is false and straight from the devil to
keep people from receiving the Holy Spirit and having everlasting life in
heaven. Many times a well meaning pastor is only parroting doctrine he has been
taught by his elders or the commentaries of man and is being deceived. There are those who
are supposed great men of God who are wolves in sheep’s clothing, belonging to secret
societies who are being directed by their elders to impart false doctrine in a
subtle manner so as not to alert the imprudent believer who does not study the
bible as a Berean would. To oppose the false teachings of your pastor and heed
the teachings of Jesus is a bold, yet necessary step in confirming ones faith
in these last days of famine for hearing of the Word of God, which in most cases
leads to loneliness and isolation. Though we may suffer in these times our
reward in heaven will be great. Trust in the Lord and he will see you through
to the end of this age.
Matthew
3:11. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is
coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12.
"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His
threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.'' 13. Then Jesus came from
Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
Matthew 28:19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20.
"teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.'' Amen.
Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41. Then those who gladly
received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls
were added to them. 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers.
Luke 3:21. Now when all the
people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus
also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22. And
the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove
upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My
beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.''
Acts 8:12. But when they believed Philip as he preached
the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men
and women were baptized. 13. Then Simon himself
also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and
was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14. Now
when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15.
who, when they had come down, prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16. For
as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. 17. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36. Now
as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said,
"See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?''
37. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may.'' And he
answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God.''
38. So
he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 9:17. And Ananias went his way and entered the
house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'' 18.
Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he
received his sight at once; and he arose and was
baptized.
Acts 22:16. `And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Acts
16:31. So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved, you and your household.'' 32.
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his
house. 33. And he took them the
same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his
family were baptized.
Acts 18:8. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many
of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were
baptized.
John 3:22. After these things Jesus
and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.
John
14:21. "He
who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he
who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest
Myself to him.''
May God
bless you always
