ive been thinking about this a lot. i did some topic reading on baptism and i do believe in rightly diving the word of truth.
but mark 16:16, acts 2:38, romans 6:3-4, galatians 3:27, matthew 28:19 and 1 peter 3:21 look like baptism is part of the gospel and essential for salvation or atleast very very important.
Let's look at them.
Mark 16:[SUP]16 [/SUP]He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Since it is by not believing that a sinner is damned, then I have to look at that baptism as referring to the baptism of the Holy Ghost; not water baptism, since by believing in Him is how one is baptized by the Holy Ghost from the Father at their salvation in Jesus's name.
Acts 2:[SUP]36 [/SUP]Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.[SUP] 37 [/SUP]Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?[SUP] 38 [/SUP]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.
Since Peter was talking to the very Jews that had crucified their God & Saviour because they did not believe in Him, then the call to repentance is to believe in Him is how one receives the remission of sins. If we look to the gospel presented to the Gentiles, we can see that connection.
Acts 10:[SUP]43 [/SUP]To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.[SUP]44 [/SUP]While Peter yet spake these words,
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
This same Peter did not preach a different gospel; it is a common misreading of scripture to attribute the remission of sins to water baptism in Acts 2:38, but it was really attributing for the Jews that had crucified Jesus by unbelief to repent by believing in Him is how they got their remission of sins.
We see the Gentiles had received the promise of the Holy Spirit before coming forward, before confessing Him, and before water baptism because when they heard the word to believe in Him, they did that in receiving their remission of sins and the promise of the Holy Ghost.
So the promise of the Holy Spirit is given by believing in Him; not by water baptism. Water baptism by the Jews was an outward sign of confession to show that they are moving away from representing God in the Old Covenant which they could not do, to embrace the New Covenant in resting in Him of what God has done.
Romans 6:[SUP]3 [/SUP]Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?[SUP] 4 [/SUP]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.
Roman 6:3-4 is referring to the baptism of the Holy Ghost by the Father at their salvation; not water baptism.
Galatians 3:[SUP]4 [/SUP]That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.......[SUP]26 [/SUP]For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.[SUP]27 [/SUP]For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
In context, referring to the baptism of the Holy spirit received by faith in Jesus Christ; not by water baptism.
Matthew 28:[SUP]19 [/SUP]Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19 is the reference to water baptism as it is an ordinance for His disciples to do for new believers.
1 Peter 3:[SUP]20 [/SUP]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.[SUP] 21 [/SUP]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:
It is easy to misread verse 21 because of verse 20 testifying to Noah & family "saved by water" but if you read verse 21 with His help, water is what is used to put away the filth of the flesh, and so Peter is no longer referring to water in how one is saved, but by the answer of a good conscience towards God which is to believe in Him is how any one is saved.
Just as Noah & family believed God and got into the ark to be saved.
In both cases,
but then luke 24:47 acts 16:31 john 3:16 and romans 3:25 that dont mention baptism.
sorry guys i wont be posting all da verses i listed it would be too long of a message i think. ive been baptized btw so this isnt myself that im thinking of but just doctrine in da usual.
What is the role of baptism in salvation? Is it part of the Gospel for the church age in your opinion? i hope we dont start fighting about this.
I believe water baptism has nothing to do with salvation as Paul explained by testifying that God did not call him to baptize but preach the gospel so that by believing in the preaching of the cross, is the power of God in how we are saved. You can read for yourself how Paul did not make water baptism a priority when preaching the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:[SUP]14 [/SUP]I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;[SUP] 15 [/SUP]Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.[SUP] 16 [/SUP]And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.[SUP] 17 [/SUP]For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.[SUP] 18 [/SUP]For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God....[SUP]1 [/SUP]For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.