Yes, I fully agree that water baptism IS IMPORTANT for every new believer...........BUT it is NOT what cleanses us of our sin, or gives us salvation.
People who preach Acts 2:38 almost ALWAYS leave out "REPENT..........." Why? Well because that doesn't fit their ideology.
It us upon repentance that the precious blood of Jesus shed on Calvary's Cross is applied cleansing us of our sins. This conversion is a SPIRITUAL event. Man (with his eyes) cannot SEE this Spiritual change in a new believers life/heart/spirit.
Thus water baptism is important, for it SERVES as a declaration by the new believer to the Church and to the world that they have become a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ...........it is a symbolic "work" (and should be the first work after salvation) of the Spiritual conversion of a new believer. This is why it is very important. Jesus said to do it, and Jesus said HOW to do it........either we obey His Commandment, or we don't..........choice is (as always) ours.
Our Spiritual burial with Jesus and our Spiritual resurrection with Jesus CANNOT be seen with the human eye........thus water baptism becomes the "visible" symbol of this event.
God bless
People who preach Acts 2:38 almost ALWAYS leave out "REPENT..........." Why? Well because that doesn't fit their ideology.
It us upon repentance that the precious blood of Jesus shed on Calvary's Cross is applied cleansing us of our sins. This conversion is a SPIRITUAL event. Man (with his eyes) cannot SEE this Spiritual change in a new believers life/heart/spirit.
Thus water baptism is important, for it SERVES as a declaration by the new believer to the Church and to the world that they have become a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ...........it is a symbolic "work" (and should be the first work after salvation) of the Spiritual conversion of a new believer. This is why it is very important. Jesus said to do it, and Jesus said HOW to do it........either we obey His Commandment, or we don't..........choice is (as always) ours.
Our Spiritual burial with Jesus and our Spiritual resurrection with Jesus CANNOT be seen with the human eye........thus water baptism becomes the "visible" symbol of this event.
God bless