You attempt to negate all the passages in the Bible about water baptism being tied to salvation because of the lack of baptism in this one sentence given by Paul to the jailer???
It's not about negating passages in the Bible about water baptism. It's about putting water baptism in its proper place. Subsequent to salvation through faith. There are a handful of alleged proof texts that certain folks use to try and prove that baptism is absolutely required for salvation, yet after a careful examination of each of those texts in context will show that none of them prove that baptism is absolutely required for salvation, although they do prove that baptism was an assumed initiatory response to the gospel of salvation. In other words, those texts prove only that baptism is regularly associated with conversion and salvation, rather than absolutely required for salvation.
These Gentiles in Acts 10 received the gift of the Holy Spirit and were manifesting the spiritual gift of tongues from the Holy Spirit (which is ONLY for the body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12)
after believing the gospel but before
being water baptized. (
Acts 10:43-47) Now baptism was not considered an "optional extra" for these Gentiles; it was a command (
Acts 10:48) that they were expected to obey. However, it was not obedience to this command that saved them, but their believing in Christ for salvation. (
Acts 10:43) Once again in Acts 16:31, we read believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved apart from water baptism.
Just believe?
Where does this stop?
Just believe as if believing is insufficient for salvation? (John 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; 20:31; Acts 10:43; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 4:5; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 15:1-4; 1 John 5:13 etc..).
Repentance is a change of mind which precedes believing/faith in Christ. (Matthew 21:32; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21)
No need to confess Jesus as Lord?
The word of faith is in our mouth and in our heart TOGETHER (Romans 10:8) and confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separates to salvation but are chronologically together. (Romans 10:9,10) Confession of Jesus as Lord by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3) is a confirmation of faith and is not a work for salvation after one believes. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep personal conviction that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior. So, it's not believes
unto righteousness today (but still lost) then finally confesses Jesus next week and finally saved next week.
No need to believe that Jesus was physically raised from the dead?
Included in believing. (Romans 10:9; 15:7-9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
No need to believe the deity of Christ?
Included in believing. (John 1:1-14; 8:24; 20:31)
No need to believe that Jesus is the sole means of salvation?
Included in believing. (John 10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Was the jailer told that he must give up his idol worship?
In the context of
Luke 13:3, Jesus challenged the people's notion that they were morally superior to those who suffered in such catastrophes. He called all to
repent or perish. For some people though, prior to coming to the end result of repentance in receiving salvation (believing on the Lord Jesus Christ), they must change their minds about other specific things in order to get there. Repentance, metanoia, focuses on changing one's mind about his previous concept of God (as in
Acts 17:30) and disbelief in God or false beliefs (polytheism and idolatry) about God (
1 Thessalonians 1:9). On the other hand, this change of mind, focuses on the new direction that change about God must ultimately take, namely, trusting in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation.
Again, how does this sentence prove that water baptism is not for the remission of sins?
Because water baptism "in addition" to believing is not mentioned in Acts 16:31 and if water baptism was absolutely necessary for salvation, then God would not state in so many passages of scripture that man is saved when he simply
BELIEVES. (Luke 8:12; John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 4:5; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 5:13 etc..).