Do All Religions Lead To God?

[OMC]

Please consider the following in regards to Paul's comment about water baptism:

What did Paul mean by his comment that he was not sent to baptize? (1Cor. 1:17) Paul’s statement must be read in context. The Corinthian believers were dividing themselves into groups according to the leaders they followed. Paul reminded them that they had been baptized in Jesus' name, not his own. His calling was to preach the gospel; he was not seeking a following based on who had personally performed their baptisms (1 Corinthians 1:10–17).

Scripture informs us that Paul preached the need to be water baptized but rarely performed the actual water baptisms himself. Consider Paul mentions Crispus by name as one of those that he did personally baptize (! Cor. 1:14). A look at the circumstances around the baptism of Crispus provides insight. The scripture reference is Acts 18:6-10. The record shows that Crispus and ALL of those of his household and MANY Corinthians believed Paul's message and were baptized (verse 8). This verse alone confirms Paul’s message included the need to be water baptized. So on that occasion, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, was the only one that Paul actually baptized himself (1 Cor. 1:14). It is clear that someone else was with Paul and performed the other water baptisms. Further it should be noted that on that very night the Lord gave Paul a vision. He told him to continue speaking/sharing the message without fear (Acts 18:9-10).

Acts 18:6-10
“And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."
(Paul’s comments in 1 Cor. 1:14 establish that this was water baptism.)

"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

Further evidence that confirms NT water baptism is essential is found in Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 8:35-40, 10:44-48, 16:14-15, 16:28-33, 18:6-10, 19:1-6, 22:16. And before Paul began his own ministry Ananias commanded he be baptized to wash away his sins calling upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Furthermore, Paul re-baptized men in the name of Jesus who had formerly been baptized by John the Baptist. This account reveals the absolute necessary for people to obey the NT command of water baptism in the name of Jesus as it relates to His death, burial and resurrection (Acts 19:1-7). We know the referenced baptism is water baptism because it was afterward at the laying on of hands that they received the Holy Ghost. Also of great significance is the fact that the message that began a Pentecost was still being preached 20+ years later; everyone is to be baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin (Acts 2:38).

The recorded events reveal Paul understood water baptism was part of the gospel message. As such, Paul’s comment then could not have been intended to mean what some mistakenly believe.

You’re stacking narrative texts into a salvation‑mechanism they never claim.
In 1 Corinthians 1:13–17 Paul’s whole point is that the cross of Christ—not who baptized whom—is the power of God;
if water baptism were a condition of eternal life, saying “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” would be nonsense, because he’d be saying he wasn’t sent to perform what allegedly completes salvation.
Acts shows what believers did, not a new list of conditions for justification:
in Acts 18:8 “many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized”—belief is the hinge, baptism the confession.
Same pattern in Acts 2:38–41: Peter ties remission of sins to repentance and to the name of Jesus Christ, not to the physical water; the “gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38) and “receiving the Holy Ghost” after water (Acts 8:15–17; 10:44–48; 19:2–6) prove that Spirit‑baptism is the saving union (1 Corinthians 12:13), while water is the outward obedience.
Acts 22:16 uses covenant language—“wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”—and the washing is consistently tied to Christ’s blood and the word (Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 5:26), not to the liquid itself.
Jesus defines the New Covenant “in My blood” (Luke 22:20), says eternal life is given to those who believe (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47), and in Mark 16:16 He condemns “he that believeth not,” not “he that is not baptized,” which makes unbelief the damning issue.
Hebrews 5:9, Luke 6:46, James 1:22 all insist that real faith obeys, but none of them insert water baptism as a term of the covenant; they guard against dead faith, not add a ritual to the definition of the gospel.
The world‑system you’re echoing is sacramentalism—treating a sign as the saving cause—while the text keeps the cause in Christ’s death and resurrection, received by faith, and puts water where it belongs: commanded, serious, public obedience, but never the door into eternal life.

 

[Revelation1v8]

You’re stacking narrative texts into a salvation‑mechanism they never claim.
In 1 Corinthians 1:13–17 Paul’s whole point is that the cross of Christ—not who baptized whom—is the power of God;
if water baptism were a condition of eternal life, saying “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” would be nonsense, because he’d be saying he wasn’t sent to perform what allegedly completes salvation.
Acts shows what believers did, not a new list of conditions for justification:
in Acts 18:8 “many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized”—belief is the hinge, baptism the confession.
Same pattern in Acts 2:38–41: Peter ties remission of sins to repentance and to the name of Jesus Christ, not to the physical water; the “gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38) and “receiving the Holy Ghost” after water (Acts 8:15–17; 10:44–48; 19:2–6) prove that Spirit‑baptism is the saving union (1 Corinthians 12:13), while water is the outward obedience.
Acts 22:16 uses covenant language—“wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”—and the washing is consistently tied to Christ’s blood and the word (Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 5:26), not to the liquid itself.
Jesus defines the New Covenant “in My blood” (Luke 22:20), says eternal life is given to those who believe (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47), and in Mark 16:16 He condemns “he that believeth not,” not “he that is not baptized,” which makes unbelief the damning issue.
Hebrews 5:9, Luke 6:46, James 1:22 all insist that real faith obeys, but none of them insert water baptism as a term of the covenant; they guard against dead faith, not add a ritual to the definition of the gospel.
The world‑system you’re echoing is sacramentalism—treating a sign as the saving cause—while the text keeps the cause in Christ’s death and resurrection, received by faith, and puts water where it belongs: commanded, serious, public obedience, but never the door into eternal life.

Absolutely. Water baptism isn't the only cleansing agent in the Bible either.

Ephesians 5:24-27

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


John 15:1-3

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

 

[ScooterJackson]

They hide behind user names.

Well they're doing what you are doing

 

[Wansvic]

You’re stacking narrative texts into a salvation‑mechanism they never claim.
In 1 Corinthians 1:13–17 Paul’s whole point is that the cross of Christ—not who baptized whom—is the power of God;
if water baptism were a condition of eternal life, saying “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” would be nonsense, because he’d be saying he wasn’t sent to perform what allegedly completes salvation.
Acts shows what believers did, not a new list of conditions for justification:
in Acts 18:8 “many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized”—belief is the hinge, baptism the confession.
Same pattern in Acts 2:38–41: Peter ties remission of sins to repentance and to the name of Jesus Christ, not to the physical water; the “gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38) and “receiving the Holy Ghost” after water (Acts 8:15–17; 10:44–48; 19:2–6) prove that Spirit‑baptism is the saving union (1 Corinthians 12:13), while water is the outward obedience.
Acts 22:16 uses covenant language—“wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”—and the washing is consistently tied to Christ’s blood and the word (Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 5:26), not to the liquid itself.
Jesus defines the New Covenant “in My blood” (Luke 22:20), says eternal life is given to those who believe (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47), and in Mark 16:16 He condemns “he that believeth not,” not “he that is not baptized,” which makes unbelief the damning issue.
Hebrews 5:9, Luke 6:46, James 1:22 all insist that real faith obeys, but none of them insert water baptism as a term of the covenant; they guard against dead faith, not add a ritual to the definition of the gospel.
The world‑system you’re echoing is sacramentalism—treating a sign as the saving cause—while the text keeps the cause in Christ’s death and resurrection, received by faith, and puts water where it belongs: commanded, serious, public obedience, but never the door into eternal life.

How does one determine what the New Testament rebirth entails if not by the apostles’ preaching and the responses recorded in Acts? Jesus said one must be born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). Acts shows how the apostles told people to respond after Jesus’ resurrection. When the crowd asked Peter, “What shall we do?” he answered, “Repent AND be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” and promised the gift of the Holy Spirit (scriptures elsewhere reveal receiving the Holy Ghost is a separate experience). Peter made it clear that the same promise extended to their children and to all whom the Lord would call, even those “far off” (Acts 2:39). Those who received his word were baptized. That is a preached command with the stated purpose of having one's sins remitted, followed by an account of people obeying it—not an event from which I have invented a condition.

As I mentioned, the connection to sins being washed away appears as well when Ananias tells Paul, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Peter also says that baptism “now saves you,” explaining that its power is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not through washing off dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21). Paul also described being buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him through faith in the working of God (Col. 2:12). Therefore scripture makes it clear that a believer obeys Christ and calls on His name in baptism, and God does the saving and forgiving. I am not claiming the water has power of its own.

Relevant as well is that Jude says we are to contend for the faith once/first delivered to the saints. The apostles’ commands and consistent practice are part of the witness to that faith. If baptism in Jesus’ name is only a later public symbol, how do you account for Peter connecting it to forgiveness in Acts 2:38 and Ananias connecting it to washing away sins in Acts 22:16?

In Acts 10, Peter states that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 10:43). The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius’s household before water baptism, yet Peter still commanded them to be water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:44–48). Read with Peter’s instruction to be baptized in Jesus Christ’s name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and Ananias’s instruction to Paul to be baptized and wash away his sins calling on the Lord’s name (Acts 22:16), Acts 10 fits the understanding that believers call on Jesus’ name upon obedience to water baptism and trust Him to forgive. As I say again, I am not claiming the water itself removes sin. I am pointing out that scripture does not reduce baptism to a public symbol when the apostles both commanded it and connected it with forgiveness.

Lastly, take notice of what the timing of the letter to the Corinthians, you referenced, further reveals. Paul states he is in Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:8), where Acts records him instructing men who had been previously baptized by John of the need to be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 19:1–6). It makes better sense to read 1 Corinthians 1:17 as a distinction between Paul’s primary calling to preach and the act of personally baptizing everyone—not as a reversal of the baptism practiced in his ministry.

 

[Wansvic]

Absolutely. Water baptism isn't the only cleansing agent in the Bible either.

Ephesians 5:24-27

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


John 15:1-3

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

I am interested in what you believe washing of water by the word in verse 26 actually means.

 

[Revelation1v8]

I am interested in what you believe washing of water by the word in verse 26 actually means.

The Word is the word of God and it is Jesus Himself (John 1:1-3). Only Jesus can cleanse people, but then the Holy Spirit enters us after we've been cleansed by Jesus to regenerate us (must be born of water and of spirit). As for God's word (Bible), I know many people who have become washed, cleansed, saved, just purely by reading God's word and letting the Holy Spirit do His work for it to make sense and strike a nerve with us. We can't underestimate how powerful just the reading (or hearing) of God's word can be for some people.

 

[Wansvic]

The Word is the word of God and it is Jesus Himself (John 1:1-3). Only Jesus can cleanse people, but then the Holy Spirit enters us after we've been cleansed by Jesus to regenerate us (must be born of water and of spirit). As for God's word (Bible), I know many people who have become washed, cleansed, saved, just purely by reading God's word and letting the Holy Spirit do His work for it to make sense and strike a nerve with us. We can't underestimate how powerful just the reading (or hearing) of God's word can be for some people.

So you don't think believing and obedience to what the Word actually reveals go hand in hand?

 

[Revelation1v8]

So you don't think believing and obedience to what the Word actually reveals go hand in hand?

They absolutely go hand in hand.

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 4:4 - And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

 

[ScooterJackson]

So you don't think believing and obedience to what the Word actually reveals go hand in hand?

Many believe Christians can live in disobedience to the Lord and still be saved.

That of course is a teaching the devil brought in through the reformers.

 

[mailmandan]

Many believe Christians can live in disobedience to the Lord and still be saved.

That of course is a teaching the devil brought in through the reformers.

1 John 3:7 - Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8. the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

 

[Revelation1v8]

Many believe Christians can live in disobedience to the Lord and still be saved.

That of course is a teaching the devil brought in through the reformers.

What is your definition of "reformer"? And what does that make you?

 

[ScooterJackson]

What is your definition of "reformer"? And what does that make you?

Those following Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, et al of which I am not.

I follow the Lord Jesus, not these false teachers the devil used to twist scripture and to bring in philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

 

[ScooterJackson]

1 John 3:7 - Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8. the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Exactly!

 

[Revelation1v8]

1 John 3:7 - Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8. the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

I think verse 9 needs a little more context. As humans, we are all still sinners until such time that we are removed from the earth. We can't scare people from the faith my allowing them to believe that any and every little sin ever committed means that you don't belong to God/Jesus. While we are all expected to live obediently, we're not going to be condemned for having sinned after we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The only way we are made perfect in God's eyes is by looking at us through the lens of Jesus Christ as the following verses show:

The Great Exchange​

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
• Romans 5:19 – "Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
• Isaiah 61:10 – "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness."

Presented Perfect Before God​

• Colossians 1:22 – "He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
• Ephesians 1:4 – "He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
• Hebrews 10:14 – "By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
• 1 Peter 1:15–16 – "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

The Mediator Who Makes It Possible​

• 1 Timothy 2:5 – "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
• Hebrews 9:15 – "He is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance."
• Hebrews 8:6 – "He is also Mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises."
• Hebrews 12:24 – "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
• 1 Peter 3:18 – "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

Justified and Accepted by God​

• Romans 5:1 – "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Romans 5:9 – "Since we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."
• Romans 8:34 – "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
• 1 John 2:1 – "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
• Hebrews 7:25 – "He is always living to intercede for them."

"In Christ" — God Sees Us as Christ

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come."
• Galatians 3:27 – "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
• Philippians 3:9 – "Be found in him… the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
• 1 John 3:7 – "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous."
• Ephesians 2:13 – "You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
• Hebrews 10:19–20 – "We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body."

 

[Revelation1v8]

Those following Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, et al of which I am not.

I follow the Lord Jesus, not these false teachers the devil used to twist scripture and to bring in philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

That doesn't answer my question. What path are you following that makes you different from them?

Are you Catholic?

 

[mailmandan]

I think verse 9 needs a little more context. As humans, we are all still sinners until such time that we are removed from the earth. We can't scare people from the faith my allowing them to believe that any and every little sin ever committed means that you don't belong to God/Jesus. While we are all expected to live obediently, we're not going to be condemned for having sinned after we have accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The only way we are made perfect in God's eyes is by looking at us through the lens of Jesus Christ as the following verses show:

The Great Exchange​

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
• Romans 5:19 – "Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
• Isaiah 61:10 – "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness."

Presented Perfect Before God​

• Colossians 1:22 – "He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
• Ephesians 1:4 – "He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
• Hebrews 10:14 – "By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
• 1 Peter 1:15–16 – "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

The Mediator Who Makes It Possible​

• 1 Timothy 2:5 – "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
• Hebrews 9:15 – "He is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance."
• Hebrews 8:6 – "He is also Mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises."
• Hebrews 12:24 – "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
• 1 Peter 3:18 – "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

Justified and Accepted by God​

• Romans 5:1 – "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Romans 5:9 – "Since we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."
• Romans 8:34 – "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
• 1 John 2:1 – "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
• Hebrews 7:25 – "He is always living to intercede for them."

"In Christ" — God Sees Us as Christ

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come."
• Galatians 3:27 – "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
• Philippians 3:9 – "Be found in him… the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
• 1 John 3:7 – "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous."
• Ephesians 2:13 – "You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
• Hebrews 10:19–20 – "We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body."

John is not teaching sinless perfection. 1 John 3:9 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament - Bible Commentaries -

Doeth no sin (αμαρτιαν ου ποιε). Linear present active indicative as in verse 1 John 3:4 like αμαρτανε in verse 1 John 3:8. The child of God does not have the habit of sin.

His seed (σπερμα αυτου). God's seed, "the divine principle of life" (Vincent). Cf. 1 John 3:1.

And he cannot sin (κα ου δυνατα αμαρτανειν). This is a wrong translation, for this English naturally means "and he cannot commit sin" as if it were κα ου δυνατα αμαρτειν or αμαρτησα (second aorist or first aorist active infinitive). The present active infinitive αμαρτανειν can only mean "and he cannot go on sinning," as is true of αμαρτανε in verse 1 John 3:8 and αμαρτανων in verse 1 John 3:6. For the aorist subjunctive to commit a sin see αμαρτητε and αμαρτη in 1 John 2:1. A great deal of false theology has grown out of a misunderstanding of the tense of αμαρτανειν here. Paul has precisely John's idea in Romans 6:1 επιμενωμεν τη αμαρτια (shall we continue in sin, present active linear subjunctive) in contrast with αμαρτησωμεν in Romans 6:15 (shall we commit a sin, first aorist active subjunctive).

StudyLight.org https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/1-john-3.html

 

[OMC]

How does one determine what the New Testament rebirth entails if not by the apostles’ preaching and the responses recorded in Acts? Jesus said one must be born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). Acts shows how the apostles told people to respond after Jesus’ resurrection. When the crowd asked Peter, “What shall we do?” he answered, “Repent AND be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” and promised the gift of the Holy Spirit (scriptures elsewhere reveal receiving the Holy Ghost is a separate experience). Peter made it clear that the same promise extended to their children and to all whom the Lord would call, even those “far off” (Acts 2:39). Those who received his word were baptized. That is a preached command with the stated purpose of having one's sins remitted, followed by an account of people obeying it—not an event from which I have invented a condition.

As I mentioned, the connection to sins being washed away appears as well when Ananias tells Paul, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Peter also says that baptism “now saves you,” explaining that its power is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not through washing off dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21). Paul also described being buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him through faith in the working of God (Col. 2:12). Therefore scripture makes it clear that a believer obeys Christ and calls on His name in baptism, and God does the saving and forgiving. I am not claiming the water has power of its own.

Relevant as well is that Jude says we are to contend for the faith once/first delivered to the saints. The apostles’ commands and consistent practice are part of the witness to that faith. If baptism in Jesus’ name is only a later public symbol, how do you account for Peter connecting it to forgiveness in Acts 2:38 and Ananias connecting it to washing away sins in Acts 22:16?

Rebirth is defined by Jesus as Spirit‑birth and the apostles consistently treat water as the obedient appeal, not the saving mechanism; John 3:5’s “water and Spirit” sits inside His flesh‑versus‑Spirit contrast (John 3:6), so the “water” must match the cleansing God applies through the word (Ephesians 5:26) and the blood (Revelation 1:5), not the liquid, which means Acts cannot be read as a legal code where every obedience step becomes a salvation condition but as the narrative of how people respond once the Spirit regenerates; Peter’s Acts 2:38 answer is covenant sequencing—repentance toward God, identification with Christ’s name, reception of the Spirit—because the crowd asked “What shall we do?” after being pierced, not “What must we add to faith to obtain eternal life?”, and Luke clarifies the hinge: “they that gladly received his word were baptized,” meaning the receiving saves and the baptism confesses; Ananias’s “wash away thy sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16) ties the washing to the calling, not the water, because Paul grounds washing in Christ’s blood and calling in faith (Romans 10:13), so the water is the moment of appeal, not the mechanism; Peter’s “baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21) explicitly denies physical water (“not the removal of dirt”) and locates the saving power in “the answer of a good conscience toward God…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” meaning the resurrection saves, the conscience appeals, and the water is the sign; Cornelius proves the order—forgiveness through believing (Acts 10:43), Spirit given before water (Acts 10:44–47), water commanded afterward—which matches Paul’s doctrine that the Spirit’s arrival is the decisive marker of union with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13); Acts 19 shows Paul correcting the name of baptism, not adding baptism as a condition of justification; and 1 Corinthians 1:17 still stands—if water baptism were part of the gospel’s saving mechanism, Paul could not say Christ sent him “not to baptize,” because that would mean Christ didn’t send him to complete salvation, which is impossible—so the apostles’ commands in Acts are the pattern of obedient response to the gospel, not the definition of the gospel itself, and the world‑system you’re echoing is sacramentalism, which elevates the sign to the level of the saving cause while the text keeps the cause in Christ’s death and resurrection received by faith and puts water where it belongs: commanded, serious, public obedience, but never the door into eternal life.

 

[Wansvic]

They absolutely go hand in hand.

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 4:4 - And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Note scripture reveals that Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb. 5:9).

Jesus also said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matt. 7:23-25).

And, "And he said unto them, 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 (Mark 16:15-16). Those who don't believe will not get baptized, therefore, they will be damned.

And, "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:30-32).

And, "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." (John 3:5)

Jesus prophesied about the message that would establish the NT water baptism in His name for the remission of sin. (Luke 24:47) It was in Jerusalem at Pentecost. "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." In the Luke account, Jesus said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, BEGINNING at Jerusalem.

 

[Wansvic]

Rebirth is defined by Jesus as Spirit‑birth and the apostles consistently treat water as the obedient appeal, not the saving mechanism; John 3:5’s “water and Spirit” sits inside His flesh‑versus‑Spirit contrast (John 3:6), so the “water” must match the cleansing God applies through the word (Ephesians 5:26) and the blood (Revelation 1:5), not the liquid, which means Acts cannot be read as a legal code where every obedience step becomes a salvation condition but as the narrative of how people respond once the Spirit regenerates; Peter’s Acts 2:38 answer is covenant sequencing—repentance toward God, identification with Christ’s name, reception of the Spirit—because the crowd asked “What shall we do?” after being pierced, not “What must we add to faith to obtain eternal life?”, and Luke clarifies the hinge: “they that gladly received his word were baptized,” meaning the receiving saves and the baptism confesses; Ananias’s “wash away thy sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16) ties the washing to the calling, not the water, because Paul grounds washing in Christ’s blood and calling in faith (Romans 10:13), so the water is the moment of appeal, not the mechanism; Peter’s “baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21) explicitly denies physical water (“not the removal of dirt”) and locates the saving power in “the answer of a good conscience toward God…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” meaning the resurrection saves, the conscience appeals, and the water is the sign; Cornelius proves the order—forgiveness through believing (Acts 10:43), Spirit given before water (Acts 10:44–47), water commanded afterward—which matches Paul’s doctrine that the Spirit’s arrival is the decisive marker of union with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13); Acts 19 shows Paul correcting the name of baptism, not adding baptism as a condition of justification; and 1 Corinthians 1:17 still stands—if water baptism were part of the gospel’s saving mechanism, Paul could not say Christ sent him “not to baptize,” because that would mean Christ didn’t send him to complete salvation, which is impossible—so the apostles’ commands in Acts are the pattern of obedient response to the gospel, not the definition of the gospel itself, and the world‑system you’re echoing is sacramentalism, which elevates the sign to the level of the saving cause while the text keeps the cause in Christ’s death and resurrection received by faith and puts water where it belongs: commanded, serious, public obedience, but never the door into eternal life.

As I explained, I agree that water itself cannot cleanse sin. The question is when Scripture says God remits sins. When the crowd asked Peter what to do, he answered, “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” (Acts 2:37–38). Luke says those who received Peter’s word were baptized (Acts 2:41); he does not say their sins had already been remitted before baptism. Peter’s answer also follows Jesus’ commission that repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name (Luke 24:47).

Ananias likewise told Saul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Calling on Jesus’ name is central to the water baptism command; it does not make “be baptized” disappear. And again, Peter’s words, “baptism doth also now save us,” are followed by his clarification that he means an appeal to God through Jesus Christ’s resurrection, not washing dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21). The saving power is of Jesus, yet Peter still speaks of baptism.

Cornelius received the Spirit before water, and Peter still commanded him to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44–48). That account shows God can act before baptism; it does not erase Peter’s command or change what he said about remission in Acts 2:38.

When Peter was asked what they must do, he joined repentance and baptism in Jesus Christ’s name with the remission of sins. Why then tell someone that remission has already occurred at an earlier point when Peter did not say that?

 

[Revelation1v8]

And, "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." (John 3:5)

Jesus prophesied about the message that would establish the NT water baptism in His name for the remission of sin. (Luke 24:47) It was in Jerusalem at Pentecost. "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." In the Luke account, Jesus said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, BEGINNING at Jerusalem.

To be born of "water and spirit" you have to believe in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and trust Him as your Lord and Savior. Once you believe on the Lord and repent, you're technically already baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and He'll give you His Holy Spirit.

Water = Jesus
Spirit = Holy Spirit

Only Jesus can cleanse you from your sins, it's not actual baptism water that really cleanses you.

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:

Here is an even more detailed explanation from A.I. to describe what "like figure" or "that water" means within the verse:

In 1 Peter 3:21, "that water" (or "this water" or "like figure") refers to the water of Noah's flood mentioned in the immediately preceding verse 20:

"In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…"

Peter is drawing a typological parallel: the flood water is the type (the Old Testament model), and Christian baptism is the antitype (the New Testament reality that corresponds to it). Just as the flood waters carried Noah and his family safely through God's judgment (the ark kept them afloat above the deluge), so baptism now carries believers through the judgment that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

The key clarification Peter adds is that the saving power is not in the water itself — "not the removal of dirt from the body" — but in what the water points to: "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power.