Baptism, the simple version.

Colossians 2:12
"And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead."

Romans 6:4
"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life."

Christians need to know much more than forgiveness of sins. God has also provided the remedy for the sinner. Before we are born again, we are like a "sin factory". We do not need to try to sin. Watch a two year old throw a tantrum and you will see the fallen nature as clear as day.

God's remedy is simple. It is death. Who now fears Adolf Hitler, Stalin or Ted Bundy? Those men are dead and cannot harm anyone. God includes us in the death of Christ so that we too are dead. We die to sin, self, Satan and the world system. We may not always experience this as we still have the ability to sin. But sin should no longer enslave us. If it does control us still, it is because we do not know that we are dead.

What do you do with a dead body? You bury it. And that is what God does in baptism. We should agree with God that our old man is worthy only of death and is beyond repair. Many struggle with this. Secretly, they hope that somehow something of worth can be found in the old. Like Abraham with Ishmael, they hope that God will accept the works of self. And they hope in vain.

The sooner the Christian accepts their hopeless and helpless condition, the better off he/she is. This must not lead to despair, however. Paul went through this stage as he records it in Romans 7. He saw his helpless condition. He also saw the answer. As in everything, the answer is Christ. We need to know that as an absolute, as surely as we know our own name.

Resurrection can only follow death. Christ is the Life of the born again believer. Let's not stop at forgiveness of sin. Let's go on to walk in the power of the resurrection.

Unfortunately, there are a great many so-called Christians that either don't understand the simple principles of baptism and/or just flat out reject baptism as a requirement of salvation. They don't accept the very simple language of the bible that very clearly indicates that baptism, immersion in water, is absolutely necessary to be saved.

Unfortunately, there are a great many so-called Christians that either don't understand the simple principles of baptism and/or just flat out reject baptism as a requirement of salvation. They don't accept the very simple language of the bible that very clearly indicates that baptism, immersion in water, is absolutely necessary to be saved.

How do you reconcile your understanding of baptism with Ephesians 2:8-9?

I mostly agree with you on baptism. The only thing I disagree with you on is it being a requirement for salvation. I do think it's a requirement for discipleship and refusal to be immersed says a lot about our commitment; but the scriptures are clear, we're saved by faith in Christ alone.

"8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast."

I'm perfectly comfortable with the above Ephesians scripture which is in perfect harmony with all other related scripture on the subject of baptism and salvation. The problem is, if you look at that scripture alone, as a stand alone scripture, and ignor the rest, you have an issue of scripture conflicting with scripture which cannot be. This is what many people do and what you are suggesting now. It's necessary to look at ALL related scripture to discern the complete message.

What if you did the same thing and took Romans 10:9-10 on a stand alone basis? See below. It says belief and confession of Jesus is all that's necessary to be saved.

Once again, it's absolutely imperative to consider ALL related scripture on the subject of salvation or any other topic because tge scriptures are piece meal, written to various others for specific reasons and each doesn't encapsulate the entirety of the salvation message.

When you put all relative scripture together on this subject, you end up with
1. Belief and faith
2. Confession of belief
3. Repentance
4. Baptism

That's the complete list of requirements to saved, after which, by being obedient, God's grace saves you.

Romans 10:9-10

"9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Look at it like this as relates to absolute necessity. Acts 2:38 clearly says baptism is for the remission of sins. Sin separates you from God; so how can you be saved while still in sin? You can't. Therefore, baptism is essential to salvation.

Note too in that passage, you receive the gift of the Spirit upon being baptized. Where else does it tell you that the Spirit is received some other way?

And too, verse 47 of Acts 2 says the Lord adds you to the church. The church is the body of Christ.

So upon baptism into Christ, your sins are forgiven, you receive the Holy Ghost, and you're added to the body of Christ. And thus, you truly are a Christian, meaning one that's owned by Christ sin e he purchased his church with his own blood as the scripture says.

How do we believe?

By the heart. Gotta here the word first. You'll either believe it or you won't. The Ethiopian eunuch was preached the word by Philip and his preaching obviously included the need for baptism which is evident by the questions asked of him by the eunuch. He heard, believed, confessed his belief, and was immediately baptized.

I mostly agree with you on baptism. The only thing I disagree with you on is it being a requirement for salvation. I do think it's a requirement for discipleship and refusal to be immersed says a lot about our commitment; but the scriptures are clear, we're saved by faith in Christ alone.

The heart is where we believe. And why would you trust it given Jeremiah 17:9?
How do we believe?

Read the aforementioned and posted Romans 10:9-10 again. Verse 10 tells you.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Do we do something and then believe or believe then do?

Belief and faith go hand-in-hand and are number 1. You must believe and then do, be obedient. If you don't believe you'll do nothing.

Did Jesus think baptism was important?. Why yes He did. Before ascending to heaven, He gave His great commission to the Apostles. This comission included, "Go forth and baptize in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

So, indeed, Jesus commanded His apostles to baptize, he didn't suggest, He commanded. Yet, still, when it comes to baptiism, Jesus doesn't force us, he leaves it up to us.

The heart is where we believe. And why would you trust it given Jeremiah 17:9?
How do we believe?