I suggest water is required to remove sins. Consider the conversion of Paul. After everything, Ananias says "why do you wait?" Wait for what? To believe? He then says Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ Baptism in the name of Jesus is calling on Jesus to save you.
Baptism is mentioned 3 other times in 1 Corinthians. Are those water or spirit baptisms?
He says circumcision "made without hands" not baptism made without hands. He tells us how we are circumcised without hands. having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Yes, Pentecost and the first Gentiles were special situations. The first being the beginning of the church and the second giving the Jews irrefutable proof the Gentiles were now to be considered God's chosen people as well as the Jews.
True and each had a specific purpose.
This is the second time Peter talks about this one conversion. The fist time he said this As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. Peter hadn't seen this happen since Pentecost. Each time was directly from God and evident by speaking in tongues. The bible tells us this is "baptized WITH the Hs". Only 2 times we see it and each was a special situation.
True. Sealing is ownership and authority. How do we call on Jesus's name for salvation?
What passage would you use to support baptism is an "outward xercise expressing one's inner change, dedication & commitment"?
Are you saying Paul didn't baptize believers just as Jesus instructed the 12?
Water baptism isn't a work that somehow earns salvation.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
(MY COMMENT: The key to this verse is found in the article "TOWARD". Repentance TOWARD God & faith TOWARD Christ)
HOW TO ACCESS SALVATION:
Change your mind from UNBELIEF. Acknowledging that God IS & that you've sinned against a sovereign creators rule & are in need of a savior. Turning TOWARD God, when mixed with FAITH toward/in Christ's sin atoning death. The result will be a change of actions.
THE GOSPEL/GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST:
1 Cor 15:
1 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith].
2 By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].
3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],
4 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],
PARSING:
Vs 1, ""The good news of SALVATION"" preached to you, ""which you accepted by FAITH"". (NO H2O NEEDED!)
Vs 2, You were SAVED by FAITH & reborn from above, spiritually transformed, renewed & set apart for His purpose. (NO H2O NEEDED!)
Vs 3, The most ""important"" SALVATION information needed is: (Vs 3) Christ died for our sins (Vs 4) was buried & He was raised on the 3rd day.
Synopsis: The gospel/good news whereby you are SAVED by FAITH placed in: Christ' sin atoning sacrifice/offering/payment: He died/Shedding His sinless perpetually cleansing (Heb 10:14) God blood, was buried & rose on the 3rd day. (Father receipt, sins required payment received & accepted. (NO H2O NEEDED!)
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit'' of promise
(MY COMMENT: You heard & BELIEVED about Jesus sin atoning payment & resurrection. Then (Matt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16) by Jesus, you were <PAST TENSE > SEALED with God's promised Gift of His FOREVER (Jn 14:16) SALVATION SEALING (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 2 Tim 1:14) indwelling Holy Spirit.)
Rom 10:
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of FAITH, which we preach;
9 That 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. 1 Cor 15:
(MY COMMENT: Confess Jesus as Lord, BELIEVE He was Raised from the dead. For with the heart man BELIEVES unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation & NO H2O NEEDED!).
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you HAVE BEEN SAVED [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through FAITH. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;
(MY COMMENT: We accessed God's GRACE thru FAITH. Also see Rom 5:1-2 & NO H2O NEEDED!)
9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
(MY COMMENT: No SELF-WORKS = water baptism)
Heb 9:22 In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].
(MY COMMENT: WATER BAPTISM doesn't/can't remit/pardon sin. Repentance doesn't/can't remit/pardon sin. Only FAITH in Jesus sin atoning BLOOD sacrifice/death & resurrection)
The only way to remove the sin stain from a soul. Is faith placed in Jesus finished/Law Fulfilling sin atoning/propitiatory sacrifice.
Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)
MY COMMENT: Our sins are washed away by FAITH placed in Jesus sin atoning blood. NO H2O needed)
LIVING WATER: (Jn 4:10, 6:35, 7:37-39, Jer 17:13, Ps 36:7-9)
Living Water:
Jn 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
(MY COMMENT: In the last day, that great day of the feast = Day 8, Feast of Tabernacles)
Jn 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
(MY COMMENT: All the Samaritan woman had to do was believe & ASK. All anyone need do, is BELIEVE & ASK!)
Jn 7:
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
(MY COMMENT: The Living Water is Christ's salvation/sealing, eternal life giving, indwelling Holy Spirit. The invitation to drink of His Living Water/Holy Spirit is open to anyone that believes/trusts in Christ's sin atoning payment._
All thanksgiving, praise, glory & honor belongs to Christ our Lord!