Saul of Tarsus was not saved on the road to Damascus.

and you keep asking hypothetical questions... and I cannot answer that.
I do not get to decide who goes to heaven or hell.... our loving Father in heaven is the one that makes that call.... and I fully trust my God to be good and just... only HE knows the heart of a person... if someone accepted the gift of salvation and died of a massive heart attack while climbing into a baptistry, I am confident that God knows what was in their heart, and will treat them accordingly...

All ANY of us can do it help guide unbelievers to the word... we are under an obligation to teach them what we can... as long as what we teach is fully backed in scripture..

the belief that you are better than that? Absolutely.... both of us have been here long enough to know what we are about.... we agree about much, much more than we disagree on... and you nearly always present you thoughts in a logical, straightforward manner...
I'm still a work in progress...

between you and me.... what legitimate reason can you think of that would prevent a new believer from being baptized immediately following acceptance of salvation? Why would anyone not do it immediately.... leaving out all the hypotheticals, of course.
Typical John or Jane Doe accepts Jesus, why would they not immediately find a place to be baptized?
We've had two baptisms in our pool in the back yard, for example....

So then we agree that baptism doesn't save you?

No issues there...

Jesus' work on the cross is what saves us....

Sorry brother, but this is COMPLETELY FALSE. Baptism is NOT essential for salvation. And here are three Scripture passages to refute your position: Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:29-31) Paul could never mislead someone who asked a direct question.

But Paul also summed up what he taught about getting saved: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)

And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the FINAL AUTHORITY. He declared this emphatically: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11"25,26)

I am quite surprised that you hold to this false doctrine about baptism in view of not only these Scriptures, but the entire Bible, particularly the NT. Naturally, you will also simply double down in your false belief.

Even though there's no record of the apostles being baptized. Jesus did prophesy that repentance and remission of sin would be preached in His name beginning in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) Since Peter said everyone was to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin it is highly likely the apostles obeyed the command.

for me, a young boy at a camp who sat in his bunk thinking and praying all one summer night, it seemed very personal, and it also seemed like i knew just how i should go about things. so i did not say anything to anyone about what had happened in my heart, and waited until camp was over, and the next sunday that the pastor in my home church asked, at the end of service, as was his custom, if anyone wanted to come down to the front for special prayer or needs, i went and told him i needed to be baptized.

it was a couple of weeks, that had passed, and then another week before the ceremony. and i don't have any doubt about whether i was saved in the time in-between - - what i wonder about, sometimes, is whether it isn't true that i was already saved even long before that. some of my earliest memories are dreams about Christ - not sure i remember a time i didn't believe, only times that i didn't do anything about that belief.

baptized by John?

but then there is in Acts, a record of people who are called believers, who had received John's baptism and didn't know anything about the Spirit being given through another baptism.

there is a record of Christ breathing on each of them saying, receive the Spirit - and breath is moist air!

the weird part is that God deemed it right not to mention their baptisms or lack of baptism whatsoever. as though it's not a thing necessary for us to know whether thee belong to Him or not

If this be correct, Peter's description defies his prescription, unless you accept that consistent with other scripture and the key gospel message that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, it is the repenting in Jesus' name that is saves, and baptism the commandment given once one has so been saved.

You're right, it's not that difficult, but like the Judaisers in Paul's day, your insistence to make it harder than it is perverts the gospel message into a damnable heresy. Repent therefore.

It is quite amazing how people will double down in their false beliefs in the face of all the Scriptures. The only explanation is the absence of Christian humility, in order to abandon all false beliefs and doctrines.

yeah I don’t think it “ proves “ anything lol I just think it is for the purpose the Bible teaches it’s for bieng remission of sins in Jesus name only someone who hears about Jesus dying for thier sins and believed would ever get baptized into his name and death for thier sins

it is a simple act of faith based on Gods word it’s the equivalent of this.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭10:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s believing what Gods word says even if he says” lift your hand “ and I’ll do this greater thing . Now baptism

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, ( very few people will acknolwedge baptism has a purpose )


and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

….Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Those who hears the promise of remission of sins in Jesus name gladly partook of baptism in Jesus name for remission of thier sins , those who didn’t believe what Peter said im sure didn’t partake of it because it wouldn’t be an act of faith they don’t believe what they heard about baptism in his name for remission of sins they would t bother getting baptized because they don’t believe it matters or means what Peter said

those who believed his sermon all got baptized in Jesus name for remission of sins peters preaching reached thier hearts and they believed and were saved in the early days of the church

“praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:47‬ ‭

The thing is baptism has a clear meaning to God he designed it around faith in this belief

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

and that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s why we do this and how our sins are remitted in his name who died for them

Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:

that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:2-5, 11‬ ‭

“in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:11-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There’s far too much doctrine regarding baptism and the removal and cessation
Of our sins to dismiss it it’s throughout the nt not only does it tell us baptisms purpose is repentance and the remission of sin

Nt Scripture thoroughly explains the faith regarding what it means to those who partake of it . I’ve never believed anyone’s going to be excluded based on them not able to get baptized , but also never understood those who ignore what scripture teaches about it ( I’m not saying you brother , but many people refuse to acknolwedge just simplicities about baptism like

1 baptism is for the remission of sins in Jesus name

2 baptism in Jesus name was something the disciples both Jew Acts 2 and gentile acts 10 were commanded to do and it did involve water

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. …….Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:44, 46-48‬ ‭KJV‬‬

several but lol I’m just a ranting old feller at this point

im just saying I’ve never understood why there is a single opponent to baptism in Jesus name for remission of sins because it’s so thoroughly taught in the New Testament it’s perplexing also communion again it doesn’t “ prove “ something but it has an effective meaning to a believer according to faith

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

same with baptism if we believe what Gods word really said about baptism anyone will be come an advocate

Taking a beat to wish all fathers a Happy Fathers Day!! Thank you for your Godly influence, how we need it today. And if you have no children, there are so many today that could use the influence and wisdom of a Godly man. I hope you will allow God to use you in this world of lost souls. Each of us has a ministry to do just outside our doors. May each father here be blessed in a special way today. Words cannot express the thanks we have for Dads and men of Godly influence.

I would agree with you... but what I don't like is a church waiting a week after being told that someone wanted to be baptized.... I think it should be done immediately upon request in that situation... otherwise, why not wait a year or two, until it's "convenient"....
Look at Philip and the eunuch.... the eunuch asked, and they went immediately down into the water, and he was baptized... there should be a sense of urgency in it... and that's what bothers me about a lot of folks on here... it just isn't important to them.. sort of a "meh" kind of thing. My understanding of scripture indicates it is much more important than that.

I see all the talk about baptizing, but no one talks about the details of a proper baptism. I think the Jews believed that the water one was dipped in must be “Living Water.” Water that occured in nature that moved with a current. They built their mikvah’s into two parts with a plug in between so that when it was removed the water from one flowed into the other. So, I guess the question or questions are, will a mud puddle suffice? A bathtub, a swimming pool, a stagnent pond, or like the Jews insisted, should it be a river or stream with a current? Also, who has the authority to baptize another?

Any body of water will do. Nobody in particular is given "authority" to baptize.... my own personal belief is that any believer can baptize....

Yeah because there’s not a scripture for it because God didn’t want us to get fixated on it.

Unless a man is born again He cannot SEE or ENTER the kingdom. John 3:3-5

No. Not John's. It was a reference to the NT water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin instituted and required of all after Jesus' sacrifice. (Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, etc.)

The Acts 19 account indicates the 12 were rebaptized in water in the name of Jesus. We know it was water baptism because the record specifically mentions that afterward Paul laid hands on them and at that point they received the Holy Ghost. Also, other scriptures reveal that baptism in the name of Jesus is water baptism. (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 22:16)