Paul doesn't seem to have your high view of baptism as you do, my friend.
1 Corinthians 1:17
"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
You believe baptism is a part of the gospel. But yet Paul says, he came not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.
We know there was never to be any divisions in the church. In fact, Paul wrote this to the Corinthians...
1 Corinthians 1:12-16 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Paul was concerned about
division among them
and was addressing that issue. He was glad he did not baptize lest any should become more divided and say they are of the denomination of Paul.
It seems that divisions crept in anyway, saying I am a Lutheran (of Martin Luther, a 16th century German monk), or I am a Calvinist (of John Calvin).
But by no means was Paul ever against preaching water baptism as part of the salvation message. In Acts chapter 19 we see this scene unfold...
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them,
Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(Note: Paul asks them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? When the answer was no, lets look at the very next words out of Paul's mouth)...
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then
were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(Note: Paul was clearly speaking of Water Baptism. In fact, the word used is baptized[SUP][SUB]G907[/SUB][/SUP] which means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge)...
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized[SUP]G907[/SUP] in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
Now lets look at another example of Paul preaching water baptism...
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(Note: the key to this verse is "believing" what is preached. Here we see "that night" they all were gathered together and in the preaching - water baptism was preached)...
Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Acts 16:33 And he took them
the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes;
and was baptized, he and
all his, straightway.
Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Note:
1. they were all in the house and water baptism was preached
2. they all left the house to go outside and be water baptized
3. they all came back into the house rejoicing
Lets turn to Colossians chapter 2...
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
[9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[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:
[12]
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.
The word used is baptism[SUP]G908[/SUP] which means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge.
And, of course we have Romans chapter 6...
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 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.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Again, the word used is baptism[SUP]G908[/SUP] which means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge.
Now, there are also examples with the other Apostles, such as with the Enoch in the desert...
Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Acts 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
(Note: all we read is that Philip preached unto him Jesus. We dont know the content of what was preached, only that Jesus was preached - lets continue)...
Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:
and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me
to be baptized?
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of
the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
In the "preaching Jesus" - water baptism was preached!
Now, you are free to try to get to heaven any way you wish, but I wouldn't recommend it.
There is only one way, that is to obey the gospel...
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, 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.
[39] 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.
If we are to obey the gospel, we would have to symbolize the death, burial, resurrection. And, that is what Peter said to do...
1. Death = repent
2. Burial = water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
3. Resurrection = Holy Spirit
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] 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.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
God bless!