…itself. The word “and” grammatically shows that Jesus is placing equal importance on both belief and baptism. Belief and baptism are conditions to: “shall be saved.” Again, we see that belief saves and baptism saves. Both are required together. We also see that baptism is before the remission of sins in Acts 2:38. In Romans 6:4, baptism is before newness of life. Acts 22:16 says that baptism is before sin being washed away. In I Peter 3:21, baptism is placed…
…baptism by the Spirit of God. As you know from reading Scripture, there are several baptisms mentioned, as Hebrew 6:2 notes. There was the baptism of John which was tied to repentance, there was the baptism of Christ which was to fulfill all righteousness, there was the baptism of Christ’s suffering and death, which Christ predicted, there was the baptism of the Father which came upon the believers at Pentecost, there was the baptism of Christ with the Holy Spirit…
…the subject of water baptism. Among the categories listed above, John’s and Jesus’ refer to water baptism. So we’ll go over these two categories. Let’s show how Scripture differentiates between the baptism of John and the baptism of Jesus. We’ll look at Acts 19:3-5. Here are these verses: And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people…
…a remarkable statement if conversion is impossible without baptism. It makes no sense. Further, if baptism is essential for salvation, the many passages in Scripture that say that if you believe you will be saved, are woefully inadequate in their presentation of the gospel. In fact, they are wrong if, indeed, baptism is essential for salvation. Some would go to the Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 passages to show that baptism is essential for salvation. The passages simply do not…
…believe baptism is a sign that the “already saved” do, is that people tend to view baptism as a work. If it were, then I would believe in a works salvation. But the fact is that the focus in baptism isn’t on what I am doing, but on what God is doing. I don’t earn salvation in baptism. I am not working. Rather, God is working during that time of my obedience. He chooses that time to apply the blood…
…read as indicating that baptism is necessary for salvation stands in stark contrast to the many passages that link salvation as coming from faith. If one looks at the emphasis of Scripture, it is not on baptism, but faith. If faith and baptism were both required, then it would seem to me that baptism would be given equal, or near equal importance in Scripture. And if baptism is required, then I wonder what else is required. Will we say that…
…Peter 3:21—A Short Commentary. We agree that baptism saves. But the question is “what is the baptism that saves”? John the Baptist baptized with water. He told us that Christ would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire, at least strongly implying that John’s water baptism was the lessor baptism and that Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit would be a far more important baptism. We certainly do not want to make a major issue out of a…
…has guided with His Holy Spirit, who have differed on these matters. I am not wiser than they are, nor will anything I say be more insightful. However, I will give you my thoughts. First, I do not believe in infant baptism. I believe much of the practice of infant baptism comes from the wrong notion that unbaptized infants do not go to heaven. Somehow, the act of baptism brings them into the place of grace. Such, as far as…
…baptism is not taught, unless one takes Christ’s death to be a vicarious baptism for us. See Col. 2:12. Certainly, Scripture never teaches that I can be baptized for you or you for me. Each person was baptized for their own testimony. Vicarious baptism is not taught for the living or for the dead. If it is never taught, then I am loath to find such a teaching here, when Paul excludes himself and the Corinthians from the practice. I…
…altar and ask Jesus to save them and you teach them they are saved. They are not saved and can’t be saved if they don’t understand that baptism is what gives remission of sins.” I said, “I was baptized in the manner that your members are baptized. Is that enough to be saved? I obeyed the command to be baptized after I believed.” He said, “No, if you believed Jesus saved you, that is not a saving faith. Baptism is…