There are often arguments about baptisms. Yes, you have to be baptized. But there are two baptisms. John says he baptized with water but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Read carefully all the verses about baptizing. Every instance where it speaks specifically of water baptism, it says it is something we should do. But it never says we MUST do it for salvation. None of the verses that say we must be baptized for salvation speak of a water baptism.
--We are told there is a baptism by water and one by the Holy Spirit.
--We are told we should be baptized by water, but never says we must be baptized by water.
--We are told we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe (the baptism of the Holy Spirit).
--There are verses that say baptism is a part of salvation, but do not specify water or HS baptism.
This can still leave us in speculation. How do we solve this speculation? First we have the thief on the cross. The thief was a sinner. He confessed on the cross that because of his life he deserved the worst punishment the Romans had. This was not a saved man. Could he have been baptized by water as a child? Possibly, but we can see by his life that this had no saving effect. So to claim this simply negates any effect of water baptism. This man either was not baptized, or baptism had no effect. Yet on the cross, he confessed his sins and accepted Christ and with no baptism by water, was granted his place in heaven.
Also, do not fall in the trap that he was under the old covenant. First the thief would have then had to jump off the cross, be circumcised, tear his clothes and perform sacrifices and rituals. Didn't happen. But more importantly, Jesus declared in His ministry things like "I AM the way" and "Those who BELIEVE in me will be saved". These were said in the PRESENT tense. Jesus was speaking to those people then, telling them to believe then. He did not say "I will be the way after I am crucified, die and am raised again but until then you are under the Law." He did not say "Those who believe in me after I am crucified, die and am raised again will be saved but until then you are under the Law." The thief, and all those Jesus spoke to during His ministry were under His grace and His laws.
Back to baptism.
Is baptism by water a work we are suppose to do just like not sinning or loving the Lord with all our heart or is it something that must be done for salvation? Let me ask, did Jesus need salvation?
In the gospels we see Jesus approach John to be baptized by water. Why? If Jesus was God, He did not need forgiveness nor did He need salvation to get to heaven. He was God and Heaven is His! Why did Jesus undergo a baptism by water? He says "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Because it is PROPER. Not because it is required. For righteousness, not for salvation, we SHOULD do this.
If you believe water baptism is necessary for salvation, then I must ask if Jesus would not have been saved had He not undergone His baptism?
In His service… Arthur Smith
There are often arguments about baptisms. Yes, you have to be baptized. But there are two baptisms. John says he baptized with water but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Read carefully all the verses about baptizing. Every instance where it speaks specifically of water baptism, it says it is something we should do. But it never says we MUST do it for salvation. None of the verses that say we must be baptized for salvation speak of a water baptism.
--We are told there is a baptism by water and one by the Holy Spirit.
--We are told we should be baptized by water, but never says we must be baptized by water.
--We are told we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe (the baptism of the Holy Spirit).
--There are verses that say baptism is a part of salvation, but do not specify water or HS baptism.
This can still leave us in speculation. How do we solve this speculation? First we have the thief on the cross. The thief was a sinner. He confessed on the cross that because of his life he deserved the worst punishment the Romans had. This was not a saved man. Could he have been baptized by water as a child? Possibly, but we can see by his life that this had no saving effect. So to claim this simply negates any effect of water baptism. This man either was not baptized, or baptism had no effect. Yet on the cross, he confessed his sins and accepted Christ and with no baptism by water, was granted his place in heaven.
Also, do not fall in the trap that he was under the old covenant. First the thief would have then had to jump off the cross, be circumcised, tear his clothes and perform sacrifices and rituals. Didn't happen. But more importantly, Jesus declared in His ministry things like "I AM the way" and "Those who BELIEVE in me will be saved". These were said in the PRESENT tense. Jesus was speaking to those people then, telling them to believe then. He did not say "I will be the way after I am crucified, die and am raised again but until then you are under the Law." He did not say "Those who believe in me after I am crucified, die and am raised again will be saved but until then you are under the Law." The thief, and all those Jesus spoke to during His ministry were under His grace and His laws.
Back to baptism.
Is baptism by water a work we are suppose to do just like not sinning or loving the Lord with all our heart or is it something that must be done for salvation? Let me ask, did Jesus need salvation?
In the gospels we see Jesus approach John to be baptized by water. Why? If Jesus was God, He did not need forgiveness nor did He need salvation to get to heaven. He was God and Heaven is His! Why did Jesus undergo a baptism by water? He says "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Because it is PROPER. Not because it is required. For righteousness, not for salvation, we SHOULD do this.
If you believe water baptism is necessary for salvation, then I must ask if Jesus would not have been saved had He not undergone His baptism?
In His service… Arthur Smith
