Wildswanderer
Veteran Member
Paul did not make water baptism a part of his gospel message and went so far as to say that Christ did not send him to baptize but only to spread the gospel message..
Wildswanderer where does the scriptures say Baptism does NOT effect salvation either way???
1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Baptism is IMMERSION into the Body of Jesus.. IF you are baptized you can enter the Kingdom!
Philip taught the Eunuch the Importance of Baptism! OTHERWISE.....
Wildswanderer otherwise why was the Eunuch so excited to find water?!
Acts 8:36
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
CAN'T be buried with Jesus if first not IMMERSED into Jesus! Baptism is IMMERSION into the Holy Body of Jesus!
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Baptism saves..
Luke 3:7
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
metis Christians have ALWAYS taught "Baptism Saves"! Ask Wildswanderer to show Christian teaching it does NOT save! He will have to look to the De=formation and the Protestors that reject Jesus to find any on the topic!
Justin Martyr
“As many as are persuaded and believe that what we [Christians] teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly . . . are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Except you be born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:3]” (First Apology 61 [A.D. 151]).
How could this be if baptism is that gospel?
If baptism were necessary for salvation then how do you deal with the paralytic man...Matt 9:2, the penitent woman Luke 7:37-50, the tax collector Luke18:13-14, and the thief on the cross Luke 23:39-43?
Scripture has numerous texts that say forgiveness of sins is by faith alone... John1:12; John3:16; John3:36; John6:47; Romans 10:9; Eph1:13; Eph2:8-9 to list just a few.
The weight of scripture points to faith being the only requirement for salvation. If you still insist that baptism is a requirement then how do you account for the experience of the gentiles in Act 10:44-48?