Is baptism necessary for salvation?
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by: Timothy
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Word Count: 355
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 Time: 7:09 AM
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No, water baptism is a demonstration of your obedience to God. If baptism were necessary for salvation, then our Lord's words to the man who died on the cross next to him were untrue and we know that isn't right! Lets read the account, Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This man didn't have time to be baptized and yet the Lord himself told him that To day shalt thou be with me in paradise! Some of us can get leagalistic and forget that there is also the baptism of the Holy Spirit which takes place after we are saved. Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
This is one of the issues where we as Christians seem to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel! Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. You can't get any plainer than that!
Yes I do believe that we have to be baptized, but it is an act of obedience and a symbol of down with the old sinful man and up with the new cleansed man. Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
About the Author
Tim Davis is the webmaster of PCIM Christian Fellowship Message Board at http://parsonscorner.org/pcimunity/ If you wish to discuss this matter further, please feel free to visit and start a thread.
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