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Baptism - Urgent and Essential 
By David Riggs

In New Testament times people were baptized as soon as they heard the gospel and had faith in Christ (Acts 2:41; 8:35-39; 16:30-34). There were no postponements or delays; there was no such thing as waiting for a "baptismal day." It was always "straightway," "the same day," "the same hour of the night," etc. They thought baptism was urgent and essential. 

Furthermore, the inspired men of the New Testament did not take baptism lightly. They never poked fun at it saying, "There's no power in the water," neither did they accuse some of trusting in "water salvation." They taught that Jesus made atonement for sin in His death, and they commanded all to believe, repent, and be baptized in order to receive the benefits of His death (Rom. 6:3-4). They viewed baptism as an act of faith in and submission to Jesus Christ, the Savior, who has all authority (Matt. 28:18-20). 

All would freely admit that there is no power in the water of baptism. The power is of the Lord. Jesus healed a blind man by anointing his eyes and saying, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." (John 9:6-7). The blind man did not object by saying, "There is no power in the water." He knew that the power was of the Lord and he needed to obey to receive the blessing. Likewise, there is no power in the water of baptism, but one must go to the water to receive the blessing. To be cleansed of leprosy, Naaman was told, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times..." (2 Kings 5:10). There was no power in the water of Jordan, but if Naaman had not obeyed, he would not have been cleansed. Similarly, if one does not obey in baptism, he will not be cleansed. 

One is not lost just because he is not baptized. He is lost because he is a sinner. If someone who can't swim falls into a lake and a boat is sent, but he won't get into the boat, is he drowning because he won't get into the boat? No, he is drowning because he is in the water. Likewise, one is not lost just because he is not baptized, but because he is in sin. Just as the boat is the means of rescue and one must get into it, the gospel is the means of salvation and must be obeyed (baptism included) to rescue from sin.

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Vol.XIV No.XII Pg.3
February 1978

Overemphasing Baptism?

Dan S. Shipley

Those holding to the New Testament pattern are often accused of placing too much emphasis on baptism. As might be expected, such charges come mostly from those who view baptism as optional and unrelated to salvation. If they are right; if baptism has no bearing on one's salvation, then it deserves no emphasis at all. If God does not require it, then neither should men. In the words of a popular creed book, "...whatsoever is not read therein (the Holy Scriptures, dss) nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation". To that all should wholeheartedly agree, whether applied to baptism or any other subject.

First, where did anyone get the notion that baptism is non-essential? Not from Jesus, that's for sure! The One claiming all authority commands the apostles to go, teach - and baptize (Matt. 28:18-20). Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mk. 16:16). Undeniably, He links baptism with salvation! Who is it that Jesus says, "shall be saved"? It is "He that believeth and is baptized"! Surely, anything so vitally connected with salvation by our Lord cannot be overemphasized.

Since men never learned baptism to be non-essential from Jesus, did they learn it from His apostles? Certainly not from Peter! As one divinely guided into all the truth (Jn. 16:13), he tells a believing Jewish audience to, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.." (Acts 2:38).

Like his Lord, Peter associates baptism with salvation ("remission of sins"), just as he does in 1 Pet. 3:21. In Acts 10:48 we read of his commanding Cornelius and others to be baptized. No, you won't get the idea from Peter, that baptism is unnecessary.

And neither will you get it from the apostle Paul. In his own baptism he was told by God's messenger to, "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). Paul submitted to baptism with the understanding that his past sins would be washed away in so doing. No wonder, then, he can later write that we have "died with Christ"; that we have been "buried with him by baptism" from which we arise to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4-11). In Gal. 3:27 he writes, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ". If, as Paul states, men put on Christ in baptism, then how can baptism be optional for those who seek salvation? So, it was not from Christ, not from His apostles, and not from anywhere in the Bible that men have learned that baptism is unnecessary to one's salvation.

Further, men will not learn from these sources that baptism is a "one-step-to-heaven" process or that it somehow secures the eternal favor of God. The Bible knows of no meritorious baptism wherein one earns God's favor, nor one that is anything less than an expression of faith. Scriptural baptism does deserve the emphasis and place God gives it in His word. To some, that will be excessive. It makes more sense to give less emphasis to concepts of men.

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WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM?

The denominational world, some do it as a “ok just for show”, or “to show I’m saved already”, or some other man-made reason.

BAPTISM is crucial (Mark 16:16) to the removal and forgiveness of sins (Acts2:38). 

In baptism, we come into contact with the blood of CHRIST. 

(Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the FATHER, so we two might walk in newness of life. 

Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that,  baptism now saves you —- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience —- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.)

Man’s whimsical notion they can tell GOD whether baptism is necessary, and as to what purpose it serves, is ludicrous. 

But, that is the workings of Satan, deceiving the world. 

So, you gonna listen to Satan (that being man’s ideas and notions), or, are you going to listen to GOD?

HINT - discerning & those wanting to please GOD, will let the Bible tell them what is necessary, NOT someone who is touting their insight, not adhering to to the word of GOD.

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God is not coming to you.  You must go to Him by choosing by faith to touch Jesus blood in the watery grave of baptism (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, Romans 6, Gal. 3:27)
***************************************************
Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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WHO FOOLED YOU?

If you say baptism does not save, you have lied. The Bible told us that baptism saves. 

If you say you were saved before you got baptized... you really aren't saved... you only got wet and have been fooled! How can you be saved before baptism when the Bible told us in 1 Peter 3:21 that baptism saves? “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

If you say one don't need to be baptized to be saved... you are lying! How can you be saved without baptism when Jesus told us in Mark 16:16 that we (every humans) MUST be baptized in order to be saved? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

If you call yourself a child of God but you did not hear the gospel, you did not believe the gospel, you did not repent of your sins, you did not confess your faith in Christ, and you weren't baptized into Christ for remission of your sins (Acts 2:38, Rom.6:3-6)... you aren't a child of God! You are still a child of your father the devil! How dare you call yourself a child of God when you aren't added to the church by the Lord, Acts 2:47?

The Lord add THOSE WHO ARE SAVED to the church, Acts 2:47. For you to be saved, you MUST do what they did on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two... when they herd Peter preached the gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) they asked... "men and brethren  what must we do?"
Peter told them what to do... "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" Acts 2:38. Then they that gladly received his word were BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41

If baptism is not essential, why did those 3000 sould got baptized? If they were saved before they were baptized, why did they get baptized?
If baptism doesn't save, why were they told to be baptized? How could the Lord add them to the church if they werent saved? Acts 2:47

How dare you call yourself a Christian when you are an Adventist, a Pentecostal, a Baptist, a Catholic, a Jehovah's Witness, or any other denominational man-made religious names?

What? Don't you know that an Adventist person is not a Christian?
Don't you know that a Catholic person is not a Christian?
Don't you know that a Pentecostal person is not a Christian?
Don't you know that a Baptist person is not a Christian?
Don't you know that NO ONE is a Christian UNTIL he or she submits to God's righteousness and obey God's form of doctrine (the gospel of Jesus Christ) from the heart?

Did you not know that when a person is scriptrually baptized such a one is saved, become a Christian, and is added to the church by the Lord? Acts 2:47, Acts 11:26.

Did you not know that ONLY those who have obeyed God's form of doctrine from the heart (the gospel of Christ) are called Christians (Acts 11:26)?

Contact me Winston S Chambers and let's reason this thing out biblically for the saving of your soul!

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In Scriptural Baptism...
by Kyle Campbell
The denominational world hotly contests our strict adherence to water baptism for the remission of sins. We do this because it was commanded by our Master in Mark 16:16 ("He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned") and by the apostles in Acts 2:38-39 ("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. 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"). But biblically speaking, what does baptism do? In scriptural baptism, someone...
1. Is spiritually cleansed when sins are washed away (Acts 22:16; cp. 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:22).
2. Enters into Christ and accesses every spiritual blessing (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 1:3-14).
3. Is made alive with Christ by being buried and raised with Him (Colossians 2:11-13; 3:1-12; Romans 6:3-4).
4. Becomes a new creature in Christ by dying to sin and being raised to walk in a new life (Romans 6:3-8, 11; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
5. Is freed from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:17-18; Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18; 1 Peter 2:9; cp. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2).
6. Is born again by the water and Spirit (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:4; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 2:22-23).
7. Is delivered from eternal destruction like Noah was saved from physical destruction (1 Peter 3:20-21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-39).
This is not theoretical. This is actually what happens to a person to when they are scripturally baptized. Seeing all this, what is one's condition if they have not been baptized? Even though false teachers from the denominational world will tell you that baptism is not essential to your salvation, surely you would ask the question, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts

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Submitting to God’s terms for salvation no matter what they may be is by definition recognizing His sovereignty as the Bible defines it. 

God is just. His justice is the very foundation of His throne. 

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Believing Calvin’s perversion of sovereignty that God condemns and saves despite our response in faith to Him makes the god of Calvinism an unjust monster. 

Jesus was offered as a blood sacrifice for the whole world. John 3:16
Grace has appeared to everyone. Titus 2:11. God will save those who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9

Calvinism is a load of hogwash. A confusing and self-contradictory mess of fables - II Timothy 4:4 to be exposed - Ephesians 5:11. 

God cannot lie. Titus 1:2

He promised to save us through the blood of Christ if we will meet His terms for salvation. 

Our faith in those terms that He set forth, in Him, in the blood of Christ, in the salvation that He guarantees for those who obey Him.  

Just do what everyone did in the book of acts to obey the gospel, Acts 2:36-41, Romans 6:3-4,17, Acts 22:16 be washed in the blood of Christ, be added by Jesus Himself to His one church, Acts 2:47 thereby submitting to His sovereignty as the Bible defines it. 

He is sovereign. He set the rules. We submit in faith to His sovereignty. Colossians 2:10-12





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BAPTISM IS NOT ALL
Bobby Key 
“...and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized” Acts 18:8). These people were born again. This is the law of induction into the kingdom of God. Hearing the Gospel, believing the Gospel, sincerely repenting of sin, and being baptized in the name of the Lord constitute the new birth. When one does these things he enters the kingdom of God. 
Paul said that God saved us t . .by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). The washing of regeneration is baptism: 
it is the washing that pertains to, or is a part of regeneration. The renewing of the Holy Ghost” is the Spirit producing faith in the heart through the Word of God. We are saved by faith and baptism (Mark 16:16). 
The Bible does not teach “water regeneration”. Baptism alone is not regeneration; it is a part of it. After the inward change is accomplished by the Spirit through the Word, the individual is ushered into the kingdom by immersion. If baptism alone were taught as a means of salvation, this would no doubt be baptismal regeneration, but to dip an unbeliever in water is not baptism, Scriptural baptism requires that the subject first believe, repent, and confess Christ as the Son of God. 
One must be taught before he is a candidate for baptism. It is written in the prophets, and they all shall be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). Faith and repentance always precede baptism, however, baptism is the final act that puts one into Christ (Gal 3:26,27). Our sins are not forgiven until we are baptized (Acts 2:38). We have not been born again until we have been immersed in water (John 3:1-5). The Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized. Honest people today who have been properly taught will do likewise. 
—via Bulletin, 7-22-0 1, Springfield, CO

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  • 2 weeks later...
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  • RETIREDFAN1 changed the title to Baptism and Salvation
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John 3:5
English Standard Version
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Mark 16:16
English Standard Version
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:38
English Standard Version
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16
English Standard Version
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Galatians 3:27
English Standard Version
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Peter 3:21
English Standard Version
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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Marshall Keeble on Baptism 

When brother Marshall Keeble was alive, in one of his message as he preached the unadulterated truth of the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ, he said...

"Water is important in a man’s life. God created water first, then, He created man out of the dust. Without water, dust would not stick. There is power in the water. There is water in a car. There is power in that water. If you do not believe it, try going home without it in the radiator and you have got a burnt up car. Now, try to get a man to go to Heaven without water, and you have got a burnt up man. Try going to Heaven without water, and you have got a burnt up church. 

Some say you are saved before baptism. Christ said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Now, you cannot say you are saved before baptism, besides you are calling God a liar. You cannot go to Heaven calling God a liar. You can call me a liar, but not God. 

Some say, “A man is saved and then baptized.” A woman does not wash clothes because they are already clean. I have seen a lot of smart women, but not that smart. She washes clothes because they are dirty. Man is baptized because he is dirty and needs to be cleansed. 

The Gospel is made up of five “pills” that will cure anything: first pill—“hear”; second pill—“believe”; third pill—“repent”; fourth pill—“confess”; fifth pill—“be baptized.” Take ’em with water, and they’ll cure sin."

Words of 'Marshall Keeble' a gospel preacher and servant of God who has passed on but his gospel messages are still powerful, relevant, and true.

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  • RETIREDFAN1 changed the title to God's Plan of Salvation

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