IGNORING THE NEW COVENANT by steve finnell

Those who deny that immersion in water is essential for salvation do so by ignoring the terms for pardon under the new covenant.

The new covenant was not in effect until after the death of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:14-17 And how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a testament, there must also be of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.(NKJV)

The new covenant terms of pardon were only in force after the death of Jesus.

After Jesus died He gave the new covenant terms for pardon. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..(NKJV)

New covenant conversions.

1. Acts 2:22-38. They believed and were baptized.

2. Acts 8:12. They believed and were baptized.
3. Acts 8:35-38. He believed and was baptized.
4. Act 9:1-18, Acts 22:16. He believed and was baptized.
5. Acts 10:34-48 They believed and were baptized.
6. Acts 16:14-15 They believed and were baptized.
7. Acts 16:30-34 They believed and were baptized.
8. Acts 19:3-5 They believed and were baptized.

Examples of those saved before the new covenant was in force.
1. 2 Kings 2:1-11. Whirlwind into heaven. Can men today be saved like Elijah? No, they cannot
2. Hebrews 11:5 Can men today be like Enoch? No, they cannot.
3. Can men today be saved like Moses and Abraham? No, they cannot.
4. Luke 7:37-50. Can men today be saved like this woman who was a sinner? No, they cannot.
5. Matthew 9:2 Can men today be saved like the paralytic? No, they cannot.
6. Luke 18:13-14 Can men today be justified like the Jewish tax collector? No, they cannot.
7. Luke 23:39-43 Can men today be saved like the thief on the cross? No, they cannot.

None of these people who were saved before the the new covenant was in force believed that God raised Jesus from the dead. None of them were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

NEW COVENANT TERMS FOR PARDON
1. FAITH: John 3:16
2. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9
3. REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
4. IMMERSION IN WATER: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21

It does not matter what men say. What did Jesus say? (Mark 16:16)