BAPTISM?  BY STEVE FINNELL

Is water baptism essential for the forgiveness of sins? Is it possible to be a Christian before or apart from baptism? Is there salvation without baptism? Is water baptism valid, even though the person baptized intellectually rejects the Biblical purpose of baptism?

Is baptism necessary so that your sins may be forgiven? According to the inspired apostle Peter, the answer is yes (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.")  The question is, would the three thousand who responded to Peter's message have been added to the church had they made this statement, "Peter, we have already said the sinner's prayer, our sins have already been forgiven, but we will be baptized as an example of our faith"? IS THAT A VALID  BAPTISM?

Is it likely that one may become a Christian before or apart from water baptism? The apostle Paul stated that we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27 For all of you were who baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.) What if the Galatians responded as such, "Paul, our relatives were all good Christians, and they were not immersed in water;  you cannot tell us that being baptized into Christ is the only way to become a Christian. Yes, we were all baptized, but it certainly had no bearing as to us putting on Christ? WOULD THAT BE A VALID BAPTISM?

  Does it matter what you think about baptism?

Is there salvation apart from baptism? Jesus said, no (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.) What do you imagine would have been the reaction of Jesus, had the eleven replied in the following manner, "We were saved the minute we believed in you, Jesus, but water baptism has no part in salvation, however, we will preach baptism as an act of obedience"? Would an "obedience only" baptism, BE A VALID BAPTISM?

Is immersion for the wrong reason a valid baptism? Most Christians would agree that water baptism is essential for the remission of sin, however, some would be willing to accept believers who were immersed, unscripturally, as brothers in Christ; yet few would seriously consider those who would deny faith, confession and repentance as being essential for salvation, as being in a saved state.

If we can safely say, that we were baptized, but it had nothing to         do with our salvation, then, why can we not assert that we repented, but that it had no bearing on receiving remission of sin? Can we not also say, that believing in Jesus is apart from salvation because we were saved by grace alone? Would it be possible to proclaim that we confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and believed God resurrected Jesus from the grave, but it had absolutely nothing to do with our salvation?

If we  have to be intellectually correct concerning faith, confession and repentance for the the remission of sin, then does it not logically follow that men should be re-immersed (actually baptized for the first time) in situations where persons were baptized for the wrong reason?

We must either be saved according to God's word or free to choose our own terms for pardon. Which will it be?

THERE ARE NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE PLANS FOR SALVATION!

(All Scripture quote from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BILE)