As noted in James, a person can proclaim their salvation all day long, but their words mean nothing if their actions don't back it up.

As I said in the baptism thread. Baptism was part of the great commision (Mark 16:16, Mat 28:19) and is given as the pattern to follow to recieve forgiveness of sins in the book of Acts (Brethren, what shall we do? Peter said to them "Repent and EACH ONE OF YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The very first believers were commanded to be baptized and so were the rest.

Being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" is the one baptism of a Christian (Eph 4) which is in line with John the Baptists teaching of the one who would come after him. It occurs simultaneously with water baptism. Hence John 3 "unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Why would anyone consider baptism to be a "work." Paul never gives us that impression. Baptism is an act of faith. Unfortunately, not many people have faith that God will do what He said He would do when one is baptized. They consider it a meaningless ritual. Wonder what God thinks about that pride?

With Love,

CG

I guess God gave us the choice to accept the truth in His word or accept the error taught by men. There is no scriptural backing for the exclusion of water baptism as a CONDITION for one's initial obedience to the gospel. There is no indication that it is in any way a ritual. The phrases "for the remission of sins" and "shall be saved" follow the first passages discussing a believer's baptism. Baptism is given as the example throughout Acts and is mentioned and defined throughout the NT letters. Our Lord said one must be baptized to be saved. Why doubt Him?

So if a hypothetical situation is all I can come up with to verify my belief, I care nothing about what the scriptures say. That is like saying if someone won the lottery but died on the way to claim thier ticket, they still won the lottery. Yes, but they didn't recieve the money. One who dies before being baptized hasn't recieved the washing that the Bible says forgives them of sins. Do you know of an instance where one was UNABLE to be baptized who understood that baptism was for the forgiveness of sins? It hardly ever happens, if ever and God is the judge in those cases. (God even provided the water for the eunuch.)

Although you may not see it this way, it is more proposterous to say that one who has not been baptized is saved than it is to say that the one who has not been baptized is not saved. Scriptures point to baptism as the way one enters into Christ's body (the church of the saved) and the point at which one recieves the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins. To say that one is saved without baptism is to speak where we have no instruction from God's word. I am not proud enough of my own thinking to say God approves of the one who refuses to be baptized when the scriptures say each one of you be baptized FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. 

You point to Matt 3:11 which indicates that the baptism that John was doing in water was just to show repentance (symbolic), but the baptism of Jesus would actually contain power. There is only one baptism now (Eph 4). One is not baptized with the Holy Spirit when they believe then baptized with water symbolically. THERE IS ONE BAPTISM. There is no scripture to back up your belief. Please feel free to share a passage that says that.

They only reason this doctrine ever came about was because of man's prideful nature. Thinking "I know better than to believe what the scriptures say about baptism" is pure foolishness and disobedience. I'm sorry to sound harsh, but the letters in the NT are harsh when dealing with a false teaching because many are led astray and need to be zapped out of it.

Satan works in the prideful nature of man. Let us be sure that we humbly submit to God's word instead of believing what we desire to be true.