Wednesday, July 6, 2016

SALVATION BY WATER BAPTISM? - By Ivan L. Burgener



 SALVATION BY WATER BAPTISM?  
By  Ivan L. Burgener


 Scripture Reading: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." While this verse shows the essential feature of "faith" for salvation, it also shows the equally important requirement of water baptism. Of course, no unbeliever would have submitted to baptism as illustrated by the Pharisees and lawyers who "rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him [John the Baptist]" (Luke 7:30). John the Baptist preached "the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Luke 3:3) and demanded they "bring forth fruits worthy of repentance" (Luke 3:8). Only those who truly believed John's message submitted to his baptism.

Peter, in like manner in his great Pentecostal address, brought real conviction to those who asked, "What shall we do?" He did not counsel them as so many would today, by sayingthatthey, if they believed would receive the forgiveness of sins and ought to be baptized. Peter plainly said they should "repent, and be baptized .. .for the forgiveness of sins and... receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Obviously, the unbelievers had no part in this. But make no mistake, water baptism was not optional for the believer. Without it, he could not express faith nor receive forgiveness but stood with the rejectors. There was no middle ground. Water baptism was part of God's program at that time toward Israel, and it was not permitted for professed believers to "pick and choose" what parts of God's program they would cooperate with. They either did-or they did not!

If water baptism was so essential then, what abouttoday? It is from Paul's letters that we read of "redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" and this through faith in Christ and His finished work at Calvary-apart from water baptism!




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Bible: King James Version
 

  How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4



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