There is "no" salvation in water baptism. Think about the sinner who was on a cross next to Jesus, when he ask Jesus to remember him and Jesus said, today you will be with me in paradise. He did not get down from the cross and go get water baptized. Water baptism is a action taken by a born again believer who wants to let others know that he has excepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior and has repented of his sins. It's a confession that you are saved. That you are a new creation in Christ Jesus, that you died with Him, are buried with Him and raised in the newness of Life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
If water baptism was a requirement for salvation Christ would have sent Paul the apostle to baptize. However, Paul was not sent to water baptize but to preach the gospel of which water baptism is not an essential element.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Works, including that of water baptism, do not save. We are saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is an ordinance and an outward practice for the inward work done by Christ when we're saved by Grace. I also agree that when Jesus speaks of water in John 3 to Nicodemus; he's referring to physical birth...no water baptism as an ordinance.
Religion (catholicism being one) teach that it is Salvation but they add sacraments and other works to that process thus showing how they've frustrated the simple Grace of Jesus Christ.
I agree Homer, John 3:3-6, seems to indicate that Jesus' mention of 'water' is metaphorical of human birth. When Nicodemus was thinking that this new birth was an actual physical birth (v4), and when Jesus then (in v6) reiterates that what "is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit", show that 'water' must refer to physical birth & not a future 'water baptism'. The whole focus of this passage was to clear Nicodemus' mind that Jesus wasn't speaking of a second physical birth. Man has to be born into this world first & then born again of the Spirit to be saved.
And indeed, if water baptism is an essential part of salvation's work, then, as you mentioned, those who die suddenly, or who are incapable of being baptized, or by neglect of the evangelist, will then suffer complete rejection by God, even if they have called upon Him in faith. Water baptism is an important first step for the new believer, but never to be part of salvation by faith, or else, salvation is no longer of faith.
If not, how about those who are not baptized who die by disaster without who believe, but never got baptized??
If water baptism was a requirement for salvation Christ would have sent Paul the apostle to baptize. However, Paul was not sent to water baptize but to preach the gospel of which water baptism is not an essential element.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Works, including that of water baptism, do not save. We are saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is an ordinance and an outward practice for the inward work done by Christ when we're saved by Grace. I also agree that when Jesus speaks of water in John 3 to Nicodemus; he's referring to physical birth...no water baptism as an ordinance.
Religion (catholicism being one) teach that it is Salvation but they add sacraments and other works to that process thus showing how they've frustrated the simple Grace of Jesus Christ.
And indeed, if water baptism is an essential part of salvation's work, then, as you mentioned, those who die suddenly, or who are incapable of being baptized, or by neglect of the evangelist, will then suffer complete rejection by God, even if they have called upon Him in faith. Water baptism is an important first step for the new believer, but never to be part of salvation by faith, or else, salvation is no longer of faith.
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