How is it that we are so easily trapped by assumptions? I have read a few attempts at an answer to those who deny the need for immersion (baptism) for salvation by appealing to the thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him (Luke 23: 33-43). The usual answers come about half of the way and stop. Maybe we have just been too programmed by certain assumptions to be able to connect all the dots, but I wish to offer a more thorough approach. This is a logic problem.
What has become known as “faith only” teaching denies the need for immersion (Note 1) often by falsely assuming that the thief on the cross had not been baptized before Jesus died on the cross. This assumption cannot hold up when we rightly lay out the truth of the word of God (2 Tim 2:15; Note 2).
Matthew 3:1-6:
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” (KJV)
“Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about” seems to include a great many if not mostly all of the people in the land of Judea and the area of the Jordan river. These verses indicate that the people were repenting and confessing their sins and being immersed under John’s baptism. This is confirmed by Mark 1:5:
“And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” (KJV)
Christ was immersed by John (Matt. 3:13). Christ commanded and taught immersion to be saved, which was done before He was crucified.
“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.” (John 3:22, KJV)
“And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.” (John 3:26, KJV)
“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)“ (John 4:1-2, KJV)
The people were being prepared for the kingdom and were being called by both John and Christ to be immersed for forgiveness of sins. This period of time before the crucifixion introduced salvation through immersion for forgiveness of sins, and the record states that those of Jerusalem, and all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were being immersed.
It is not only possible, but it is highly probable that the thief on the cross had been immersed for forgiveness of sins.
The only ones who resisted and who were not being immersed were those who did not believe: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers – the dispensers and cutters of the Law.
“ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” (Luke 7:30, KJV)
The thief on the cross believed Christ was the Son of God (YHVH).
“ 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43, KJV)
The malefactor / robber who rebuked the other for railing against Christ believed Christ’s teaching of the kingdom, the very kingdom that both John and Christ had said was “at hand” (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15). The thief knew the kingdom was coming, which means he had to have previously heard either John or Christ or one of the disciples teach about the kingdom of God.
The better stand to take is that not only did the thief on the cross believe Christ was the Son of God, not only did he believe in the kingdom which Christ had said was shortly to come, but that he had indeed been convinced of the need of forgiveness of sins, and had repented and been immersed.
There is much more cause to believe the thief had been immersed / baptized than not.
So, the thief was crucified as a malefactor, a sinner under Roman law. Do we then assume that because he had been convicted of a crime under Roman law that he had not been forgiven of his sins by God?
The Romans used crucifixion for many reasons, but by the time of Christ’s crucifixion it was mostly for political insurgents; those who disrupted the state, opposed Caesar, and were instigating violent rebellions. Pilate’s instructions for Jesus’ cross was the label “king of the Jews”. This was to distinguish a supposed ruler who was not ordained or recognized by Caesar. (3) (4)
The very question Pilate asked Jesus was if He was king of the Jews (Matt. 27:11). Pilate was trying to determine if Jesus was guilty under Roman law of sedition and rebellion against Caesar.
Caiaphas and the rest of the council (Sanhedrin) had conspired to use the Romans to carry out a death sentence they were afraid to do themselves (Luke 22:2; 23:3). The normal Jewish practice for blasphemy was stoning to death. They cooked up the cause of sedition against Caesar to be able to bring Jesus under a Roman death sentence because they feared the people.
“And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” (Luke 23:1-2, KJV)
John 30:31-32 brings in the method of the death sentence the Jews wanted for Christ, and which had been foretold (Psa. 22:16; Zech 12:10; Isa 49:16). If a death by their hands had been carried out, they would have stoned him. Instead they wanted a cause and a reason to shift the blame for His death from themselves to the Romans, and for that they needed a sufficient cause for crucifixion – sedition. Christ was claiming to be a King, and Rome would and did view that as rebellion against Caesar.
Then why do we assume the thief on the cross was simply guilty of stealing an apple, or something similar which would more likely have resulted in having his hand cut off?
We are not told of which crime the thief was guilty. The scriptures do not clarify exactly why he was there on a cross beside Jesus. But, they do say enough for us to know that he believed Christ was the Son of God. As he asked to be remembered, Christ forgave him.
Do we also assume that because the thief was on that cross, he therefore was a sinner who had not repented, and had not yet been immersed; because we all know that those who have been immersed no longer sin? Should I say LOL, that is to laugh?
We know that Christ forgave his sins because of Christ’s statement,
“… Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, KJV)
Summarizing what we actually can know from the scriptures:
- The scriptures say that all of Judea, Jerusalem, and the region around the Jordan were being immersed for forgiveness of sins.
- Both John and Christ through His disciples preached and practiced immersion for forgiveness of sins.
- The thief on the cross believed Christ, and asked to be remembered.
- Paradise, that is Abraham’s bosom was that part of the Hadean realm for those who were saved (Luke 16:19-31) (5)
- Christ told the thief that he would be with Christ in Paradise that same day.
Conclusions we can then derive from the known facts by rightly handling the truth:
- As Paradise was that part of the Hadean realm for those who were saved, those who were judged worthy of eternal life, and
- As Christ told the thief he would be in Paradise that same day, and
- As Christ saved the thief that means He forgave his sins, and
- as John and Christ taught that immersion was necessary for forgiveness, therefore
- The thief had been immersed for forgiveness of sins sometime prior to his death.
The final conclusion is that those who believe and are immersed (baptized) SHALL be saved – Mark 16:16.
Christ saved the thief, therefore the thief had been immersed / baptized.
Immersion for forgiveness of sins is absolutely required by God, so that we will be covered (Rom. 4:7) by the blood of Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), so that if we repent, our sins will be hidden, forgiven, and never more remembered, and we can stand before our Father in heaven covered by the righteousness of His Son.
Acts 2:38; 8;12-13, 16, 38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; Rom 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27.
Faith only teaching is a false doctrine. Those who teach it are denying the scriptures, denying Christ’s clear command, and causing many to stumble and fall away.
(All bold emphasis is mine.)
Notes:
1) The correct translation of the Greek “baptizo” is immersion. For more on the misuse of “baptizo” see the previous post at the right margin, “Lies of the Roman Catholic Church – Part III: Baptism is NOT Sprinkling”.
2) Excerpt from Ellicott’s Commentary on “rightly dividing” of 2 Tim. 2:15:
“Rightly dividing the word of truth.—Better rendered rightly laying out the word of truth. The Greek word translated in the English version “rightly dividing,” literally signifies “cutting a straight line.” It seems most correct to regard it as a metaphor from laying out a road (see Proverbs 3:6, in the LXX. rendering, where the word is so used), “or drawing a furrow, the merit of which consists in the straightness with which the work of cutting, or laying out, is performed. The word of truth is, as it were, a road which is to be laid out straightly and truly.” So Ellicott. To affirm (see Alford and Huther-Meyer) that the notion of “cutting” had been gradually lost, and that the word already in the time of St. Paul signified simply “to manage rightly,” “to treat truthfully without falsifying,” and that the exact opposite is to corrupt or adulterate the Word of God (2Corinthians 2:17), seems premature. (Comp. Eur. Rhesus, 422, ed. Dindorf.)” Source: Biblehub
3) From “10 Interesting Facts About Crucifixion”:
Crucifixion was not a general form of capital punishment under Roman law. It was only allowed under specific circumstances. Slaves could be crucified only for robbery or rebellion. Source: here
4) From Jewish Encyclopedia on Crucifixion:
“These facts show that the crucifixion of Jesus was an act of the Roman government. That it was customary to liberate one sentenced to death on account of the holiday season is not corroborated by Jewish sources. But many of the Jews suspected of Messianic ambitions had been nailed to the cross by Rome. The Messiah, “king of the Jews,” was a rebel in the estimation of Rome, and rebels were crucified (Suetonius, “Vespas.” 4; “Claudius,” xxv.; Josephus, “Ant.” xx. 5, § 1; 8, § 6; Acts v. 36, 37). The inscription on the cross of Jesus reveals the crime for which, according to Roman law, Jesus expired. He was a rebel.” Source: Jewish Encyclopedia
5) Bible Dictionary: Abraham’s Bosom
” Unique phrase found in a parable of Jesus describing the place where Lazarus went after death ( Luke 16:19-31 ). It is a figurative phrase that appears to have been drawn from a popular belief that the righteous would rest by Abraham’s side in the world to come, an opinion described in Jewish literature at the time of Christ. The word kolpos [kovlpo”] literally refers to the side or lap of a person. Figuratively, as in this case, it refers to a place of honor reserved for a special guest, similar to its usage in John 13:23. In the case of Lazarus, the reserved place is special because it is beside Abraham, the father of all the righteous. The phrase may be synonymous to the paradise promised to the thief on the cross ( Luke 23:43 ). Together these passages support the conviction that a believer enjoys immediate bliss at the moment of physical death.” Source: BibleStudyTools
Shredding The Veil 
I so appreciate all you have shared! You are a fellow Berean!
I would also like to share a simplier but mighty response to the thief on the cross:
He was still under Old Testament law as Christ had not yet been crucified, so there was no need for immersion into Christ to forgive his sins because the new covenant did not go into effect until Christ had died (and ultimately arose from the dead) – our Good News!
Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—NOW THAT HE HAS DIED as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.
Complete Jewish Bible version:
Hebrews 9:15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will]. Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISED ETERNAL INHERITANCE. 16 For where there is a will, there must necessarily be produced evidence of its maker’s death, 17 since A WILL GOES INTO EFFECT ONLY UPON DEATH; it never has force while its maker is still alive.
And as if we needed further scripture to support immersion, Hebrews 10 makes it clear:
Hebrews 10:22 Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full assurance that comes from TRUSTING — with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Amen!
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Kim, John’s baptism of repentance, declaring the kingdom was at hand, prepared the way for Christ’s manifestation (Mal 3:1). Christ, the messenger of the new covenant being baptized of John – the anointing of the everlasting High Priest by the grandson of the last true Zadok high priest was a transfer from the earthly to the spiritual priesthood. It announced the new covenant, the everlasting kingdom that Christ’s sacrifice would establish. Christ’s baptism of John anointed Him as the Messenger of the Lord for His ministry and His work of salvation. Even tho the old covenant was still operating, the new covenant was running in parallel with it. Heb. 10:26 made it clear that even tho the animal sacrifices were still being offered at that old temple in AD 65-66 when the book was written they were of no more effect. See my post No More Sacrifice for Sin (Jul 2023). The rabbis recorded that the scarlet thread placed on the door of the temple on Yom Kippur never turned white for 40 years before the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
40 years – the time of transition from the old covenant to the new covenant. While the old covenant was being phased out, about to be abolished (Heb. 8:13) and the new covenant was taking over – those baptized into Christ didn’t have to make any more animal sacrifices under the old covenant. Those baptized unto John’s baptism were rebaptized unto Christ’s Passover sacrifice (Acts 19:1-4). But, those immersed unto John’s baptism of repentance before Christ was crucified were covered under the new covenant, not the old. So, the thief on the cross having heard about the kingdom, had known of John’s baptism, or of the disciples’ who were also baptizing as authorized by Christ which introduced the washings of the new covenant. IMO, the thief was saved under the new covenant promises.
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I will for sure read your other post! I love learning, and have never heard what you shared, but it certainly sounds like there is more for me to glean! I have found myself eager to understand the Jewish religion and fill in the blanks so that I have a better and fuller understanding of Scripture! Thanks for sharing with me!
As iron sharpens iron!! 😊
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Me, too. We cannot fully understand the new covenant scriptures without also understanding where they originated under the old covenant. Blessings….
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So you stated in your response: So, those in your example that prayed at the last moments of their life, but had not yet been baptized were not obedient to the Lord, and were not yet covered. It is tragic that anyone would gamble with their souls in this manner. But their neglect does not change the terms of God’s new covenant.
I want to make sure that I fully understand what you are saying. If you had prayed for someone’s salvation for 20-30 years, and they finally have an encounter with the Lord, and they call you on the phone and give you the good news. You say to them, ‘Great, let’s meet at the lake in 30 minutes so that you can get baptized’. They say, ‘That’s great, I will meet you there’. Then on the way to the lake, they get in to a car accident and get killed. Are you saying that person is not being obedient to the Lord and would be denied entrance in to heaven when they die because they did not meet the terms of the new covenant?
I want to make sure that I fully understand what you are saying.
Thanks for clarifying.
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Acts 17:30, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,” (RSV)
Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; …” (RSV)
Acts 10:34-35, “ Then Kefa addressed them: “I now understand that God does not play favorites, 35 but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him,” (CJB)
Acts 10:42-43, “42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (RSV)
Acts 10:48, “” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ….” (RSV)
So, God heard the prayer of a righteous man who was seeking out God, and He sent Peter to Cornelius so that he might be baptized. When did Cornelius and his household come into contact with the blood of Christ? How does anyone become a member of the body of Christ? It is after we have met God’s terms which is to be immersed into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, into Christ’s name, into His Passover. When are we washed from our sins?
Was Cornelius forgiven of his sins when he prayed to God? Or was he forgiven after having obeyed the command?
All of these hypothetical exceptions that you can think of for a case that God might wink at, or wave His hand over, or dismiss the requirement He set forth in His plan of salvation have consequences you are not considering. If God is going to change His terms for one person over here, and another person over there, then He becomes partial to that one person, and plays favorites. If God is going to pick and choose favorites, or those who can get around the commands He has set forth, then why did Jesus ever have to die for our sins?
Please notice how God sent Peter to Cornelius. God heard Cornelius’ prayer before Cornelius was baptized, which shows us that God hears the prayers of those who are seeking Him. And, God sent a man, Peter, to Cornelius to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his family. How did Cornelius hear the word and the command? Was it a whisper from God? Was it a small voice in the night? No, it was from the weakness of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21ff) that the gospel was given to Cornelius.
Rom. 10:14-15, 17, “14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? …17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.” (RSV)
God sent Peter to carry the word to Cornelius. God made the arrangements, Peter carried the word, and Cornelius acted on it because he believed the word. So, if there is anyone now who is seeking God, God will send someone to them to preach the word. Those who believe and are immersed into Christ will be saved (Mark 16:15-16).
It is our faith and trust in God to know that He will find a way for those who sincerely seek Him. So, it is not useful or profitable to imagine circumstances where a believer is prevented from being able to answer God’s call. If that imagined scenario of a plane crash or car accident was to prevent someone with a good heart, a sincere believer from being baptized into Christ, it is my belief that God would carry that airplane to safe landing or prevent the accident so that that man or woman could safely come to be baptized. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9). Trust God to know and be in control.
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Gina,
I have re-written this letter three times, trying to get it right and make sure that it does not come across like I am trying to argue with you, or somehow state that I know more than you. Nothing could be further from the truth. So please hear my heart that I just see a couple of things a little differently and would like to explain why, so that it does not just come across that I have an emotional opinion. I have a strongly held belief based on my study of the Word and I wanted to be able to share that with you. I chose to send it to you this way, because my response is long and I did not want to clog up your website with a very long response.
Thank you for all you do. I am forever indebted to how you helped open up the Word to me. I am forever grateful.
Sincerely,
Nathan D. Lewis
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Nathan, I have not rec’d the letter that you sent. Will you please email it to me at adamoj55@yahoo.com?
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I am in no way trying to twist God’s word and create a new doctrine. I think there was a little confusion in the verse that I referenced and the verse that you responded to. I wrote out Romans chapter 10, verses 8 through 10, not Ro 8:10, so I was not trying to re-state it in any way. I copied directly out of the word. I just saw something that I thought clarified something that does create quite a bit of confusion in the people that I talk to.
So that I am not misunderstanding your view, can I please use an example and get your feedback? If a non-believer, who the Holy Spirit has been working on and drawing for quite some time but they have just not yet come to submit to the idea of the Lordship of Christ, enters an airplane. During flight, both engines go out and the pilot announces that the plane is likely to crash in two minutes. During that time, that person, by the grace and mercy of God, has a personal encounter with Christ and fully yields his heart to the Lordship of Christ – he confesses his sin, he realizes that Christ is truly Lord and he confesses so with his mouth that Jesus Christ is his Lord. He is totally sincere and it is a sincere encounter with the Lord (similar to Paul’s road to Damascus experience). If he had the ability to, he would most certainly be baptized, but unfortunately for him, he does not have that ability. The plane then crashes and he dies. Does this man have the spirit of Christ dwelling in Him? Does Christ know him? Would he be with Christ in paradise? I want to make sure that I fully understand your position. I am not talking about what a person SHOULD do, but what a person is able to do. I am in NO WAY arguing that a person shouldn’t be baptized. They most definitely should, and most definitely need to. But there are actually cases where a person physically cannot and I believe it is important to understand those cases as well.
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Please forgive me. My eyesight is always blurry now. Your example is why Jesus said that we must always be prepared. The context of Rom. 10 begins with the hope that fleshly Israel would be saved through obedience.
” Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (vs. 1-3)
Further evidence that submission, obedience is required –
“13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved……16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”
How did Paul call on the name of the Lord ?
Acts 2:21, “and it shall be, every one — whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.” How did Peter tell those on the day of Pentecost to call on the Lord? The answer is in Acts 2:38, “38 and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,”
The baptism is not separated from the belief. It is the anointing that sets us apart, separates us for God to be His priests and kings on this earth.
“17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
The order of receiving the Holy Spirit at the hands of Ananias before Paul was baptized does not mean that the baptism is separate. from salvation. Rom. 10 makes the point that salvation is after obedience, and obedience is after belief. Believe AND are baptized. The concept of belief in the Hebrew scriptures is an action word, and relies upon follow through to be made complete. If a father tells his son that he will give the boy $5 if he will sweep the sidewalk, and the boy says, “I believe you”, but he doesn’t sweep the sidewalk, does he get the $5? No.
God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10: 34-35), which means that the terms are the same for every person who calls on the name of the Lord. The scriptures cannot be cherry picked to leave out other scriptures. They all work together. The references to belief are all stated with the knowledge the Apostles had preached to them to be baptized once they repented and confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. It was understood that believers had already been baptized. It was understood that salvation was a consequence of having been baptized. So, stating they should be saved by calling on the Lord was not just a verbal matter of voicing a desire. It was short hand for the entirety of the command to obey.
The example Jesus gave of the death of the 18 men in Luke 13:4 when the tower of Siloam fell on them is why we are to be prepared, why we have to obey His command so that when an accident or other deathly consequence happens then we are covered. So, those in your example that prayed at the last moments of their life, but had not yet been baptized were not obedient to the Lord, and were not yet covered. It is tragic that anyone would gamble with their souls in this manner. But their neglect does not change the terms of God’s new covenant. We are only admitted into Christ’s salvation, into His Passover after we have been baptized /immersed into His name.
Please note that even the disciples / Apostles were baptized into His name on the day of Pentecost. Even though they had been baptized under John’s baptism, the Apostles were obedient to the command. Acts 10:47, “Then answered Peter, `The water is any one able to forbid, that these may not be baptized, who the Holy Spirit did receive — even as also we?'” EVEN AS ALSO WE.
Our love for our fellow man demands that we preach the truth in all matters so that they can make the decision whether or not to be baptized.
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Ro 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
I agree that baptism is absolutely required for us to live as Christians, to walk in the newness of life. However, in the absolute strictest sense, it is not required for salvation (Ro 10:8-10), but it is required to live as believers on this earth in the newness of life (hence the ‘so we too’). This is why the thief on the cross did not need to be baptized, because he was nailed to a cross and was not going to need to live in the newness of life as a believer – he was dying within hours. This is also why those on their deathbed do not need to be baptized in order to receive the free gift of salvation, because they also will not need to ‘walk in the newness of life’ as a believer because they are going to die imminently.
Thoughts??
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I do not agree with your thoughts here. You have restated Rom:8-10 as you would like it to be used. What the scripture really says is:
“”8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (YLT)
How do we have Christ in us? How are we covered by His blood, and how do we have His righteousness counted to us? Those who are in Christ only get that way after they are immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins. That is the requirement for believers (Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:26-29; Rom. 6:3). Those who keep rationalizing the scriptures to do away with the action required to be in Christ are twisting God’s words.
Once we are in Christ then we follow after Him, live our lives according to the Spirit, walking with Him, and remain faithful unto death. Think about what Jesus told those who claimed to know Him.
“22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22-23, YLT) These ppl claimed to know Christ, claimed to do good works in His name, but Jesus rejected their claims. Their claims indicated that they believed in Him, but something was not right with them. His words – I never knew you – is because they were strangers to Him, outside of the conditions required to be in Christ. He denied their claims because they tried to create their own conditions, their own ideas for fellowship with Him. We cannot have fellowship with Christ without doing what He said to do – believe and be baptized.
So, as Christ told the thief on the cross that he would be with Christ that day in Paradise, then the thief was saved and forgiven. That has to mean that the thief met the conditions for salvation which started with baptism. Any who are immersed into Christ have met the first condition, the rest being that we remain faithful unto death no matter if that death occurs two minutes, two days, two years or two decades later. That is what Jesus was talking about in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-13), that the same reward would be given to all who fulfilled the terms. The terms are to believe and be baptized.
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Gina- First off, yes our realm is a flat motionless plane as scripture affirms over and over again. 🙂
I support you and your research fully.
I had always been confused by the issue of a full immersion-in-water baptism. As a child I was ‘baptized’/sprinkled with water in a Presbyterian church. As I aged, I fell away and recently have been convicted, repentant and digesting as much of God’s word as I can. After much research and nudging from the holy spirit, I am now absolutely convinced that a full immersion baptism is crucial to one’s salvation.
One can argue their point(s) and trade semantics but remember this; What does scripture tell us about Jesus’ first ‘public appearance’? How did he decide to reveal himself to the world? The first thing he did before he began his ministry in earnest was approach John and command that he be baptized. Our rabbi was ALWAYS teaching and this was his first and probably most important lesson that often gets overlooked.
On a personal note-I have yet to be immersed and do not belong to a church. I am struggling to find one that:
a) performs full immersion baptisms
b) i felt comfortable enough with their teachings/doctrines to join
Question: Can one baptize him/herself or have a loved one baptize you?
Thank you ahead of time for your blog and input.
~shalom
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David, welcome. The best basis, the only basis we have for our salvation is God’s word. All of the examples of immersion for repentance of sins is found in the gospels and in the book of Acts, and all of the immersions / baptisms were were witnessed by John, or the apostles and/ or the deacons they appointed. The scriptures do not seem to allow for an immersion without the confession of belief in Jesus / Yeshua as the Son of God (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38) and confessing their sins (Matt. 3:6, Mark 1:5; Acts 19:18). The confession of belief and of their sins required a witness, or witnesses. So it was a public event. If we abide by the scriptures, then a private, individual immersion is probably not a good model.
I am not an expert on the different practices of all of the denominations declaring their belief in Christ, but there are two which do still practice immersion for repentance of sins: the churches of Christ, and the Baptists. Most of the others seem to have fallen into the Catholic form of sprinkling. There are many Baptist churches that teach immersion into the “Baptist church”, which is counter to being immersed / baptized into Christ. So, if you go to a Baptist preacher you must inquire and make it clear that your immersion is into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and not for admission to the Baptist church organization.
That said, both the churches of Christ and the Baptists have fallen into the doctrines of dispensaltionalism and futurist end times teachings. Most all of the denominations have done so, and they are actively persecuting those of us who are trying to point out to them what the Bible really says. We are called heretics and are shunned. Doors are closed in our faces. So, while you can hear the basics of baptism / immersion and of how to live for Christ at most of the churches, all of the Christian denominational churches will teach that we are living in the last days, and end-times or end-of-the-world nonsense. Attending a local congregation to hear the full truth of God’s word is a shot in the dark today. They are not interested in fulfilled eschatology, and their minds are closed.
I can highly recommend Don Preston’s youtube videos at his channel at MrDonPreston (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAYGTKRVwQk&t=8s). He has been exploring the Olivet Discourse from Matt. 24-25 for two years bringing in all of the OT prophesies that foretold Christ’s coming in the first century AD.
Also, William Bell has a radio program & does put some of his work out on youtube at William Bell All Things Fulfilled (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3sBqNkg98UnXdhdk6BhibA). You are in time for the Preterist Pilgrim Weekend that both of them participate in coming up this July 13 – 17. It will be broadcast on line. They have been holding this conference for several years with 6 or 7 other men who are doing their best to get the word out. See https://bibleprophecy.com/.
Please do seek out a preacher from a local church of Christ, telling him of your belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and confessing the need for repentance of sins. Then, seek out these few men on line that may be able to point you to a local congregation of true students of the Bible. My family and I attend a church of Christ, but we cringe and endure the false teachings of a last days doctrines. It is a problem which is slowly coming to light, but will be eventually successful for those who do love God’s word.
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The scriptures are full of metaphors, water Baptism is the shadow Of The Real & Spiritual Reality Of Being Baptised Fully in The Holy Spirit! & speaking in New tongues. When you speak from The Spirit – Jesus Christ is Lord then you believe from your heart a gift from God!
God Quickens The Human Spirit- makes Alive!
There is much religiousness even in “Christianity”! People can say and do all manner of things, But Has God really been involved?
Why would “The Scriptures” relate to A Beloved Believer as a thief?
He would be called a martyr!
If Paul says he didn’t baptise then that must also include the people with and under him.
What happens with death bed Repentance?
God is Love and much bigger than formalities
Imagine how many people have cried out to God with their dying breath!? Being murdered for instance.
Jesus is The Eternal Word Of God.
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Who was baptized in the Holy Spirit? I count three occassions of Holy Spirit baptism: the disciples waiting in the upper room on day of Pentecost; the house of Cornelius in Acts 10 to open the door of the kingdom to the gentiles; and Paul on the road to Damascus. All three still had to be immersed in water after the Holy Spirit fell upon them. All of them! The Holy Spirit baptism was for the purpose of the miracles that were poured out upon the believers in the 1st century AD to show that the gospel was indeed approved by and sent by YHWH (Acts 2:22).
Those miracles lasted until that which was perfect had come… the kingdom (1 Cor. 13:10). So until AD 70, the Holy Spirit confirmed the word through miracles. And it was only given to the people by the Apostles’ laying on of hands, or the select few whom they designated such as Timothy. Carefully read the account of Paul’s interaction with the twelve from Ephesus who were baptized again in Acts 19.
1. Paul asked if they had received the Holy Spirit since they had BELIEVED. The word believed in the Hebrew is an action word, and was used by the Apostles to denote their compliance with being immersed in water for their salvation. It implied action, not thought.
2. After they said no, Paul then asked unto what were they baptized? Affirming that believing meant having been baptized!
3. The twelve replied they had been baptized in John’s baptism.
4. Paul told them that they had to be baptized into Christ, implying that John’s baptism was only effective up to the cross of Christ.
5. The 12 men were then immersed in Jesus’ name, believing what Paul said they did what Paul told them to do. They believed, thus they were baptized into Christ.
6. Only after they were immersed did Paul lay his hands upon them so they could receive the Holy Spirit. And, only after that laying on of hands did they begin speaking in tongues and prophesying.
You will also see the gift of the Holy Spirit denied to Simon, even though Simon had been baptized b/c Peter knew by the Holy Spirit that Simon wanted to use it as a means of profit (Acts 8:9-22). So, having the gift of the Holy Spirit was not an automatic result of baptism. The Holy Spirit approved the person whether he was worthy or not of the gift. That is why Paul told Timothy to lay hands suddenly on no man (1 Tim. 5:22). Timothy was to wait and see if the Holy Spirit approved the laying on of hands of any new believer that had been baptized.
Since all of these miracles died out after the apostles died, and the temple was destroyed, as we no longer have these miracles today, then the pouring out of the Holy Spirit also ceased in the first century AD. Too many ppl today are trying to claim these miracles for themselves and are denying the very power of His Spirit which is in the word…. the word given by the Holy Spirit for all of us. That is how we have the Holy Spirit today, by studying His word. Then the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts through the word of YHWH. It does not mean we can perform miracles.
Immersion in water is absolutely required for you to say you are a believer; for you to say you have been saved.
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you preach a message of works ~ you Must be water baptised!
I don’t believe you.
the Israelites asked The Lord Jesus what work they Must do John 6 v 28
Jesus answered ~ Believe in HIM!
He then teaches on The Bread of Heaven Not 1 mention of water baptism!
Do we Needs Must be circumcised as Born Again Believers?
not physically but Spiritually Yes!
likewise baptism is really about The Holy Spirit Indwelling
people all over the earth unable to receive a living water baptism ie
a river of fresh water some live in a desert or the artic
you are imposing on people yet denying The Holy Spirit!
Jesus washed feet and taught it to be done!?
how many verses can you find of people doing it?
water baptism could be used as a golden ticket ~ Heaven!
no never! God saves by baptism of The Holy Spirit!
jeremiah 31 v 33
Joel 2 v 28
Ezekiel 36 v 27
acts 2 v 4, 11 v 15..,
Revelation 3 v 20
it’s about being filled not getting wet.
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I delayed responding to your comment b/c sometimes I just get tired. So, I suppose then that we are not to help those who are in need (Luke 16:19-22), b/c that would be a work. Or, we can’t contribute to the needs of the saints (Rom. 12:13) b/c that would be a work. Nor are we to teach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) b/c that would require work (action). Or, that we are not supposed to honor our father and mother (Matt. 19:19) b/c that would mean we would have to obey their commands, respect their wishes, and provide for their needs all of which require our actions (works).
Do you see how twisted the concept of defining obedience to Jesus’ commands as a system of works has become by those who are teaching “faith only” doctrine? Faith requires that we do what He said to do. “ But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (James 2:18) Or remember Solomon’s words, “…that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God:…” (Ecc. 9:1)
Obedience is a component, essential element of belief and faith which I have explained more thoroughly in my post Belief, Faith & Obedience (Mar. 2024), b/c if we do not do what Jesus said to do, then how can you possibly say you believe Him? And, that is the full meaning of believing Him at John 6:28-29. Jesus had just been telling them of the works the Father had sent Him to do in John 5:20ff. Jesus was working, doing, taking action that the Father sent Him to do.
The claim of Holy Spirit baptism is false doctrine derived from misunderstanding and misuse of scripture. The three instances you are counting where the Holy Spirit was poured out before water baptism were exceptions inverted, not substitutions.
1. The pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost did not take the place of water immersion. Even the twelve were immersed in water to obey the command at Acts 2:38 which Peter alludes to at the baptism of Cornelius and his household. His words “as well as we” at Acts 10:47 do not just refer to the pouring forth of the Spirit, but also of their water immersion.
2. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit was not an automatic result of water immersion. Peter and John were sent to Samaria to pray that those who had been immersed in water could receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 10-16) through the laying on of their hands. Peter also denied the Simon the gift b/c his heart was not right (vs. 20).
3. John was not telling the Pharisees and Sadducees of their salvation when he told them that they would be immersed with the Holy spirit and with fire(Matt. 3:11); John was foretelling their judgment, their doom. B/c they did not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, they were going to reject Him, crucify Him, and be judged and killed in the destruction of Jerusalem. Fire is God’s symbol of judgment (Lam. 2:4; Isa. 9:18-19;10:16; 29:6; 30:27, etc).
4. Being filled with the Holy Spirit was to speak the word of God. The pouring forth of His Spirit in the first century AD was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of the last days which Peter declared was happening on the day of Pentecost, and was God’s miraculous method of proclaiming the gospel to the people before they had the written words of the NT books. We have His words, His Spirit today in the Bible. See the posts for Testing the Spirits – Part V(a,b,c) from Jul 2022.
5. All of the “baptisms” recorded in Acts are water immersion. Made clear by Peter’s statement that it is not a “putting away of the filth of the flesh” (1 Pet. 3:21) which clearly alludes to the use of, being in water washing, water immersion. It is not Holy Spirit baptism / immersion. After we are immersed in water the Holy Spirit then works to record our obedience, to write our names in the book of life, and to circumcise our hearts. He does not do that until after we obey the command to be immersed in water. See the posts here: Crossing Over (May 2019), Do You Need to be Baptized to be Saved (Nov. 2016), & Lies of the RCC: Baptism is Not Sprinkling (Aug 2015).
Out of Christian love, I ask you most sincerely to obey Jesus’ commands to be immersed in water (baptized) for the forgiveness of your sins so that He can save you (Mark 16:16).
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….of the doctrine of baptismS… why plural ?
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Heb 6:2, Interlinear, “about baptisms instruction, of laying on then of hands…” and the Greek word is “baptismos”, Strong’s Gr 909, the act of dipping or washing. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon has ” of the washings prescribed by the Mosaic law, Hebrews 9:10. βαπτισμῶν διδαχῆς equivalent to διδαχῆς περί βαπτισμῶν, Hebrews 6:2 (where L text, WH text, βαπτισμῶν διδαχῆς), which seems to mean an exposition of the difference between the washings prescribed by the Mosaic law and Christian baptism.” Source: https://biblehub.com/greek/909.htm.
The plurality is not implying different kinds of baptism, but the differences between the Mosaic “washings” and the immersion in water for symbolic burial in Christ under the new covenant. Eph. 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The plural form of the word “baptismos” also works with the plural form of “laying on of hands” and indicates not different types of baptism, but multiple events where the disciples were performing multiple baptisms of many ppl.
You might also notice the Interlinear correctly identifies the order; first the immersion / washing, then the laying on of hands. This was the promise of Joel’s prophesy for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the 1st century AD (Joel 2:28-29). Acts 2:39, ” For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” The promise of the Holy Spirit was for that generation to be able to prove to the ppl that what they heard and saw was from YHVH.
The gift of the Holy Spirit was not automatically given as a result of baptism. The apostles, or those they delegated (Timothy) had to lay their hands upon the person after they were immersed in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit. See 1 Tim. 5:22, “lay hands suddenly on no man”. They were to wait for the Holy Spirit to tell them whether or not to lay hands on the person. See Acts ch. 8 and Simon the sorcerer. Simon believed and was baptized, but he saw the apostles laying their hands on the other believers who had previously been baptized, he wanted the gift of the Holy Spirit so that he could make money off that power. Peter rebuked him (Acts 8: 13-21). That gift of the Holy Spirit was for the public proof and witness of the word, the gospel of Christ. It died out as the Apostles / disciples who had the ability of laying on of hands died. It was no longer necessary once the written word, the NT was circulating because that word had been repeatedly confirmed by those miracles.
When we are immersed today, we have forgiveness of sins as we repent of them. We have the Spirit through the written word of His testimony of all those miracles that were recorded for our edification. The more we study His word, the more His Spirit dwells within us because of His word being written upon our hearts (Heb 10:16-17).
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Yvan – you quote from Hebrews 6 about baptismS.
Baptism (immersion/tevilah) to the Jewish community was used ceremonially for all kinds of purposes – immersion was a transition from a state of ritual impurity (tamei) to purity (tahor) – they immersed for menstruation, for childbirth, touching a dead body, etc. It signified a change in status, such as conversion or marriage. They did and continue to perform these different types of immersions in the Jewish community because they are still waiting for Messiah and can never achieve inward purity, but Hebrews 9 has a lot to say about this:
… 9the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
As Christ gave himself once for all, one immersion is all that is required on our part:
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
So we see that all of the ceremonial washings/immersions/baptisms/tevilah that were required in the Old Testament for all kinds of different reasons and purposes have been done away with. We now come into union with Christ through immersion/baptism as Romans 6 tells us:
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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…solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptismS, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment…
Holy Spirit teach and only trough Him by revelation the True Church is built. I must stop here. Shalom in Y-h
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Yvan, that passage does not negate the first principles, not laying again the foundation, does not mean destroying the foundation. Paul is wanting them to build upon the foundation the deeper & more mature meat of the gospel. He was trying to get the walls and the roof put on the foundation of repentance and baptism and resurrection which were the foundation.
Peter & the eunuch, Acts 8:36-38, “… See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”
Just one of the examples in Acts of immersion in water for salvation that is the foundation upon which the Apostles preached the gospel. If you have not yet been immersed, please do not be afraid of getting wet! You stand up from that watery grave (Rom. 6:3-9) as Paul preached resurrected to eternal life. Paul never said it was no longer necessary.
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After that question, I look all the verses from Paul’s writing on baptism. I discovered that none was about “water” baptism. Thanks. Now I will read your post on Rom. 13. Blessings
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Yvan, yes they were all water baptism. That was understood, because the word “baptizo” was not translated; it was transliterated from the Greek. The word in the Greek means immersed. All of the immersions performed in the gospels and in Acts were in water. Please also read Lies of the Roman Catholic Church – Part III: Baptism is NOT Sprinkling at the right margin.
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Many moon’s ago… over 33 years, I was puzzled by Paul : “For Christ did not send me to baptize…” in 1 Cor 1:17 a direct opposition to the Great Commission to the apostles in Mat 28:19 How do you understand him? Blessings
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Paul did baptize on occasion (Acts 19:1-6, 1 Cor. 1:14). In 1 Cor. 1:17 Paul was stressing that his primary duty was to preach the gospel. The deacons and other disciples were ministering to the assemblies and Paul and Peter designated those to baptize the ppl (Acts 10:48). The apostles were the “higher authority” appointed by God (Rom. 13) for the commission of spreading the gospel and binding the first principles (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Jesus did not baptize, but He instructed His disciples to do so. The Apostles were following His pattern and using their time and abilities for the higher purpose.
Barnes’ Notes on 1 Cor. 1:17 –
“For Christ sent me not to baptize – That is, not to baptize as my main business. Baptism was not his principal employment, though be had a commission in common with others to administer the ordinance, and occasionally did it. The same thing was true of the Saviour, that he did not personally baptize, John 4:2. It is probable that the business of baptism was entrusted to the ministers of the church of inferior talents, or to those who were connected with the churches permanently, and not to those who were engaged chiefly in traveling from place to place. ”
They also avoided the tendency that Paul spoke of in the previous vs. 11-14 where the ppl were boasting of who had baptized them, and were arguing over this status symbol.
See my post on Romans 13, and also see the other commentaries on this verse at Biblehub.com.
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You never answered Paul Harrison’s questions. Why was the thief not called a martyr? What happens to people who get saved on their deathbeds? What happens to people who die between getting saved and getting baptized? If you believe baptism MUST happen in order for salvation then all of those people are burning in hell, according to you. I’m sorry but it takes ALOT of assumptions to presume the thief had already been saved, baptized and was a child of God as he was hanging bc the Bible never says that. You’ve said in previous comments that you’re married to the Bible. If that’s true then you must know that ONLY God gets to decide who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. ONLY God knows the HEART of a man. ONLY God knows who is truly His. You nor I nor any other MAN gets to decide who is truly saved and who isn’t. My Bible says repeatedly that BELIEF in Jesus as the Son of God through the GRACE of God is the ONLY requirement for salvation. John 3:16 And that’s why you can’t answer the simple questions Paul Harrison asked. Men can add religious doctrine all they want but the Bible clearly states those are dead works and will get you nowhere. Getting dunked in a pool of water by another man does NOT save us – only God does that.
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Blondie, the thief on the cross was convicted of a crime against Roman law. He was not killed because of his belief in Christ, therefore he was not a martyr. Stephen was a martyr. Peter and Paul were both martyrs.
People latch onto the comments in the letters about believing and continuing in the faith & then cut away the original commandments in the gospels and in Acts. Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (KJV). Believing was the first part of the command, but is connected with “immersion” (Gr. baptizo). Believe and is baptized. Ppl want to erase the second part of the command because they think the word “believe” is just a mental process.
When the apostles wrote the letters to the assemblies in Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonica, etc they were writing to those who were already baptized believers. They did not have to continually preach the need to be baptized to those who were already baptized. Those assemblies were teaching the gospel of Christ and the need for immersion into Christ to local people b/c they were taking care of the first steps. The apostles were teaching weightier matters (Heb. 6:1-2).
Rom. 13:11, “11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (KJV) Believed – past tense. It is translated in the ASV, AMP ERV, ESV, & others as “first believed”. The ISV has it as “nearer now than when we became believers.”
What did they do first when they were convicted in their hearts that Christ had died for them? What did they do to put themselves into a right relationship with YHWH? They obeyed the command to be immersed into Christ (Acts 2:41). Every example of conversion in the book of Acts involves first believing, then confessing, and then immersion. When the apostles then used the word “believed” or “believe” in the letters to the assemblies they were including all of that compound command which Christ gave to them to believe and be baptized. Baptism / immersion was understood as a necessary component of their belief. They did not have to keep saying “believe and be baptized.”
Gal. 3:6, ” Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” How was Abraham’s faith counted to him for righteousness? Because he obeyed God’s command. Obeying the command is believing. If you say you believe and you do not do the things God has told us to do, then you do not really believe.
The unbelieving spies in the exodus from Egypt were condemned for their failure to do what God told them to do, and God said “ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Deu. 1:32) Likewise, in Deu. 9:23, “… then ye rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.” They did not obey God’s command, so then they did not really believe.
A command of God is not a work of man. We are not saved by our own initiative / works. We are saved by doing what God says to do, which we do when we believe Him. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Believing is not just a rearrangement of the neurons in our brains. It involves completed action, meeting the conditions and terms of the contract, doing the will of the Father.
God honors His word, and will save all who have believed and been immersed into Christ, if they stay faithful unto death (Rev. 14:13). You want to place conditions upon God’s word by speculating about any who have not heard the commandment, or did not obey the commandment until just before they die, and do you not see that you are trying to tie His hands? God will judge all of us as to whether we have been faithful unto death. I will leave those speculative conditions up to Him. But as I have heard the command, and have trusted His word, then I was told and I am responsible for doing what He said to do – believe and be baptized / immersed.
James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (KJV)
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