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This paper is done to refute heresies of water baptism! I was getting tired of the hereticks writing me blasting posts telling me that "the blood of Christ is on your hands," etc., because I taught that water baptism was not needed for salvation, that water baptism does not save. So, I set out to write this piece on water baptism to show their Damnable Heresy! about water baptism. There are basically four beliefs about the issue of water baptism and only one is correct which I hope to show.
The first belief is that water baptism is required for salvation. The second is that sprinkling a baby is water baptism and that it saves a child into the family of God. The third is that water baptism is not required for the church age. All three of those are heresy of course! The other belief is that water baptism is a commandment of the Lord to do, but that in this dispensation it does not save the person. That is, water baptism has absolutely nothing to do with saving the soul from hell to heaven.
I am not going to attempt to answer all three of the above heresies individually, but show what the Bible teaches in certain areas about baptism. So, in doing that, all four points above will be answered at least indirectly.
Water baptism is a work - period! There is no way for the honest person to get around that. According to Ephesians 2:8-9 then, we cannot be saved by water baptism:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The Bible says:
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.
Paul says it is the "gospel of Christ" that has the power. He does not say, "the gospel of Christ and water baptism!" Nowhere, absolutely nowhere, does Paul connect water to the "gospel of Christ." (See Our Apostle .)
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
There is an eternal security verse! We are "kept...to be revealed in the last time." Where is the water? No water! It's "By the power of God through faith unto salvation." Why do you that believe that water is necessary for salvation insist on reading it something like, "By the power of God through faith and water baptism unto salvation."?
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Again, Peter tells us that water baptism does not save. You think it does, eh? Why then is the holy Spirit careful to add in parenthesis, "(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,"? Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that and only by faith in him, not of works, not of water, are we saved!
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!
First of all, the word "baptize" means to be fully submerged in water. You think that would be enough said on it, but obviously, there are those that do not believe what the scripture says and will listen to a clergyman instead. So, we will look at it a little deeper. Let's start with some examples of being completely submerged in the Bible:
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
The Lord was all the way under the water in his baptism. Are you going to follow a pope, some other clergyman, or the Lord? Need I say more?
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. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
They both went "into the water" and "were come up out of the water." The eunuch got dunked! It would have been a lot easier for Philip, drier too, to pick up a handful of water and throw it in the eunuch's face.
Please reader, find me one verse in the Bible that says we are to sprinkle people instead of fully submerge them in water.
So, you ask, how about infants; they would drown wouldn't they? Let me ask you a question. Where in the Bible does it say that infants are to be baptized, or even a definite account of one?
There are a few verses that some run to trying to justify "infant baptism," here are a couple:
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us....And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
There are two assumptions made here. One is, that there were infants in the household. And two, that infants were included as part of the household for baptism purposes. Now you may say, well, you cannot say that the assumptions do not hold true though. You are correct, but I can prove that they did not baptize infants.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 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.
There is a slight problem with baptizing infants. There is something one has to do first before he can be baptized. One, according to the scripture, does not get baptized until after a confession of belief. An infant cannot belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Everywhere that a household is mentioned, there is always belief there before baptism. Infants cannot believe the gospel, so the cannot be born again. Therefore, it is scripturally incorrect to baptized infants.
The grave problem with this belief, even a Damnable Heresy!, is that it is the church who supposedly decides who gets saved. Furthermore, one can go through a lifetime thinking they are saved and never hear the true gospel (See Are You Sure?). Please do not think it doesn't happen. I attended Catholic Mass for two years faithfully and never once heard the plan of salvation. How about those that are deceived and had their child sprinkled, never or rarely attending church after that - they are many!
God has made provision for our infants, but that is another study altogether. The basics of it though, is until the child comes to a heart condition where he may know the law and God, he is in a safe condition and will not go to hell.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Many that teach water baptism is a requirement for salvation use the above passage. Here one again they are out of their dispensation. The main way that you can easily tell this is by reading the scripture on out from the passage they quote. They read, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned," but don't go any further.
Next, there is that big conjunction "and" joining what follows to Mark 16:16 where they stop at. The Bible says, "And these signs shall follow them that believe;" See that? "them that believe." Do you believe? Have you ever heard of a Christian that died from a snake bite? How about Christians poisoning themselves, accidentally or suicide? Is everyone healed that you lay hands on? Where are all the signs to confirm the word with? Since when does the church age confirm the word with signs anyhow?
I believe that is enough on this to show you that Mark 16:16-20 is not for "the dispensation of the grace of God," even Paul's gospel.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit....The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus does not understand Jesus' statement and asks the question of how can a man be born again of a woman. Jesus answers by saying that one must "be born of water and of the Spirit," and he explains what he means in the following verse. This is where folk that believe that water baptism is required for salvation miss it at.
Again, the question was asked, Jesus answered, and then he explained by saying, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Notice, he substitutes, "born of water" with "born of the flesh." This is the key to the passage. Jesus is speaking of the water being the water of the woman's womb. Most of you that are familiar with child birth knows that when a woman's "water breaks" that child birth is near. Also notice in verse eight that Jesus completely omitted the water portion of the verse just leaving, "...so is every one that is born of the Spirit." If the Lord was speaking of water baptism, don't you think it is rather neglectful of him not to say so? Water baptism is mentioned many times in the Bible, why would the Lord not mention here when he is speaking of salvation? The answer is simple; he is not speaking of water baptism!
The problem that those who believe that water salvation is necessary for salvation have is that they are reading their beliefs into the passage and not reading it for what it says! This is a big no-no. We do not change the scripture to fit our beliefs, but let the scripture change our beliefs to what it says.
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Notice Saul's confession of faith above. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom. 10:13) This is the same as the thief on the cross next to the Lord:
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
NO WATER in either case. There was never any water for the fellow on the cross - no chance for it.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Paul, at the time, was following a Jewish ritual, works, a extension of John the Baptist's baptism so to speak! It is perfectly understandable why Ananias had him get baptized, but this was not a believer's baptism. He was doing "according to the law," (vs. 12) just what any Jew would do for purification, not regeneration! Remember, this was Paul's account of what happened to him back there when he was first called to be a chosen vessel by the Lord, before the Lord gave Paul "the gospel of the grace of God." Ananias was still preaching an extension of "the gospel of the kingdom" as it was starting its transition into Paul's gospel.
Besides that, look at the English closely. It does not say that water baptism washes away your sins. However, it does say that calling upon the name of the Lord washes away sins.
Here once again, those that believe in baptismal regeneration, having to be baptized to be saved, wrest the scripture to their own destruction and the destruction of others.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Notice the "and" in "Repent, and be baptized." That is works to receive the Holy Ghost. Compare with Rom. 5:5. Notice also it is "for the remission of sins." My cancer is in remission right now and the same cancer could come back at any time. It is dormant, in remission -- glory to God! Please follow this thing out, it says to "Repent and be baptized" before they received the Holy Ghost. Let's continue:
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
The "times of restitution" will not happen at the earliest until the Lord of glory splits Mt. Olives and sits down on his rightful throne in Jerusalem here on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords! Then will he blot out their sins like promised in Jere. 31: 31-34; Heb. 10: 16-17 to name just a few. Obviously, "the times of restitution of all things" has not happened yet!
It is a covenant that the Lord made with the House of Israel to "remember their sins no more... at the time of restitution of all things." This will take place at the earliest at the Second Coming, even during the Millennium when the Lord will reign here on earth from Jerusalem as is promised to the nation of Israel.
Notice the setting in Acts 2, Peter is preaching to a bunch of pork abstaining, Sabbath worshiping Jews. Read through Acts 2 and note the many times he uses phrases like, "Ye men of Israel, brethren, men of Judea, house of Israel," etc. The gospel was not yet to be preached to the Gentiles. This did not come about until Paul was called out.
At this point, I will skip a lot of transitional doctrine to show you how Peter's gospel, changed to that of Paul's:
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Do you see that - no yoke! No more works! No water! Peter said, "And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." By faith! No water, which is works! Read further we see Peter say, "we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Peter just admitted that the Gentiles were getting saved a different way than what the Jews were preaching. Paul rebuked Peter for his gospel over in Galatians:
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)....But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
You see it don't you? Peter had a different ministry preaching a different gospel. Paul confronted him about it and later God had to show him. We saw the evidence above in Acts 15 when Peter's eyes were finally opened saying that the Jews could be saved just like the Gentiles by faith alone and no works such as water baptism!
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Once again, those that believe that water baptism is a requirement to be saved read their belief into this passage. Absolutely nobody puts on Christ by getting dunked in a pool of water. There is no scripture to back up such a blasphemous heresy! However, comparing scripture with scripture as we are commanded to do (John 6:63; 1 Cor. 2:13) does reveal the answer to this verse if one is willing to believe what the Book says:
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
When was the last time you saw the holy Spirit baptize someone in water? You never have! This is a spiritual baptism, no water, done by the holy Spirit to all those that accept Christ as their Saviour. It is him, who baptizes us into the body of Christ!
NO, IT MOST DEFINITELY DOES NOT!
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
We need to see the context of the passage in order to find out what is being said. Notice what precedes, "one baptism," "unity of the Spirit." All the "one"s above are spiritual. Water IS NOT spiritual, but physical, and water baptism is works. (See Eph. 2:8-9.)
So, the "one baptism" is that of:
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
To say that Ephesians 4:5 is a water baptism and that it is the only baptism is heresy! Those that believe that water is required for salvation teach this and it can be a damnable heresy! (See: Water Save? )
Actually, there are many baptisms in the Bible:
(There are also, many lords, gods, etc., but there is only one of each that can "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.")
This study would take too much and away from the main thesis of this one to study the above. However, if you are interested in them, there is a good study called Saving Baptism done by D. A. Root at: Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Does "washing" equal water baptism? It does? Book, chapter, and verse please?
Do you have a verse that says water baptism regenerates a dead spirit? I have some that say it doesn't:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
When we were born again God did a spiritual operation on us, separating the spirit from the flesh and giving the spirit a new birth. This is where we get the "washing" at from the "Living Water" that puts "off the body of the sins of the flesh." Even so:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Here again we see that water does not: regenerate a person, wash away sins, nor save. "Like figures" do not save anybody! Furthermore, the holy Spirit says himself that water baptism does not put away "the filth of the flesh,"!
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Those that teach baptism regeneration love to run to this verse too. Again, they read their pre-conceived belief into what the passage. This passage is so clear that they purposely have to ignore part of it to say water saves. They read the first part of verse 21, "even baptism doth also now save us," after reading, "eight souls were saved by water." They do indeed ignore the rest, willfully! For what saith the scripture:
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
How much clearer can that possibly be? Water baptism does not save us from "the filth of the flesh," our sin! Only our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ can do that, even the washing in his blood! It is an "answer of a good conscience," our testimony that we are saved and have a "good conscience toward God."
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,...Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:...For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
We see that Paul has a gospel committed unto him to preach to the Gentiles, us. He calls it, "my gospel." He tells us exactly what that gospel is and names it:
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:...If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
He does call it by different names such as "the gospel of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of peace," but never the "gospel of the kingdom" which is what the Lord Jesus preached mostly, John the Baptist, and Peter preached a continuation of it.
Dear reader, can you find me one place where Paul says that one has to have a water baptism to get saved? On the contrary, Paul said:
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 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.
Our apostle thanks God that he only baptized a few! Tell me, if our great hero of the faith could say such a thing, how on earth, in the name of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, could you ever think that a water baptism can save? Paul would be saying, "I thank God that I damned many to hell that never got baptized!" It is a faithful saying, "Under a dry sinner; up a wet sinner!" Water does nothing as far as saving goes! So, just what is Paul's gospel?
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:...And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
THERE IS NO WATER FOR SALVATION!
Even by our apostle's own testimony, he says he was saved by this gospel when he saw the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus - without water - "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (See: Acts 9:4-6, 22:16)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
If you look at it close, it says, "all nations." This is after the cross, so the body of Christ was forming at the time. We both know that there were still different requirements to get into the body at this time, but nevertheless, the body was still forming and in its infant stage. If you were to do a word search on "nations"comparing scripture with scripture as we are commanded to do you would see that it is races of people, nationalities. So, Christ commanded them to go even to the Gentiles and baptize them in water, hence Acts 2:38, 41 and 8:38 before Paul was called out and also later like in Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, 1 Pet. 3:21. To say that the great commission was just for the Jew that was in the "all nations" would be incorrect. So, my first point is that we are commanded by the Lord to be baptized.
Secondly, we see scripture for it like: Acts 8:38-39, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15, 30-34, 18:8, 19:5; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21.
Thirdly, we see evidence that it was going on and that Paul was not rebuking them for water baptism, even though most hyper-dispensationalists like to say. The rebuke was for division in the body. Paul makes that very plain and even says that he did baptize, but he was sent to preach the gospel and left the baptizing up to the rest of them. He was just thankful that he wasn't in the mess they were in saying who they were following:
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 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.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Anyone that teaches that baptism in water saves a person, or that it is required for salvation is preaching another gospel than what Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles preached. Let him be accursed!
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Water baptism is straight from OT law and it was used for purification purposes. Anybody that is counting on their water baptism to save, or help save them is under a curse according to the above scripture and there is a good chance that he is not saved! Therefore, saying that water baptism is needed for salvation is a damnable doctrine and heresy.
What a person is doing is relying on their works, not their faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ to save them. This can be a possible sign that a person was never saved, because they never put their full trust in Christ aloneplus nothing!
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Those verses show how one is saved. We are justified through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (his blood) - period! There are no works involved in the process such as water baptism - faith alone!
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage....For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God....(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Shame on you who teach a person must be baptized to be saved! We "received the Spirit of adoption" as soon as we asked Jesus for salvation from hell! Why are you putting a "spirit of bondage again to fear" on the new creature in Christ? Shame on you! May you "be accursed!"
Let the upper hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, even the pope, "be accursed" also for sprinkling:
"'By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. ... The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are `reborn of water and the Spirit.' God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism ... Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte `a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who has become a `partaker of the divine nature,' member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. ... From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant'" (The New Catholic Catechism, 1994, # 1263,1257,1265,1267).
Back to Sprinkling Save? Back to Water Baptism
Are you 100% sure that you would be in heaven if you died right now? If Jesus asks you when you get there, "'Why should I let you enter into my kingdom,' what would you say?"
I tell you now, if your answer is because "I was baptized in water," you will be cast into the lake of fire, even hell for eternity. If your answer is, "I was sprinkled as an infant," you will be cast into the lake of fire, even hell for eternity.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
If you were saved once before, trusting solely in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you; you know you are saved by faith in him alone, then you cannot be saved again. (See my work on Eternal Security.)
However, if you are not sure about your salvation then, personally, I'd rather be sure and safe, than sorry. If you aren't sure or have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, why not do so right now.
Ask God to save you from everlasting hell to be with him for eternity by forgiving you of your sins through the Lord Jesus Christ's precious blood that he shed on the cross. Please, do not go to hell! Ask him into your heart, once and forevermore. Get your sins nailed to the cross:
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Which means, you do not need to get baptized to get saved! Please do see Water Required? though!!!
If you accepted the lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour through reading this, would you please drop me a line to let me know?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!
