I was reading your answer regarding baptism as necessary for salvation. I gather you believe water baptism is necessary. Now there are endless situations in which water baptism would be impossible. Physical impossibility, near death conversion, etc. etc.

But then is there a baptism that is necessary of which the Word of God speaks? "he that believeth and is baptized". Is it talking about water baptism? I don't think so but it is talking about baptism into the body of Christ that occurs instantaneously by the Holy Spirit upon individual repentance and faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the GIFT of God. Ephesians 2: 8,9,10 Ephesians 1:14

Water baptism by immersion ( the only method the Bible speaks of and the only translation of the word baptism) cannot always be performed. Thief on the cross is the example mentioned in the article I read. It must always follow repentance and faith in Christ (the only way the Word of God ever presents it).

Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after conversion/salvation of an individual and a public profession of an inward event that has already taken place. It is not a requirement for salvation. If it were, it attacks the sufficiency of Christ, His person and work. To add to Christ’s person and work is not a wise thing to do, in fact adding falls short of the Glory of God. It is simply faith in Christ to pay for one’s sins in entirety, and resurrection to newness of life. All that is required is the new birth. John chapter 3. Possession of the "new man" or the Spirit controlled man is critical. Although the "old man" exists simultaneously only the new man is accepted of God for it is born of God. John 1:12,13 No works on individual part all an operation of God. The just shall live by faith.

Ye must be born again!

Thanks for your consideration of and response to the teaching on the web site. I will consider your response in the order you presented it.

Imaginary situations that could prevent baptism do not change what the Lord teaches. There are many conditions that prevent some people from hearing the gospel. But hearing the gospel is essential to salvation (Romans 1:16; 10:17). My responsibility as a preacher is to declare the will of God (2 Timothy 4:1-5), and the Lord commands sinners to be baptized (Acts 2:38). The Lord will decide the difficult cases, and all others (James 4:12), and He will do what is right (Genesis 18:25). Leave the judging of difficult situations to God and believe and obey His will.

There is in this age only one baptism authorized by the Lord (Ephesians 4:5). It is baptism in the name of (by the authority of) the Lord (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38). After the house of Cornelius had already received the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44-48). This was water baptism (verse 47). The baptism the Lord commands, baptism in His name, is water baptism.

Ephesians 2:8-10 doesn’t mention or imply the Holy Spirit. Yes, salvation is a gift by God’s grace. This no more eliminates the necessity of baptism than it eliminates the necessity of repentance. Both are commands of God (Acts 2:38).

We are indeed sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). That seal is the mark of ownership or possession. That is the fruit of the Spirit by which we demonstrate we belong to Christ (Galatians 5:22-24). We produce this fruit by following the Spirit-revealed Word of God (Colossians 1:3-6).

Yes, baptism is immersion (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). You assume without proof the thief on the cross was never baptized. How do you know he wasn’t baptized by John (Mark 1:4-5) or Jesus’ disciples (John 4:1-3)? But the thief lived and died before the New Testament came into force (Hebrews 9:16-17), and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is a New Testament ordinance (Hebrews 10:21-22). You might as well appeal to the example of Noah being saved without believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Conversion is turning to the Lord (cf. Acts 3:19; 26:20). There is more to conversion than faith (Acts 11:21) and repentance (Acts 3:19). In Acts 2:38 Peter commanded, "repent and be baptized ... for the remission of sins." In his next sermon he preached that people should repent and "be converted" that their sins might be blotted out (Acts 3:19). Water baptism is the final step in conversion to Christ.

Jesus put baptism before, not after, salvation (Mark 16:16).

One cannot get into Christ without being baptized into Him (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27). How could the necessity of water baptism stand opposed to the work of Christ when we can’t even get into Christ without it? Rather than offsetting salvation by faith, baptism is the act of faith that puts us into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).

The Holy Spirit leads us to be born again through the Gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25). The water of the new birth (John 3:5) is water baptism (Titus 3:5). You can’t be born again without water baptism.

Salvation by faith alone apart from any works is mentioned just once in the Bible, James 2:24, and there James states it is not true.

Indeed, the just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11) when by faith they are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).

According to John 1:12-13, those who are given the "power" ("right" - New American Standard Bible) "to become sons of God" are the ones who "received Him," "believe in His name," and "were born ... of God." Paul reminded the Colossians they had "received Christ Jesus the Lord" (Colossians 2:6). He then reminded them how they received Him: "buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God" (verse 12). When John mentions believing for salvation, he’s not talking about faith alone but obedient faith (cf. John 8:31,44; 12: 42-43). Of course, we are born of God through baptism (John 3:5; Titus 3:5).

Yes, you must be born again (John 3:3). Allow the Spirit of God through the gospel to lead you to be immersed in water for the remission of sins, and you will be born again.

Cordially,

Keith Sharp