Not A Fan But A Follower

Not A Fan But A Follower
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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Is Batism requiered for Salvation or just a command to be done?

 Is baptism required for salvation???
Some scriptures may make it sound that way until you look into the structure of the verse.
There are also some translations that are just bad translations.One other thing to remember is to use scripture to interpret scripture. Gods Word remains consistent in doctrine and theology.

When is someone baptized?
ESV - Luk 3:3 -
And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:3
John the Baptist performed baptisms for repentance ,in turn you received forgiveness of sins.
Repent then forgiveness.
ESV - Act 13:24 -
Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Acts 13:24
Again Johns baptism is for repentance.
ESV - Act 19:4 -
And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." Acts 19:4
So Johns baptism was to receive repentance ,does that sound right when compared to other scripture about baptism,remember the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.
So lets look at other scripture on being baptized. You just might see that it's repent then be baptized.Salvation received at repentance ,and baptism a testimony of that salvation.

Mar 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
This is a great verse notice it says who ever believes and is baptized will be saved ,BUT who ever  DOES NOT BELIEVE will be condemned. whats the important part of this verse?BELIEF ,without belief or you could say repentance there is no salvation. I don't think you could truly have belief without repenting. If baptism was requirement as part of the salvation plan then it would probably read  (who ever does not believe and is not baptized will not be saved )
ESV - Act 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, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
The key here is the word " for " this word can change the complete verse  to say baptism is needed for forgiveness or baptism is done because of forgiveness. 
So lets look at the word "for" the word is a preposition and denoting entrance into or direction and limit.
So if the word "for" denote entrance into something then what are we entering? Forgiveness, we receive forgiveness when we repent ,so baptism is done not to receive forgiveness but because we have entered into forgiveness once we repented.
ESV

  - ActSo those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts2:41
Those who received  his word were baptized. Whats it mean to receive his word ? they believed or repented had forgiveness ,notice the verse doesn't say "were baptized and received forgiveness" just that they were baptized after believing . 


There are more verses Acts 8:36-37 the eunuch believed an was baptized , Acts 16:14-15 Lydia"s heart was opened and was baptized,Acts 18:8 Crispus and many Corinthians believed and were baptized..ect, ect,.
these last few verses I mentioned do not say they received forgiveness because of baptism ,but that they were baptized after believing ,I feel safe in saying when they believed they also received forgiveness.
In my opinion using the scriptures mentioned and others ,that baptism isn't needed for salvation ,that happens at  repentance ,but that baptism is a public display of being a follower of Christ. It's also one of the first commands we are given to do.  
Comment if you wish keep it polite.