So the individual of the church age who has believed the Gospel has, in fact, trusted alone in Christ alone and has received power to overcome the absolute authority of the old sin nature by means of baptism - Holy Spirit baptism. This could not be the active action of believer'swater baptism since the verb "were baptized" is in the passive voice, ie, God the Holy Spirit provided the action. The believer's part in this particular kind of baptism is passive. Further, Romans 6:4 indicates that the action of being baptized produced the results in the believer of being actually, not symbolically, identified with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. So the believer now, through Holy Spirit baptism, can more readily lead a new and godly life. Believer's water baptism cannot do this, only God's action can. Recall that the Holy Spirit is received by Grace through faith alone in Christ alone as Savior.
Eph. 1:13-14 "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory".
Holy Spirit baptism places the individual into Christ identifying the believer with what our Lord accomplished on the cross - this happening at the point of faith alone in Christ alone unto eternal life as seen in the above scripture. So the believer agrees he was completely credited with the forgiveness of all his sins, past, present and future at the cross and is now assured to be resurrected to eternal life at the last trump when Christ returns.
This Baptism Into Christ Credits All Believers
With The Absolute Righteousness Of God's Son
Because We Are In The Son And He Is In Us
Romans 3:21-31 "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
Holy Spirit Baptism Is Exclusively Given To Every Individual And Done By God Alone At The Moment That Individual
Believes The Gospel And Trusts In Christ Alone
1 Cor. 15:1-4 "Moreover brethern, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. or I delivered to you first of all that which I also received; 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."
Eph 1:13-14 "And you also were included in (ie, baptized - identified with) Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory."
Gal. 3:2 "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the Law or by believing what you heard?"
Comparing the two, the answer, as determined by context and grammar is: All people receive the Spirit by believing in Christ as Savior.
Gal. 2:15-21 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not bythe works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
Since the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes automatically for the church age believer resulting in salvation at the moment that the person has expressed belief in the True Gospel, he does not need to seek an additional experience.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit means that you who are living in the church age have been uniquely joined to Christ.
Acts 1:5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Romans 6:3-4 "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Col. 2:12 "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Eph. 4: 5 "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
We must determine from the context whether "baptism" is water baptism by man, or baptism by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, Holy Spirit baptism is always in the passive voice, meaning it is an accomplished fact.
Through Holy Spirit Baptism Into Christ Jesus,
His Death, Burial And Resurrection, A
Believer Is Credited With Having All Sins
Permanently Forgiven, Past, Present And Future
There is only one baptism which saves unto eternal life.
Eph 4:4-5 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Eph. 1:13-14 "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in who also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
If Holy Spirit baptism actually identifies the believer with Christ - into His Body the Church, and seals him to eternal life then the baptism which saves is Holy Spirit baptism and not water baptism.
Romans 6:3 "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"
1 Cor. 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
Since Holy Spirit baptism is also an identification, then water baptism is also and identification of some kind. Since one observes that one does not actually become identified with the water when one is water baptized then water baptism is not baptism unto salvation but is symbolic of the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, ie of His bearing and taking away the sins of the world.
Also since Holy Spirit baptism is not something the individual actually does, rather it is something which God the Holy Spirit does, the individual being passive in such baptism; and since Holy Spirit baptism is part of the actual, real, salvation unto eternal life process; then passages which command the individual to be water baptized must be referring to the water baptism as symbolic of the individual having already been saved unto eternal life, as water baptism is an activity which is to be performed by the individual and not by the Holy Spirit. Also, since dozens of passages stipulate that eternal life is received upon a moment of faith alone in Christ alone - with no mention of any other requirement and since being saved unto eternal life is stipulated as not of works, not of any righteous deeds and not of ourselves then water baptism is excluded from what on must do to have eternal life. (Eph 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 12:13)
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit Is An Event In The Life Of
Every Believer Beginning At the Point Of Believing
The True Gospel By Which One Is Saved
Can a person passively receive the free gift of salvation ie eternal life (the Holy Spirit) through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone or only by participating in a special ritual or formula including water baptism that must be performed by a priest or by a man of a certain denomination in an exact and certain order or manner?
To answer this question we will use only plain and clear scriptures from Gods inspired word. We will not use unclear or ambiguous scripture or out of context scriptures to establish a doctrine. Neither will we, by private interpretation, read a meaning into a scripture simply because we think it seems to imply a certain meaning. Our goal is to know the truth that we may be set free from any wrong teaching or tradition.
It is very important to note that both Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 state, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
We begin with John 3:15-16 "That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
The scriptures continue withJohn 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
All three verses clearly state it is by belief in Jesus Christ (who He was and what He did for us) that one will not perish or be condemned but have eternal life. No mention is made of water baptism. Looking closely at these clear and plain scriptures, we see that eternal life comes by believing in Gods only Son. Scripture not only states that we receive life by believing, but that the life we receive is eternal! Notice again that in all three scriptures only belief is mentioned. Water baptism is not prescribed.
1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
The above scriptures are so clear and plain that no other scriptures should be needed to explain how to receive eternal life but I shall include a few in addition "so that you may know that you have eternal life".
Baptism In The Bible
DOES SALVATION COME AS A RESULT OF WATER BAPTISM
OR HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM ?
Disciple Bob
So when God the Holy Spirit baptizes a believer into Christ He also empowers the believer to overcome the sin nature and have a more abundant life.
2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come."
We get into Christ at the point of our faith in Christ. That's when you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And that's what water baptism is a symbol and a sign of - that you have been placed into Jesus Christ and that's why you are eternally secure.
2 Cor 5:17 (cont.) "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Now this word 'creation' is stressed because it... has no verb [italics above indicate no verb is in the Greek text]... Being in Christ means to be begotten from above making us a new creation. We are not new creatures because of something we do or don't do.... This verse has to do with what God in His grace has done for us, not what we do for Him or for ourselves...["new = "kaino"] means... a new kind, a new species. What this word is saying is that Christians in the Church Age, of the Age of Grace, are a new species of human beings in God's Creation....
Gal 3:27-28 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
This new species appears to have began on the Day of Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit when [God] joined all believers together into one body called the Church...The Christian is a new creature, a new species. He becomes a new creature automatically at the point of salvation when he is placed into Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And that's what this newness is all about. Not that he is going to behave himself. Not that he is going to stop sinning... ["creation" = "ktisis"] This word means creation, a new kind in God's order of creation... God's unique new breed in God's creation...
Holy Spirit Baptism Places One Into Christ
Transforming Him Into A New Creation
So when God the Holy Spirit baptizes a believer into Christ He also empowers the believer to overcome the sin nature and have a more abundant life.
2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come."
We get into Christ at the point of our faith in Christ. That's when you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And that's what water baptism is a symbol and a sign of - that you have been placed into Jesus Christ and that's why you are eternally secure.
2 Cor 5:17 (cont.) "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Now this word 'creation' is stressed because it... has no verb [italics above indicate no verb is in the Greek text]... Being in Christ means to be begotten from above making us a new creation. We are not new creatures because of something we do or don't do.... This verse has to do with what God in His grace has done for us, not what we do for Him or for ourselves...["new = "kaino"] means... a new kind, a new species. What this word is saying is that Christians in the Church Age, of the Age of Grace, are a new species of human beings in God's Creation....
Gal 3:27-28 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
And this new species appears to have begun on the Day of Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit when [God] joined all believers together into one body called the Church...The Christian is a new creature, a new species. He becomes a new creature automatically at the point of salvation when he is placed into Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And that's what this newness is all about. Not that he is going to behave himself. Not that he is going to stop sinning... ["creation" = "ktisis"] This word means creation, a new kind in God's order of creation... God's unique new breed in God's creation...
Christian Water Baptism Defined
When a church age believer is immersed in the water he is portraying symbolically that he has been placed into Christ. The water represents Jesus Christ, you go into the water, you portray that you have been joined to Christ. When you come up out of the water, that action is representative of a new lifestyle. Water baptism portrays the reality of what Paul is talking about in Romans 6:3-4 which reality is Holy Spirit baptism into Christ and which water baptism portrays symbolically:
Rom 6:3-4 "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
So, when you are water baptized as a Christian, you go under the water - you associate yourself symbolically with the actual death of Christ. Thus you are saying, 'I am through with attempting to do human good in order to work for my salvation, my trust is in Christ alone for that.' You come up from the water and thus you are associating yourself with the resurrection of Jesus Christ with your current position in Him. So that this is the testimony you are making when you get water baptized. The church age baptism with water is a ritual baptism. It is the baptism of believers in the church age who have already been identified with Jesus Christ via Holy Spirit baptism. What has been previously taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit is illustrated by the water baptism of the church age. When a believer is placed into the waters of baptism today, those waters represent retroactive positional truth: Those waters represent the believer having been associated with the death of Christ on the cross also when the believer is placed into those waters he is symbolically represented as being buried with Christ who paid for and took away the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
When the believer is brought out of the waters, he is representing his current positional truth: that he is now representing himself as previously having received the promise of eternal life credited to his account - as having God's absolute righteousness credited to his account.
Rom 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets."
He now stands as one who is absolutely perfect in his standing before God, and that is portrayed symbolically by water baptism; but it has been previously accomplished by Holy Spirit baptism. Therefore, Christian church age water baptism identifies a believer symbolically with Jesus Christ in His death, His burial, and His resurrection - and that's all it is - it's just a picture of a past experience. The placing into the water is not the cause of any divine accomplishment - but symbolic of what God has already done. For this reason, we say that water baptism represents two things about the Christian: a) It represents retroactive positional truth - having been identified with the death of Christ on the cross. b) It represents current positional truth - having Christ's perfect righteousness credited to one's account along with the promise of eternal life. So you see, there is only one baptism which does bring about a relationship of eternal life with God and that is God’s Holy Spirit baptism.
Water Baptism Is NOT A Requirement For Salvation
Baptism in the early church was primarily by immersion.
Acts 8:38-39 "So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing."
Why? Because baptism symbolizes the believers’ identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Rom 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Unfortunately, various innovations and heresies were gradually introduced regarding baptism: that one must be baptized in water to be saved; indeed, that water baptism itself saves the soul even when administered to infants. These heresies became known as the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Most Protestants holding these beliefs today are not aware that they originated with the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages.
The Council of Trent (1545-63) stated that while Christ 'merited for us justification by His most holy passion... the instrumental cause [of justification/ regeneration] is the sacrament of water baptism... If anyone says that water baptism is... not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema.' Vatican II (1962-65) reconfirms all of Trent and reiterates the necessity of water baptism for salvation, as does the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church released by the Vatican in 1993: 'Water Baptism is necessary for salvation... the Church does not know of any [other] means... that assures entry into eternal beatitude...'
Trent anathematizes all who deny that 'the merit of Jesus Christ is applied... to infants by the sacrament of water baptism' or who deny that by water baptism 'the guilt of original sin is remitted...' Today's Code of Canon Law (Canon 849) declares that those baptized are thereby 'freed from their sins, are reborn as children of God and incorporated in the Church.' Canon 204 states: 'The Christian faithful are those who... have been incorporated in Christ through water baptism' and are thereby members of the one, true Catholic Church.
For centuries before the Reformation, baptismal regeneration was rejected by Bible-believing Christians, whom the Roman Catholic Church therefore persecuted, tortured and slaughtered by the millions. Non-Catholics taught from Scripture that water baptism was only for those who had believed the gospel.
Acts 2:41 "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."
Acts 8:35-37 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Consider Cornelius's household: they heard the gospel, believed it and were baptized. That there were no infants baptized is also clear, for they had all gathered 'to hear all things that are commanded thee of God' (Acts 10:33). 'The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard [and, obviously, understood and believed] the word' (v 44); and they spoke with tongues' (v 46). That they had 'received the Holy Ghost' (v 47) convinced Peter that they were saved. Therefore, he baptized them (v 48).
If water baptism is essential for salvation, then to reject that gospel is to remain unsaved and lost. But if salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone, then to add or require water baptism as a condition for salvation is to reject the True Gospel and thus also remain unsaved and lost.
Salvation Is Not By Faith Plus Any Works
Such As Water Baptism
The Bible declares that it is wrong to teach salvation by faith in Christ plus anything else, such as keeping the Jewish law. Paul cursed (anathematized) those who taught this false gospel. A gospel of salvation through Christ plus receiving water baptism for salvation is equally a False Gospel.
Acts 15:24 "Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—"
Gal 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."
When Paul reminded the Corinthians of the essential ingredients of the gospel which he preached and by which they had been saved, he made no mention of water baptism.
1 Cor 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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."
In fact, he distinguished between the gospel and water baptism: 'Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel...' (1 Cor 1:17). He hadn't baptized most of the Corinthians, couldn't remember whom he had baptized, and was thankful that it had been very few - a strange attitude if water baptism is essential to salvation! Yet without baptizing them, Paul declared that he was their father in the faith: 'in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel'
1 Cor 1:14-17 "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."
1 Cor 4:15 "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."
Even though Mark 16:9-20 are spurious verses (verses which are not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit. A verse having a similar appearance but a different structure, a scripture of illegitimate origin), let’s analize and consider Mark 16:16 'He that believeth and is baptized (by water) shall be saved'? All who believe the gospel are saved, so of course, all who believe and are baptized (by water) are saved; but that does not say that baptism saves or that it is essential for salvation. Scores of verses declare, with no mention of baptism by water, that salvation comes by believing the gospel: "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Cor 1:21; see also Jn 3:16, 18, 36, 5:24; Acts 10:43, 13:38-39, 16:34; Rom 1:16, 3:28, 4:24, 5:1; 1 Cor 15:1-5; Eph 2:8, etc.). Not one of these verses says that baptism by water saves.
Numerous verses declare that whosoever does not believe is lost, but not one verse declares that whosoever is not water baptized is lost. Surely the Bible would make it clear that believing in Christ without being water baptized cannot save if that were the case, yet it never says so!
Then why does the Bible say, 'There is ...one baptism'? The explanation is simple but carries profound consequences: Baptism of any kind occurs only once and is never repeated. In that sense, then, there is only one baptism. Whether one believes that water baptism itself saves, or that it symbolizes salvation through identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, the fact that it cannot recur proves that one's salvation can never be lost. For if one must get saved again as a result of losing one's salvation, then water baptism must be repeated each time - but there is only one baptism.
Eph 4:4-5 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;"
There are dozens of passages which, one might conclude, add even more to what must be done in order to be saved. The truth is, however, a different matter. Paul answered it best when the frightened jail keeper in Philippi asked him: [Acts 16:30-31]: (v. 30) "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [And Paul's simple and complete answer was]: (v. 31) "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...." Again, there is no mention of water baptism needed to be saved. So it is belief and belief alone in Christ alone as Savior - nothing else can be added. If anything else was required, then Paul was lying to the frightened Philippian jailer. Anything else such as water baptism, Lord's Supper, leading a repentant lifestyle, etc. etc. may immediately accompany a person's first time expression of faith in Christ; yet these spiritually important things in a believer's life also contribute nothing toward that believer's salvation, (Eph 2:8-9). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The passages, in addition to believing the Gospel that some say are also required to be applied or followed to become "saved" (receive The Holy Spirit), might be likened to your earthly father buying you a new car on your 18th birthday. You simply need to receive the gift. Of course, you are extremely thankful and should show your appreciation by honoring your father’s wishes as to following all traffic laws and driving safely, wearing your seatbelt, proper maintenance of your car, carrying liability insurance, etc., etc. All of these things should be done but they have nothing to do with the fact that your father gave you the car as a free gift, titled in your name because he loves you and wants you to enjoy all the benefits and advantages of owning and driving that brand new car. Therefore, you observe all your fathers wishes because you love and respect him and appreciate all he does for you and you know you will be blessed when you trust in and obey all that he asks of you.
The key to understanding what is essential is context and the examination of parallel passages which rule out the non-essential elements. There are numerous passages which clearly stipulate that faith alone in Christ alone as Savior is the exclusive way to salvation unto eternal life: John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:35-40, 47:20:31; Rom 1:16; 3:21-28; 4:4-5; Eph 1:3-14; 2:8-9; Acts 2:21, 38; 10:43; 13:38-39; 16:30-31; Gal 3:22; 2 Thes 2:13-14; 2 Tim 1:9; Isa 28:16, 49:23; Joel 2:32; Titus 3:5, etc. Other scriptures to be considered are 1 Cor 12:13, Jude 25:25, I John 5:13, John 1:12, I John 5:1, Gal. 3:14, Gal. 3: 26 – 29, Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, I Tim 4:10, Luke 3:16, Romans 5:10 and Hebrew 7:15. Please take the time to read these scriptures. The requirement is faith alone in Christ alone, not water baptism. The requirement of water baptism to be saved is one of the big lies being taught by many deceived preachers and teachers.
Mark 1:8 "I baptize you with water but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Eph 1:12–13 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a Seal, the promised Holy Spirit."
Eph 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."
1 Peter 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power (not our own power or works) until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
John 10:27–29 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand."
Romans 8:38–39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus".
John 6:47 "I tell you the truth, he who believes (The True Gospel) has everlasting life".
We who believe on Jesus as our Savior have received the promise of Eternal Life because it is God who uses His power to save us and it is God who uses His power to keep us.
It is not by our power or anything we do that saves us or keeps us saved but it is by God’s power and grace and the faith of His son that works in us by which we receive the Holy Spirit unto eternal life.
If you believe you must be water baptized to be saved, you are believing a False Gospel and you cannot be saved by believing a False Gospel! Do not put your faith in water baptism but believe the True Gospel of salvation by Grace thru Faith Alone (Eph. 2:89), not by water baptism but by receiving Holy Spirit Baptism which occurs at the exact moment you believe the True Gospel by which you are saved. (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
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