ANY person who claims sinners are justified by water instead of the BLOOD of Jesus, is an antichrist.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:9
Certain cultic groups isolate and take a few Scriptures out of context to prove that water baptism is essential to salvation, all while ignoring mountains of Scriptures which say otherwise. Beware.
Is water baptism necessary, essential to salvation? No.
BEWARE OF THE WATER BAPTISMAL REGENERATION HERETICS.
Getting dipped in water saves no one. Anyone who believes such has been duped, indoctrinated.
You conveniently left out mountains of Scripture which say we are saved by faith, not water. Are you church of Christ (cult)?
Jesus Himself was water baptized. Does that mean the Son of God was not righteous till He got wet?
“Water baptism is our outward show that we have changed. We are telling the world. Jesus did it to fulfill all righteousness. He was already. it was to show. Again easy to twist as it IS SO CLOSE.” Neil Hosken
SATAN wants people trusting in water and not the BLOOD of Jesus. Beware. We are saved by the blood of Jesus – water baptism is for those who have already repented and believed upon Jesus Christ. It’s an outward profession of the inward work of regeneration God has already done! (Titus 3:5-7)
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION.” Hebrews 9:22
WATER BAPTISM: What it is and what it’s not. In some cases, water baptism has become a ritual among those who are a part of the visible, apostate church world. In those circles, water baptism seems to be a type of right of passage in a fleshly way. Water baptism is useless unless it’s connected with Christ, that is, in His redemption – death, burial and resurrection. He alone redeemed us and yet, He calls us to deny self, and allow Him who is the resurrection and the life to raise us upward (John 11:25; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). Water baptism – going down under that water – is meant to be the symbolism of dying, being buried, and being raised up into a new life with Christ who is “the life” (John 14:6). The old man is dead and buried! See Colossians 3:3, and read Romans 6:3-4. Water baptism was never intended to become a ritual but rather the symbol of that which begun at the instant Christ saved us. The crucified, dead, buried, and raised up life comes at the moment Jesus saves us, We are dead and He now lives in us as Redeemer, Ruler and King, Savior, and Friend. The life of the crucified believe is symbolized at water baptism (Galatians 2:20). Water baptism is a representation of what is to be a life lived allowing Christ to reign in place. It’s symbolic of the daily cross! – Where Christ alone reigns supreme!
Water baptism saves no one. No, it’s merely a picture of your life now that Christ saved you – your personal daily death, burial, resurrection (2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). God saved you the moment you repented and believed on Jesus (Acts 20:21, etc.). And now He’s ordained that you “walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
“Water baptism symbolizes your spiritual identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The water does not itself join you to or identify you with Christ. It is only a symbol. It’s not even a requirement yet important due to the importance of what it is representative of. Water baptism is not a law like circumcision was. It is not essential. The thief on cross next to Christ was never water baptized but he was baptized in spiritual fact.”
So “saved” doesn’t mean saved in Acts 16:31? Where O Where is the water? The water baptism didn’t happen till after the jailer and his family were “saved” (Acts 16:33). “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:30-31
“By faith” appears 37 times in the Word of God. “By water” appears 4 times.
Without what is it impossible to please God? Faith or water?
“But without faith it is impossible to please him.” Hebrews 11:6
I am going to stand on the WORD. What does it say?
Water baptism is integrally placed in the Great Commission that Jesus gave…….
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.” Matthew 28:18-20
Also in Peter’s preaching at Pentecost…….
“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.” Act 2:38
Water baptism is following Christ’s command and His example.
“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“Those who believe in Christ and the gospel are to be baptized with water. This represents their covenant pledge to renounce immorality, the world and their own sinful nature and to unreservedly commit themselves to Christ and His kingdom purposes.” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible (notes from Mt. 28:19.
“[Acts] 22:16 be baptized. Water baptism accompanied the proclamation of the gospel from the beginning of the church’s mission (2:38,41). It was a rite of Christian initiation used in the NT to indicate that a person was committing himself or herself fully to Jesus Christ. By going into baptismal water in the name of the Trinity (Mat 28:19) or of Christ (19:5), believers visibly demonstrated their faith before the Christian community.
More from Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible (notes from Acts 22:16).
(1) Water baptism “into Christ” (Gal 3:27) or “in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; cf. Mat 28:19) signifies that one now is the property of Christ and has a share in His life, His Spirit and His inheritance with God (Rom 8:14-17; Gal 3:26-4:7).
(2) Water baptism is a response to what Christ has done for the believer. To be valid, it must be preceded by repentance (2:38) and a personal faith in Christ (Col 2:12)
(3) Water baptism, when undertaken with a sincere heart of faith and commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior, is a means of receiving grace from Christ (cf. 1 Pet 3:21; …….).
(4) Water baptism is an outward sign and testimony of our receiving Christ as Lord and Savior and of the washing away of our sins (cf. 2:38; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 3::21).
(5) Water baptism portrays the union of the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:1-11); Col 2:11-12). This signifies an end (i.e. ‘death’) to a life of sin (Rom 6:3-4,7,10,12; Col 3:3-14) and the beginning of a new life in Christ (Rom 6:4-5,11; Col 2:12-13). Therefore, water baptism involves a commitment to a lifelong practice of turning one’s back on the world and all that is evil (Rom 6:6,11-13) and living a new life in the Spirit that reflects God’s standards of righteousness (Col 2:1-17).”
“Through our tradition, we have evacuated the true meaning and power behind water baptism. Properly conceived and practiced, water baptism is the believer’s initial confession of faith before men, demons, angels, and God. Baptism is a visible sign that depicts our separation from the world, our death with Christ, the burial of our old man, the death of the old creation, and the washing of the Word of God.
Water baptism is the New Testament form of conversion-initiation. It is God’s idea. To replace it with the human-invented sinners prayer is to deplete baptism of its God-given testimony.” Pagan Christianity, p 196
True it’s all about faith isn’t it ….. but faith in God or an object….. in and of themselves they are mute and yet, trusting these things or even having them seems to solicit idolatry…. Nowhere do we see a wooden cross or necklace in the NT except the one Jesus died on….. yes and water baptism is symbolic and is taught in the NT but not these other things…. And as you point out even water baptism can and is being wrongly used. If we spent our energies laying down our lives, falling into Christ, in surrender instead of building wooden crosses or buying necklaces, what could be the divine blessing?!!!
I don’t think symbols are bad necessarily. It is the attitude and purpose that should determine. For example, Water Baptism is good if it symbolizes a real internal heart death and resurrection with Christ. On other hand, If it is done because the person believes the water Is actually salvific, it is a law observance only and therefore evil. If a cross hung on the neck is a done as a lucky charm, it is therefore evil idolatry. If it is worn over the heart as a symbol of the heart death and resurrection with Christ like baptism, it is beautiful and good.
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