Monday, November 19, 2012

Is Baptism Essential to Salvation?

By Andrew Connally
    Every time you find baptism mentioned in the New Testament you find it placed before the blessing. For instance, Jesus said, "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," (Mark 16:16). Clearly faith and baptism precede salvation. And not one time does the bible ever have salvation coming before the baptism, not one. Yet the denominational preacher teaches just the opposite. They teach salvation always comes before the baptism. Isn't it amazing how a preacher's denominational training and bias causes him to reverse Jesus' order. If the Bible places baptism before salvation and it does (Mark 16:16), then who are we to deny that baptism must precede salvation. If the Bible ever says something one time it is as true as if God said it one thousand times. What the finger of God writes is forever bound by God's authority. God will not change it and man dare not change it.
    Every time you find baptism mentioned in the New Testament you find it placed before the blessing. For instance, Peter said, "repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto (for) the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Clearly repentance and baptism precede the remission of sins. And not one time does the Bible ever have remission of sins coming before baptism, not one. Yet the denominational preacher teaches just the opposite. They say remission of sins always comes before baptism. Isn't it amazing how a preacher's denominational training and bias causes him to reverse Peter's order. If the Bible places baptism before the remission of sins and it does (Acts 2:38), then who are we to deny that baptism must precede remission of sins. If the Bible ever says something one time it is as true as if God said it one thousand times. What the finger of God writes is forever bound by God's authority. God will not change it and man dare not change it.
    Neighbor would you like to see other blessings God has placed after baptism and not before? Then why not notice Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; and 1 Peter 3:21. It might shock you as to the difference of what the Bible says and what you have been taught.
    Why not accept the truth and contact a gospel preacher to baptize you scripturally so you may receive the blessings of God and leave the error you may have accepted. May God bless you.

- Andrew Connally; via the
Belvedere Beacon, the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere Church of Christ, Belvedere, SC.  Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org

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