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NASB | Matthew 7:13 ¶ "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:13 ¶ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. |
Bible Question:
OK. You tell me that I don't have to be baptized What's this I read in John 3:5 When Jesus says ye must be born again. Ye must be born of the water and of the Spirit. Otherwise ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Thay kinda looks like baptism is pretty imporant stuff. Please Explain. ezekiel |
Bible Answer: Greetings Ezekiel! I am kind of jumping into this issue late in the game, but I wanted to make a couple of observations. There is not any doubt that baptism was an important part of the life of the early church. There is not even any doubt that all Christians should be baptized. However, the question is whether or not baptism plays any role in a Christian’s salvation. There are many Scriptures that can be applied to this question, but allow me to address just a couple. 1 Peter 3:21 says, "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," This verse makes three very important points about baptism. First of all, it clearly says that baptism does not remove the dirt from the body. Secondly, it says that baptism is the pledge of a good conscience toward God. The footnote in the NIV says "response of a good conscience." Finally, this verse makes very clear that the source of our salvation is Christ (cf. 1 Peter 1:3.) My denomination (United Brethren in Christ) phrases the role of baptism this way, "Baptism is the outward sign of an inward grace." This is a good summary of 1 Peter 3:21. Baptism is our response to what God has already done in our lives. It doesn’t save us. It will not get us into Heaven, but it is an important part of our Christian life as an outward testimony of what God has done. This point is illustrated in Acts 10. In Acts 10, Peter is preaching the gospel to the household of Cornelius. As he was preaching, Acts 10:44 tells us that the Holy Spirit came upon all those who heard the message and they spoke in tongues, just as the disciples had in Acts 2. This is an important sign that God has extended salvation even to the Gentiles. Notice however what Peter says in v. 47, ‘‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." These people had already accepted Christ. They had already been filled with the Holy Spirit. They were Christians. Now, Peter asks if there is any reason why they should not be baptized. Did the baptism save them? Obviously not, since they had already been filled with the Holy Spirit in verse 44. In conclusion, baptism is an important act of faith, but it is not a saving act. Our salvation depends entirely upon the finished work of the cross and not at all on any ritual or act that we can do (Eph. 2:8-9). Consider the case of the thief on the cross. He accepted Christ, but was not baptized. Yet, Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43). Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |