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NASB | Acts 10:48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 10:48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days. |
Subject: Is baptism necessary for salvation? |
Bible Note: Dear Grace and Truth, This assertion, brother is simply not true. Baptism is, first and foremost, a spiritual act. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. We are not baptized into Christ when we are dunked in water, brother. We are baptized spiritually into Christ as soon as we believe. The water is merely a physical form that represents the spiritual truth. This is the heart of Gal 3:27 and Rom 6:3-5. These passages do not mention water whatsoever. They are speaking of spiritual truth. Jesus well explains the meaning of John 3:3,5 in verse 6. That which is born of flesh is flesh - you are first born surrounded by a sack of water. At birth, the water breaks and then you are born. That is flesh birth. That which is born of Spirit is spirit. God caused us a new spirit to be born in us at new birth and He indwells that spirit. Jesus' words had nothing whatsoever to do with being dunked in water. Dear brother, do not mistake the picture for the reality. Water baptism is a physical picture of your very real union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. As He physically died, you were spiritually dead. As He was physically buried, you were spiritually buried. As He physically rose from the dead, you have been (past tense) spiritually raised from the dead to walk in the newness of life - Rom 6:4. This is spiritual truth and H2O cannot save you. Only Christ can save you. Being spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ is what saves you, not getting your body wet. Please don't mistake the two. One represents the other, therefore one is lesser than the other. One is reality, one is a symbol. Please don't make them equal. McGracer |