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NASB | Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
Bible Question (short): Eternity - the real bottom line? |
Question (full): Greetings Rob! You asked," But if we cannot be united with Christ in his death without baptism (Rom 6) then why do you tell people they need not be baptized?" Perhaps you have misunderstood my position. I am not saying that believers need not to be baptized (water immersed)for indeed this is easy act of obedience we can do to show our love for Jesus. I believe the salvic "baptism" that we receive upon confession of faith is of and by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This question has been "is water baptism necessary for SALVATION?" To which I answer,"NO." Salvation is a gift of God alone; if water baptism was required, that would be a "work" or a way to "earn" God's favor. (Eph 2:8-9) God loves everyone of us exactly the same. Nothing we DO can make Him love us more or less than He does at this very moment. I see water baptism as an act of obedience that FOLLOWS the new birth wrought at the moment of salvation. Eph 2:10 puts this in the proper order: "We are God's workmanship, created in CHrist Jesus, unto good WORKS which He prepared in advance for us to DO." (EMPHASIS, mine) God loved me, a sinner - I believed(this moment only God alone can know, for He sees my heart); God saved me by His Grace; I demonstrated my love for Him by my obedience to His Word. I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and entered the waters of baptism. Had I died prior to entering the baptistry (months after my conversion) WHERE would I spend ETERNITY? Isn't this the REAL bottom line? |