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NASB | Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation]." |
Bible Question: Is baptism essential for salvation? If not, then how can the blood of Christ cleanse the soul? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Powerfade: I would reverse your second question and ask "Is there any other way apart from the precious blood of Christ that a soul may be cleansed"? Secondly, I assume that you are referring to baptism by immersion which is demonstrated in the Acts 2:41 Thirdly, when you refer to salvation is it eternal life which you have in mind? Romans 3 makes it abundantly clear that all people regardless of race or creed are sinners V23 and as such are guilty before God V. 19. In Ephesians 2:1 we see our natural condition before God as "dead in tresspasses and in sin". In John 3:16 we see what God in his grace and love has done for lost sinners. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life" The Lord Jesus Christ in obedience to his father came into this scene with the purpose of offering himself as a sacrifice for sin unto God. We as lost sinners can know our sins forgiven by acknowledging our need and placing simple faith in what Christ has done. The forgiveness which we have in Christ is complete and is not dependent on anything we can offer. We find in the Acts that after the people accepted the gospel or believed the word of God they were baptised by immersion. What did this signify? It showed to all their personal identification with Christ; in short, proclaiming "I belong to Christ, I have a new life in him, and by his grace I intend to serve him as my Lord for the rest of my life". It is God who saves the guilty sinner by grace through faith in the work of Christ. Eternal or Everlasting life is immediate to the person who puts their trust in Christ. Baptism is our first step of obedience to Christ in our life in him. Peter writes "Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain (manner of life) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" Robert |