Bible Question: Can someone give me a CLEAR answere to the question..Does salvation require baptism? |
Bible Answer: Friend - I must begin by telling you that the question you have asked concerns the single most crucial topic an individual can consider in their life - their own salvation. This is a question that you must answer, because you and only you are responsible for your own soul. I will do my best to help you be aware of what God's word says, but in the end, you must decide. That said... Throughout the bible, it has been shown to be a severe risk to deviate from God's specifications for His plans. Look at this example: "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." Leviticus 10:1-2 God had given specific instruction concerning burnt offerings and incense in worship of Him. Although God had not forbidden the fire Nadab and Abihu offered, He did not tolerate their deviation from what He DID command, and killed them instantly. Examine this story, too: "Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God." II Samuel 6:1-7. The ark of the covenant was the most sacred physical object that Israel had. God had given specific instructions concerning its transportation - specifically, that it was to be carried only by Levite priests using poles. David willfully deviated from these rules, using a new idea, a cart pulled by oxen, to transport the ark. Uzzah, a priest who also knew God's wishes, and knowing how sacred the ark was, steadied the ark with his hand to keep it from falling, and instantly died. One may ask, 'If Uzzah was trying to do good, why did God kill him?' The truth is, although Uzzah had the best of intentions, he would never have been in the situation if he, as a priest, hadn't agreed to David's proposed method for moving the ark. The point is that deviating from God's stated will, even with a clean heart, conscience, and the best of intentions, can be VERY risky. (Continued in part 2) |