Subject: Mark 16:16 what does it say? |
Bible Note: Greetings Raven! I have no problem with you agreeing with someone who shares a like view with you. But, I do have a problem with comparing those who view this issue differently than you do with those who crucified Christ or stoned Stephen. The simple fact is that there are more statments in the Bible which support that baptism is not essential to salvation. One could ask the quesiton, why don't you hear them? Rather than name calling my friend, why don't you simply 'show' us from Scripture how the following Scriptures teach that one must be baptized in order to be saved: Just from Acts, we have these statements: 1) Consider the following verses from Acts where forgiveness is mentioned and notice that not one of them links forgiveness with baptism. a) Acts 5:31 - "God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel." b) Acts 10:43 - "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." c) Acts 13:38-39 - ‘‘Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." d) Acts 26:18 - "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Notice that none of these other verses in Acts tie baptism in with the forgiveness of sins. If baptism were essential to salvation, you would think that it would be mentioned in these other verses as well. If something else is required, which is not mentioned in these verses, than these Scriptures were giving false teaching. 2) Acts 2:21 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’" 3) Acts 16:30 - " He then brought them out and asked, ‘‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, ‘‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”" Notice that Paul does not say that they must believe and be baptized in order to be saved. 4) Rom. 10:13 - "for, ‘‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" Acts 10 pretty well destroys the baptismal regeneration position all by itself. There we find people believing, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and then being baptized because they had been filled with the Holy Spirit. If your position is correct, then they were not saved until they were baptized in water. Therefore, they could not have been filled with the Holy Spirit. According to your own reading of Acts 2:38, one cannot received the gift of the Holy Spirit until after one has been baptized. So, rather than calling those of us who disagree with your interpretation names, why not simply deal with these verses and show us how they can possibly support your position. p.s. - I would never have stoned Stephen because he would have been my brother in Christ. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |