Bible Question: Is belief in Jesus the only requirement to be saved or is (water) baptism also required? I've always believed it was belief alone, but a friend of mine says it's both. We've found verses that support both theories. |
Bible Answer: Prehaps if you look at baptism as an outward act which manifests the faith you have in the Messiah Yahoshua, rather than a requirement, you would ask this question: Why would you not want to be baptized if you have faith in Messiah? I can see no reason; but, if your faith was not from the heart, then it may not be true faith; and, thus, it may not move you to do so! I see true faith as a force, and it moves those who have it to act; so, the world can't talk itself into that faith (noone ever could). I am not trying to say you do not have faith. I am saying that I do not see any place in Acts where those who had the true faith refusing to be baptized. They were more than willing to do it to show that faith in Him that was working in them (for it moved them to do so). That faith is of His Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 5:9; and I Cor. 13:13) in us as it was in them. Same faith, which is, of the one and the self same Spirit. I mention the passage in Ephesians only to point out this: there are 12 fruits of the Spirit, and faith is one of them (so are righteousness, truth, and hope - these are the three that are not mentioned in the book of Galatians). And, we all know that the greatest of these is the love of "God" which casts out fear and by which we are made perfect in Him; for He is love (I John 4:7-18). |