Larry Ray Hafley
We know what the Lord said about baptism. He said, "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). We know he sent the Spirit who said
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). We know he sent a preacher to tell one
believing, penitent, praying sinner, "Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). We know he told some folks
who had been baptized that they had "been baptized into Christ" Rom. 6:3, 4;
Gal. 3:27). We know that the apostle Peter said, "Baptism doth also now save us"
(1 Pet. 3:21).
Despite the fact that the Lord has said those things, still, men tell us that
"baptism is not essential to salvation." "One is saved first, then he may be
baptized." "A sinner is forgiven, saved by grace through faith, and he will go
to heaven whether or not he is ever baptized." Yes, we hear these things from
denominational preachers. (Observe how sharply they differ from the words of the
Bible cited above!)
At any rate, despite the plain, clear statements of Jesus and the apostles,
we are assured that one may be saved without being baptized. Well, if that be
so, what should the Lord have said, if he wanted us to believe baptism is
essential? If the Lord meant for us to understand that we must be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ in order to be saved and forgiven of our sins, what
else should he have said to convince us?
Too, if baptism is not necessary, if it is not a condition with which we must
comply, why did the Lord use the language of the passages noted above? If
baptism is not essential, if it plays no part in one's forgiveness, the Lord
used some awfully confusing words, did he not? Why would he use such words ("He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved") if he did not mean for us to
understand that one must believe and be baptized in order to be saved?
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