IS B@PTISM REQUIRED FOR S@LV@TION?

____________________________________________ In Matthew 28:19, we are given the mandate to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Reference Acts 18:8, the church continued the tradition of water baptism. Yet, the thief on the cross did not seem to be baptized, and Jesus said to him, today you will be with Me in paradise. So, did the thief on the cross, bypass an important step in receiving salvation, or is there more to it? Keep in mind, Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel; see 1 Corinthians 1:17. John the Baptist (Yehochanan the Immerser) said he baptized with water, but speaking of Jesus, said He would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Reference: John 1:26, 33, Acts 1:5, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, Acts 11:16. In Acts 8:36-37, the Eunuch asked Philip what prevents him from being baptized? And then Phillip gives us the answer --- if you believe with all your heart, that Jesus is the Son of God, you may. In Acts 19:1-6, the Bible reveals that there were those who were baptized unto Johns baptism (water), but had not received the Holy Spirit. Paul explained to these people that Johns water baptism was the baptism of repentance. Repentance means turning to God. When we turn to God, we are turning away from our sins. The Bible says apart from God, we can do nothing. If you want to be washed clean, you have to turn to the One who is able to make you clean. These people believed on Jesus, and were baptized in Jesus Name. Does water baptism bring salvation? The Bible answers this question as well in Acts 10:44-48. The passages explain that the Holy Spirit fell on the people who heard Gods Word and believed. Then the question was brought up, who can forbid water that these people (who had received Gods Holy Spirit), should not be baptized? And they were baptized in Jesus name. Note that they were filled with the Holy Spirit before water baptism, which answers the question about the thief on the cross. The thief on the cross believed in Jesus Christ. Also note that it is established that Johns water baptism alone cannot save, but the people did receive the Holy Spirit when they were baptized in JESUS NAME. Acts 4:17-20, the disciples were warned

not to use the Name of Jesus, when they were preaching and teaching. Obviously, they could not obey this command of men, for if they agreed to it, then they would be disobedient to God and neglecting a crucial aspect in teaching salvation. The disciples did not cease to baptize in Jesus Name, reference Acts 5:40-42. Also please read the following verses: Acts 2:38, Acts 19:5&15, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 8:12&16. Some people argue against being baptized in Jesus name, by using the following verse that says to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So, they say in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Yet, they neglect to mention His name. Who is the identity of this God? Some people claim that all religions worship the same God, and yet God tells us that His identity is uniquely revealed in Jesus Christ. The rest of the verses speak of being baptized in Jesus name, so does this verse contradict those verses? Of course not. After all, the Son is not the name of the Son, and the Fathers name was revealed through the Son, and we are told that the Holy Spirit is God. The name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ (as we know in English) or Yehoshua [Yeshua] Hamoshiach in Hebrew. My dad is a son, a father, a brother, an uncle, and maybe one day even a grandfather, but that those are not his names. This does not identify who he is. The name is very important. Acts 4:12 explains to us that salvation is by no other name, but Jesus. So if anyone asks you, if baptism is necessary for salvation. Tell them that the baptism which is required for salvation is through the Living Water who is Jesus Christ. Jesus said whoever drinks of the water I will give him will never thirst, John 4:14 excerpt. ALL VERSES TAKEN BY THE AUTHORIZED KING JAMES BIBLE, GODS FAITHFUL WORD PRESERVED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ________________________________________ ~ E.S. Gold Freely copy and quote from.