Various churches claim Christ show that most members do not agree many times with their party’s beliefs. That is why I find it is so important to ask everyone how they were saved and how they went from lost to saved, because the answer differs between members of the same churches. In the Christian Scriptures, salvation is always the same.
Of these groups, most believe that baptism is essential to be save, because it is a command and example of Jesus Christ. Many of these members also believe that the exact moment of salvation is at some kind of baptism.
What does the Bible have to say? Some profess that they are saved by a spiritual baptism like “accepting Jesus into one’s heart” or saying “the sinner’s prayer.” However, these are not found in the New Testament. There are those of the charismatic groups that believe that salvation is by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and these believe that there are at least two baptisms needed for salvation rather than one. Most Bible-believers find that baptism is essential and the exact point of salvation. What does the Bible show is the exact moment of salvation?
According to the Scriptures, there is “one baptism” (Eph 4:5). Only one baptism is essential though there are more than one baptism in the Bible. The idea of needing Holy Spirit baptism for salvation is not in the Scriptures. The simplest refutation of this misunderstanding is that the church at Rome did not all have the baptism of the Holy Spirit and yet they had the Spirit and they were saved (Rom 1:11; 8:9, 24). This is simply an undeniable fact. However, they had Christ within them. There is only one baptism that is essential to salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not that baptism. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was essential to the establishment of the church, the revelation of Scriptures, and helping Christians to understand the one baptism (Eph 3:3–5).
Which baptism is essential? Ephesians 4:5 specifies that there is one baptism and Christ’s Spirit referred to this one baptism in Ephesians,
Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that He may present the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:25–27)
What is the one baptism in water? In Ephesians, the Spirit revealed through Paul that there is one baptism — “the washing of water with the word.” The one baptism is water baptism. This passage also shows that this is how Christ cleansed, sanctified, and made the Church to not have spot or wrinkle and to be without blemish. Christ washes the believers with water. The work is not of the believer. No one baptizes oneself.
Which water baptism is essential? There are two baptisms in water in the New Testament Scriptures. One baptism is from John for repentance and the other baptism is from Christ. Only one baptism is in water and essential to followers of Christ. In Acts 22:16, Ananias exhorted Paul, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Peter declared, “Baptism now saves you” (1 Pet 3:21). This is the one baptism that washes away sins. In Acts 2:38, Peter commanded, “Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the forgiveness of your sins.” Baptism in the name of the Lord is in water. Peter proclaimed in Acts 10:47–48, “Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Why would no one forbid? Why was this baptism immediate? Because “forgiveness of sins is to be received through His name” (Acts 10:43; cf. 1 Cor 6:11).
This one baptism is the baptism of the Great Commission to all the world. Jesus commanded, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matt 28:19). Clearly, this is the one water baptism unto the remission of sins. According to Mark, Jesus instructed, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16). Lastly, this baptism is always for believers and not infants who are safe being of the kingdom of heaven. This baptism is a burial in water and not a pouring or sprinkling (Acts 8:38–39; Rom 6:4–6; Col 2:12–13). Baptism means immersion or dunking from the New Testament Greek word baptizo as the Greek churches know this well. There is the only baptism that the believer needs be buried with Christ and rise to salvation. Baptism is how believer enter into Christ’s church (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Cor 12:13). Baptism in Jesus’s name is the one baptism.
The Breath of God 
But you are disputing the baptism with the Holy Spirit in that you assert that it doesn’t take place today. Titus 3:6 (cf. Acts 10:45 and 11:16) proves your assertion wrong.
Why would the baptism of the Holy Spirit occur today since the Gospel has been completely revealed? What more prophesy and revelation do we need than that given by Christ and His Apostles and prophets? “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:5). Signs, wonders, and powers were to prove the Word of God (Heb. 2:3-4, Mark 16:20). Are the scriptures not complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17)? Is prophecy not complete (1 Cor. 13:8-10)? Since partial prophecy came in the 1st c. under the Apostles, when is revelation complete and therefore the partial will cease?
No, friend. The baptism of the Holy Spirit did not take place for everyone in the 1st c., but the pouring out was upon all and it includes more than the baptism of the Spirit. You know that the Samaritan converts had to have the hands of the apostles laid on them unlike Cornelius’ house (Acts 8:14-18), and the converts in Ephesus also had to have hands laid on rather the direct giving of the Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). These were not baptized by the Holy Spirit. There are also no more Apostles of Christ to lay on hands today. Do you not admit these? Cornelius’ receiving of the Spirit was like the Apostles in the beginning and unlike others. “‘And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?’ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Nations repentance to life'” (Acts 11:15-18).
Evidently, the baptism of the Spirit was not for everyone. Baptism in Jesus’ name was commanded by Jesus in His resurrection for everyone and included the Spirit (Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:38). This is the one baptism (Eph. 4:5, cf. 5:26). This is in water (Acts 10:47-48).
For the record I totally agree with Marc. No one is spiritually transformed by water.
Never said that. Again, you presume.
Why would God create a covenant in which the inner spiritual transformation is the main theme of that covenant and then create a physical action (water baptism) as that which saves? It is totally inconsistent with the theme of the new covenant. In the spiritual world the cause is that which creates the action. Your hyper-focus on the physical action blinds you from the essence of NT teaching. Why is that? I think it’s because you approach the NT as if it’s just another book of laws and commands, and that obedience to those commands makes us eligible for salvation. Anyone who is honest with the theme of new covenant Christianity can see that this is wrong.
My position is neither speculative nor contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture.
1. Is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit used to describe the same thing that happened to Cornelius and those with him? Answer: Yes.
2. Doers Paul teach that all who are Christians have had the Holy Spirit poured on them? Answer: Yes.
Not disputing the pouring out of the Spirit. Titus 3:6 is referring to Titus 3:5, which is baptism in Jesus’ name as thoroughly shown proved before.
The works and the gifts of the Spirit are not the same for everyone (1 Cor. 12). You know this.
The one baptism essential for salvation today is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. According to Acts 10:45 and 11:16 to have the Spirit poured on you and to be baptized with the Spirit is the same thing. Titus 3:6 states that all who are Christians have had the Holy Spirit poured on them. Thus all who are Christians have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is the one baptism (Ephesians 4:5) that places a person into the body of Christ.
I find the article above to be a sufficient reply. I must add that the Spirit works in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ when one is baptized in Jesus’ name, which is in water (Acts 10:47-48). There is no denying the work of the Spirit in the baptism in Jesus’ name.
I find your position highly speculative and contrary to plain teaching in the scriptures.
Sorry but water baptism will not save you. Paul would have gone around preaching water baptism if that were the case. Paul preached the message of the cross. We need to preach Christ at what he has done for us on the cross. That message alone is the only message that will save you, not the message on water Baptism. It is so very clear but so confusing to so many people. If we went around preaching water baptism people would start forgetting the importance of the cross. But like the bible says the cross is a stumbling block to so many people.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1corinthians 1:17
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.1corinthians1:18
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
romans10-9
No one denies that faith, confession that faith that Jesus is the resurrected Lord is essential to salvation but this only approaches the Gospel of salvation and does not complete it. Christ and Him crucified is embedded in the act of baptism, which is essential to the salvation of the Gospel as the scrpitures so clearly teach those who are not hard of heart, dull of hearing, and have opened their eyes. Baptism in Jesus’ name is in water (Acts 10:47). Any honest person knows that, and Christ said, “One who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). The honest person sees here that salvation follows baptism by Christ’s own words. On top of this, removing baptism from Christ’s gospel guts the Gospel as the Spirit of Christ instructed in Romans 6:3-7 that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is to be reenacted to be saved by dying to one’s sins, being buried in baptism into Jesus’ death, and being resurrected into the new life. “For he who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:7). All this is by the power of God (Romans 1:16). Baptism in Jesus’ name is from Christ. I plead with you to honestly reconsider your position, because it appears you have accepted Fullerism and stand against Christ.
Umm, you haven’t even begun to deal with all the texts I’ve gone over. Just re-pasting verses that I’ve already gone over isn’t argumentation. In Acts 10:46, yes they received gifts, but NOT by baptism! My point was that Acts 10:34-35, 47, has nothing to do with gifts like you originally tried to allude to. I thought you’d at least know that’s what I meant in my reply, but I don’t think you’re really interested in looking into my reply, but just skimming around and building theology off of single verses still. That’s scary exegesis to bank your false gospel on.
1 Cor 12 does not discuss any difference between a baptism unto gifts and unto salvation. Why even mention it then if it doesn’t support your weird invented interpretations?
I agree with Rom 5:12 and 1 Tim 2:4, but they have nothing to do with the topic of salvation by H2O! Have you gone mad?
Now you’re ignoring the clear context of James 2, which is found in verse 17, 22, and 25 in that faith + works = (real) faith, NOT justification. And James 2:24 harmonizes with this. It starts with the Greek word “horate” and is most likely indicative, thus would be more correctly saying “you notice”, “you tell”, or “you know that a man is justified by works and not faith only”. “Horate” means to literally and physically see something with the eyes. So how do you detect that faith is real? By works, not mere profession. It’s how to detect real faith, not obtain justification. Nice try again. Go back and look it over more.
I have no problem with Heb 5:8-9 because 1 John 3:9 says that “if we are born of the Spirit we cannot go on sinning because the Spirit of God lives within us.” So it’s true, those who obey God are also the ones who are saved. But you’ll also have to put your helmet on and deal with Rom 3-5 and Gal 2-3, the most didactic passage in all the Bible which zoom in on the topic of justification. All is attributed to faith, and nothing to the law or works!!! Praise be to God for His grace in salvation! Something you can’t say 100%.
Again, I said it blows my mind that you hang your entire gospel on Mark 16:16, and ignore the clear and didactic teachings of Rom 3-5, and Gal 2-3, which teach justification by faith alone apart from any possible work. The reason no person can be saved by works is 1. It would give them reason to boast in making the gospel a success (Rom 4:2-3), 2. It would take away from God’s glory and give partial glory to man, and 3. you’d have no way to know if you were genuinely saved because you can’t know if you fully responded the way you think you’re expected to. You don’t know if you did the water baptism the absolute correct way. Some people may have left their pinky finger out of the H2O (not full submersion) and are on their way to hell. Congratulations to Scott’s gospel of grace! 4. How were the OT saints saved? Rom 4 says it’s always been through faith, just like Abraham as the prime example and Father of all Jews. But apart from your practical inconsistencies, let’s look more at your Biblical inconsistencies.
“he who does not know the answer will not go to the game”
But Scripture teaches in way more places that “he who knows the answer will go to the game apart from calling the station” (Rom 3:28, Eph 2:8). That’s the problem with ignoring the majority of the NT where it is didactic and specific to the process of salvation, and deriving full theological conclusions from single verses which have greater contexts not specific to the process of salvation only. Just a little while after Mark 16:16 the Holy Spirit came and people started being baptized by Spirit unto a new birth within the new covenant. Water baptism is an outward proclamation of this inward change.
Mark 16:16 DOES contradict Rom 3-5 and Gal 2-3 with YOUR interpretations, NOT mine. That’s the problem. You’ve offered no argumentation of what I’ve given for Romans 3-4 above. I agree there is one baptism. We’re baptized into Christ by the Spirit, not Allah. I have no problem with that verse! Yes Jesus commanded baptism, not for salvation though. John 6:28-29 says, “Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” If your theology is correct then Jesus would have said that the work of baptism is required also. Jesus also gave doctrinal authority to the apostles, and they lay out a gospel apart from works (Rom 4), which you’re still silent on. Everything else you mention about baptism I’m sure I agree with. Just not about it being required for salvation, so let’s go ahead and stick to the topic, OK? And Eph 5:6 says Jesus washes the church with water through THE WORD, not H2O. Nice try though.
“Why did they receive Spirit after belief and baptism? Why did these others not receive the Spirit by being baptized by the Holy Spirit but rather had the Apostles’ hands laid on them if the baptism of the Spirit was for everyone?”
Acts 19:5-6 says the Holy Spirit came on them after laying on of hands, NOT baptism (unto gifts not salvation). Acts 8 is too ambiguous. Some say it’s something like a half salvation since this was the first time the Samaritans received the Spirit and the request of Peter and John’s authority all the more solidified this as an acceptable action. This is the only occurrence of this in the NT. It’s descriptive of what happened when the first Samaritans received the Holy Spirit in the new covenant sense. It’s not a universal truth in Scripture for the entire church age.
“Receiving miraculous gifts from the Spirit to prove God’s acceptance of the Nations does not prove that they had the indwelling Spirit when they spoke in received the Spirit “just as we have” (Acts 10:34-35, 47, 11:15-17, 15:8-9, 14).”
Acts 10 doesn’t say they got gifts. Are you making this up as you go along? Acts 11:17 says it’s “dorean” or “gift” (singular), and the whole context is about salvation, not additional gifts. Verse 18 says, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” It doesn’t say they received gifts but had life! And according to Acts 10 it happened prior to H2O baptism. Acts 15:8-9 isn’t about the Gentiles receiving gifts either. The context leans towards salvation as verse 9 says, “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” There’s no mention of their hearts being purified via H2O. So your conclusion that Holy Spirit baptism was only for a few and mostly for gifts (plural) based on these texts is an amazing stretch and an un-warranted leap in exegesis.
Yes Romans 8 shows that one is either saved or not saved and either has the Spirit or is of the sinful nature. Interesting how there is no mention of this process being done via H2O in all of Romans, but it gives us the most didactic texts on soteriology in all of Scripture and all is attributed to faith, apart from the law and works. Romans slaughters your very position. Re-read it but wear a helmet.
“In the name of the Lord” refers to doing an action by God and for God (who is the one true God who saves), as opposed to in the name of Allah or some false god. You have no argument there.
You also mentioned James 2:14. Read verses 17, 21, and 25 for the entire context. The teaching is that faith + works = (real) faith, NOT salvation and NOT justification. You’re interpretations are way out in left field. You evidence your own hostility towards a consistent approach to Scripture and you hoard a false gospel over it.
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
Let’s stay in the Scriptures.
You: “THE WORD, not H2O”?
– “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” Acts 10:47
You: “Acts 8 is too ambiguous”?
– “who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:15-17
You: “Acts 10 doesn’t say they got gifts”?
– “For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Acts 10:46; “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” 1 Corinthians 12:4, 10.
You: “sinful nature”?
– “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” Romans 5:12; God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Timothy 2:4.
Do people baptize themselves thus being able to boast?
James 2:24, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
Hebrews 5:8-9, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/186-was-cornelius-saved-without-baptism
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/519-is-holy-spirit-baptism-available-today
Why does it blow your mind that someone would follow the words of Christ? “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion”.
Notice the first half of the verse: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Why would a non-believer be baptized, and if they were, would it be as Christ commanded? It is a logical fallacy to exclude baptism here. For example, take the sentence, “He who knows the answer and calls the station will go to the game; but he who does not know the answer will not go to the game.” If this person simply knew the answer and did not call, then would he be going to the game? Christ’s words in Mark 16:16 stand against all your beliefs.
Mark 16:16 does not contradict Rom 3-6 or Gal 2-5. Jesus does not contradict His Spirit. Have you not read Romans 6 or James 2:14ff? Have you not read Acts 2:38, 22:16, Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:12-13, 1 Pet. 3:21, Matt. 28:19-20, more?
Have you not read that there is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5) “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”? Was this not the baptism that Jesus instituted and commanded for all the world (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:16)? Was this not the baptism in Jesus name (Matt. 28:19-20) by which those at Pentecost obeyed (Acts 2:38)? Was this baptism not in water (Acts 10:47)? Was this baptism not in the name of the Spirit and by the Spirit (Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 12:13)? Is this not the water baptism found throughout Acts and the Epistles? Does not Jesus cleanse the Church with water (Eph. 5:26) and by His blood (Rev. 1:5)? Are you ashamed of the water? It is also the water and the blood that bear witness with the Spirit that Jesus is the Christ.
You believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for salvation and that it is the one baptism. You believe that Cornelius’ “receiving” the Spirit was the baptism sign of salvation before they were baptized in water. Yet, the Spirit was received for gifts by all others after baptism in Jesus’ name. “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:5-6). Also, “For as yet He [the Holy Spirit] had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14-17). Why did they receive Spirit after belief and baptism? Why did these others not receive the Spirit by being baptized by the Holy Spirit but rather had the Apostles’ hands laid on them if the baptism of the Spirit was for everyone?
Cameron, you don’t know what you are talking about. You don’t understand the gift of the Spirit, the laying on of Apostles’ hands, nor the baptism of the Spirit. You probably don’t understand the purpose of the miracles being done through the hands of men. Receiving miraculous gifts from the Spirit to prove God’s acceptance of the Nations does not prove that they had the indwelling Spirit when they spoke in received the Spirit “just as we have” (Acts 10:34-35, 47, 11:15-17, 15:8-9, 14). Holy Spirit baptism was only for a few. The Roman Christians didn’t have the gifts from Spirit baptism or Apostles’ hands (Rom. 1:11), and yet they had the Spirit indwelling and the salvation thereof (Rom. 8:9-11). Peter preached “through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (v43), and “he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (v48).
https://godsbreath.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/cornelius-household-saved/
https://godsbreath.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/holy-spirit-speak-part-3/
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/186-was-cornelius-saved-without-baptism
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/519-is-holy-spirit-baptism-available-today
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Notice it does NOT say in the second half of the verse, “but he who does not believe and get baptized will be condemned.”
So according to your one little verse, which you’re inconsistently using to trump all of the didactic and clear teaching of Rom 3-5 and Gal 2-3 by the way, those who don’t get baptized wont be condemned because it doesn’t say that much.
Acts 13:39 even says, “Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
Could it be that when Jesus says in Mark 16:16 that one will be saved through belief and baptism that it’s referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit? John the baptist did say in Mark 1:8, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
And in Acts 10:47 Peter says, “Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
People ALREADY received the Spirit, thus were saved BEFORE physical water baptism!!!
Now it blows my mind that you hang your entire false gospel on Mark 16:16. This is one of the most inconsistent things I’ve ever seen in my life and I personally would NEVER hang my eternity so confidently on this type of inconsistent approach to the Scripture. I wouldn’t even sleep at night if my little mound of Scriptural proof went against the mountain of Biblical teaching like you do. Again, this blows my mind.
You still haven’t offered anything. Sorry. You’re still conceding to all my other argumentation, and according to Gal 1 you believe a false gospel and are eternally accursed. That sucks.
Scott,
I’m fully convinced that you’ve conceded to my arguments from Scripture on this issue of salvation via physical water baptism. I’m fully convinced of this since you haven’t offered anything in response. I didn’t just offer a lot of words in my reply, even though it is a bit lengthy, but offered real substance and argumentation from Scripture which you haven’t dealt with at all, and have seemingly ignored or moved on from.
If you’re conceding them please remove the heresy of the assertion that we are justified by physical water baptism from your blog so others are deceived of a false gospel. If you’re not conceding and still hold to that position, then please give a reason why after what I’ve offered from Scripture.
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Christ’s words given to His Apostles and prophets shown in the article above are more than suffice to refute your teaching.