This is a letter sent with kindness and respect to the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL concerning their inconsistent beliefs regarding salvation and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This letter was sent and meant to be posted here and read by all. May God bless every reader. Your kind and respectful comments and questions are welcome.
January 24, 2013
To the members and leaders of the First Baptist Church,
Seeing your confession of the deity of Christ and confession of the virgin birth is an encouragement of faith in a world of skepticism. Because of these convictions and your confession of the “Inerrancy and Completeness of Scripture”, I urge you that though one’s labors and works are good Christ may still have something against a church (Rev. 2-3). Let us all be aware. Therefore, I must encourage you to reconsider and look again at some of the words of Jesus Christ and those of His Apostles and prophets. You openly profess your belief that salvation comes by faith, trust, and receiving Jesus as one’s personal Savior before a believer is conformed to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I plead with you to rethink this teaching, and may your ministers give themselves wholly to reading, exhortation, and doctrine (1 Tim. 4:13-16). I write this letter by the Apostle Paul’s example of speaking to those, who are seeking God and His Christ.
Here is my plea. With your open confession that 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is true, you also confess that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Gospel by which believers are saved. I assume that you also confess the Gospel to be the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16, 1 Cor. 1:18). Please, recognize that believers must conform to Christ’s death to be resurrected with Him (Phil. 3:10-11, Rom. 6:3-8). Why then do you not teach that one must die and be buried with Christ to be resurrected with Him? The Holy Spirit described the saved believer, who was, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). Without being resurrected with Christ, one cannot be brought to life with Christ and forgiven of all sins as Colossians 2:13 states, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” (Col. 2:13). Why do you not openly recognize that being raised with Christ in baptism is when one is forgiven of all sins? The Scriptures show that Jesus died in order that each believer must die to one’s sins, and that by being buried with Christ, that believer can be raised with Him and be forgiven of all of one’s sins. Why then do you believe that one is saved before dying, being buried, and resurrected with Christ? Why place baptism after salvation when Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16)?
This is a misleading belief to overlook that one is saved when raised with Jesus Christ. Instead of teaching a believer to be saved when one is resurrected with Christ, your words are clear from your tract, “Life’s Greatest Question”, that you believe that you are saved when you trusted in Christ before you have died, been buried, and resurrected with Him. In teaching others how to become a Christian, your tract comes short stating, “only through trusting in Christ’s payment can our sins be forgiven. That means from the moment we trust in Christ, God sees us not as sinners but justified (just as if we had never sinned)” (emp. added. <fbcjax.com> 22 January 2013). You are not clear and do not indicate that this trust is when one conforms to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Yet, you also provide a “Spiritual Birth Certificate”, which states for when one has “received Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord” rather than when one is raised with Christ from being buried with Him in baptism. When you confess that believer’s baptism is a conformation to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in your tract, why do you place baptism after salvation?
When are we truly saved by grace? Let us not misapply God’s grace. Being dead to sin, Christians are alive and their souls are hidden in Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-3). Those who have not died with Christ and have not yet been raised with Him are still dead and are not yet saved. Christ’s Spirit states, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Eph. 2:5-6). God’s grace is when we are raised with Christ. Therefore, grace is “not of yourselves” (Eph. 2:8), but in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, we cannot boast (Eph. 2:9). Baptism is not a work invented by men, and no one baptizes oneself. If you so believed in grace through one’s conformation to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, would you not instruct immediate baptism upon confession of faith and repentance? Were not the converts of the Book of Acts all baptized immediately? Why baptize immediately if baptism can wait until another time? Should you not also instruct others, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)? Should you not inform these believers saying, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38)?
You are right to confess belief in “The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus from the Grave” (22 January 2013). Yet, you are not confessing the resurrection of Jesus Christ through your baptism when you believe that you have already been saved by His grace implying that you have already been resurrected with Him? Do you not see that the scriptures teach that one is raised with Jesus after being buried with Him in baptism (Rom. 6:3-8)? Does not Colossians 2:12-13 teach clearly that when one is raised from the burial of baptism “through faith” that this person then has the forgiveness of all sins (Col. 2:12-13, cf. 3:1-11)?
By placing salvation before the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, I find that you are twisting Jesus’ words about being born of the water and the Spirit to exclude the baptism that Jesus commanded after His resurrection (John 3:5, cf. 1 Cor. 6:11, Titus 3:5). Yet, rising from the waters of baptism is the moment when the believer is reborn and regenerated. Peter affirmed, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Pet. 1:3, cf. 1:22-23). How are believers begotten by God by the resurrection of Christ? Peter affirmed, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Pet. 3:21). This is my plea to you in short.
For good measure so that my plea does not come short, note that this baptism is water baptism in Jesus’ name. As you recognize the Scriptures, Jesus established baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit after His resurrection (Matt. 28:19). This baptism is the baptism in Jesus’ name taught on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2:38). The baptism in Jesus’ name is baptism in water (Acts 11:47-48). This is the one baptism by which Jesus washes His Church by water (Eph. 4:5, 5:26). This is the baptism taught in 1 Corinthians 12:13 when one is baptized into one body, the Church, by the one Spirit (cf. “body” in Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18, 24). First Corinthians 1:11-13 show that this is the one baptism in Jesus’ name and 1 Corinthians 6:11 shows this baptism to be the moment when the believer is washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus’ name. We also see that the Lord adds believers to His Church rather than men consenting to add others to a church (Acts 2:41, 47).
Therefore, I must remind you. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21, cf. Heb. 5:9, Jas. 2:24). After the resurrection, Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”.
Please, consider the claimed Baptist founder, Thomas Helwys, who wrote repeatedly about salvation and baptism. Helwys wrote in his book, “The Mystery of Iniquity” (1612),
“And therefore please not yourselves so much in those things, although we acknowledge they are worthy of great commendations in you, and our souls are much affected to you for them. But if you follow not Christ in the regeneration, that is, if you be not ‘born again of water and of the Spirit, and so enter into the kingdom of heaven,’ all is nothing, as you see by the example of this ruler. And Cornelius (Acts 10), if he had not been baptized with the Holy Ghost and with water, for all his prayers and alms he had not, nor could not have entered into the kingdom of heaven.
Thus entered all the people of God of whose entrance the scriptures give testimony, either by rule or by example, and thereof if there be any other entrance found out, it is not, nor cannot be of God. This only is the door which Jesus Christ has set open for all to enter in at, that enter into his kingdom. (John 3:5) And the Lord sanctify all your hearts with grace that you may enter therein. For no other way of salvation has Christ appointed but that men first believe and be baptized. (Mark 16:16).”
Therefore, listen also to the famous Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who noted in his lesson, “Baptism – A Burial” (October 30, 1881),
“Baptism sets forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and our participation therein. Its teaching is twofold. First, think of our representative union with Christ, so that when he died and was buried it was on our behalf, and we were thus buried with him. This will give you the teaching of baptism so far as it sets forth a creed. We declare in baptism that we believe in the death of Jesus, and desire to partake in all the merit of it. But there is a second equally important matter and that is our realized union with Christ which is set forth in baptism, not so much as a doctrine of our creed as a matter of our experience. There is a manner of dying, of being buried, of rising, and of living in Christ which must be displayed in each one of us if we are indeed members of the body of Christ. […]
We are buried with him in baptism unto death to show that we accept him as being for us dead and buried. […]
His death is the hinge of our confidence: we are not baptized into his example, or his life, but into his death. We hereby confess that all our salvation lies in the death of Jesus, which death we accept as having been incurred on our account.”
In conclusion of my plea, I urge you by the name of Christ to reconsider your beliefs and teachings concerning salvation, baptism, and the Gospel of Christ in the light of the inerrant and complete Scriptures. Remember “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:23). I welcome your response. I am willing to reconsider in all honesty. I plan to present this as an open letter. You can contact me at ScottJon82[at]yahoo.com or if you prefer by mail.
May God bless you all in the study of His Word,
Scott Shifferd, minister, Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL
The Breath of God 
Interesting thoughts, brothers and sisters, because words are valuable and lead to life eternal. However, if all we do is hear the words and do not put them into action (faith, biblical faith is all about action – see Hebrews 11), then we leave the words “floating in the air.” Many people seek a significant spiritual experience to justify their faith in God. Jesus, the Word of God made flesh (John 1), came to die on the cruel cross of Calvary (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Why? Because, merely saying He would die is no good to US. Merely saying “I died for you” is no good to US. Merely saying “I am crucified with Christ” is no good to YOU. Why? Because UNLESS one actually has died (Christ on the cross), been buried and resurrected (yes, He is alive for real), we have no hope. One must actually be “crucified with Christ” – HOW? Should I die on a cross NOW? NO, because the command to be immersed in water is the faithful response to the words given in the Bible. To reject that ACTION as a faithful response is to reject the Word made flesh. We must act on what we hear or our faith is in vain. It will not save us all by itself…there is God’s grace!
Amen. Thank you, Kevin.
As for Cornelius and his household being able to speak in tongues, I guess we could also add Balam’s donkey (Num 22:28) to the saved fold of God as he was able to speak in tongues also. Jesus gave the conjunction “and” to define how one is born into the kingdom (John 3:3, 5). That is accomplished by water and by the spirit. Peter used the word “and” to conjoin repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38), and Christ used the word “and” to give equal footing to belief and baptism (Mark 16:15-16). The word “and” tells us that for the desired result to occur, both of the conjoined requirements must be met. If you say we have to believe then you must accept that we must be baptized. If you say we must repent then you must accept that we must be baptized. If you say we must be born of the spirit then you must accept that we must be born of water also.
Let us be sure to understand that the water in consideration is not amniotic fluid. Jesus’ forerunner John was baptising in Aenon near to Salim because there was much water there (John 3:23). This is reference to a river and not a neonatal unit of a hospital. The Ethiopian eunuch had no designs on being immersed in amniotic fliud when he asked Philip, “see, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized (Acts 8:36)?” Peter had no inclination toward amniotic fluid when he asked if, “any forbid water that these should be baptized also (Acts 10:47)?” Peter goes so far in the next verse to command that they be baptized (Acts 10:48). What, if any, would be the implication if thay had refused to be baptized or said that it was unnecessary for salvation?
Good words *and* good wit.
He who has eyes, let him see, and he who has ears let him hear! The whole, not the part of the plan of salvation must be adhered to. One may not pick and choose the pieces they like and leave the rest alone, the Bible is the whole inspired word of God.
what about the thief on the cross? Jesus told him from this day fordward you will be with me.
I think that it is a good question.
You are right that the thief was not baptized into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, because Christ had not yet died, been buried, and resurrected. Jesus had not yet established salvation by giving Himself as an offering and conquering the grave, and our salvation is not by man but by the work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection in which we saved, the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). On the cross, Jesus had not yet commanded baptism in His name, but right after His resurrection He did command baptism (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:16). I hope you understand my point here. By Jesus shedding His blood, He established the New Covenant, the New Testament (Heb, 9:15ff, cf. Matt. 26:27-29). The thief was not under this covenant, and who is to say whether he was baptized by John. By baptism, we are buried with Christ burying our old person of sin and being resurrected with Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-8, Col. 2:12-13, 3:1-3). That is so beautiful to me, and I hope it is to you.
The new covenant is a spiritual covenant and not a physical covenant. It would make sense that a spiritual baptism is that which saves in spiritual covenant. It does not make sense that a physical baptism would save under a spiritual covenant.
And you would assert that the Lord’s Supper is spiritual and that eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the grapevine was not physically done by Christ? Are you asserting that Christ was only a spirit and did not come in the flesh? That does appear to meet your rational.
“Spiritual” is inner by definition. Ever heard of a physical Spirit?
Are you saying that one cannot commune with Christ without doing the physical act of partaking in physical bread and fruit of the vine? That would be absurd. Christ is now Spiritual, He is no longer Physical. Our actions represent the physical action that took place when Christ was physical. However, physical action does not create the union that it represents. I don’t think you get this. You seem to indicate that the physical action of baptism and the Lords Supper “create” the union. This is very concerning.
I am not going to word-wrangle with you if you going to assert that you know my beliefs better than I know my heart. This habit of yours is not welcome here.
May my comments linger in your mind Scott until you see that being dunked in water as a requirement to enter heaven and eternal life in Christ is totally absurd! God looks for faith in the heart and nothing else! The true baptism is a baptism of the Spirit! As it is written, you, John, baptize with water, but the Christ shall baptize with the Holy Spirit! You guys are wasting time trying to convince people that they need to be dunked in water to be saved. The scripture is clear that a person is made righteous by what they believe and not what they do! So you believe that a person can believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and love God and live an awesome life of fruitfulness to God, but because he didn’t get dunked in water in the name of Jesus that guy is going to hell forever. Really? You really believe that?
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
You may have the last word.
The baptism mentioned in Mar 16 does not say whether this baptism is Spiritual or water. Why do you assume it is water?
Mark 16:16’s baptism is the same as the baptism of Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 2:38, which is the baptism by water in Acts 10:47-48.
Really? How do you know that? Show proof, not conjecture.
Don’t you think this would have been made clear by the authors of the Bible if it were so important?
James, your argument is valid. I spent my first 35 years believing what Scott does but in my heart knowing it was wrong. How can a physical act create a Spiritual renewal and rebirth? It cannot. It can only represent that actual conversion that takes place prior to water baptism. One does not go under water as an unconverted soul and emerge as a new creation (spiritually). The water baptism is an effect of this conversion, and not the cause of it. That would be like saying that the physical wedding ceremony creates the love that it represents. It simply is not true.
A man believes in his heart into righteousness and confession unto salvation. We believe and therefore we speak. No dunk in the water necessary brothers. You’ll never convince me from scripture that being dunked in water is necessary to be made righteous. Just isn’t there is scripture guys. Kyle, you’re mistaken dude, and so is Scott. As Jesus said, “You do greatly err because you know not the scriptures nor the power of God.”
I think you have made up your mind. Yet, we were not just dunked in water, we were buried with Christ in baptism from which we are raised with Him. We were conformed to His death, burial, and resurrection by which we are saved according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. If you reject such words of the Spirit of Christ, who are you really rejecting?
May God bless you that these scriptures linger in your mind until you yield to Christ.
“Just isn’t there in scripture?” Seriously? Where would we begin? Mark 16:16 – “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” John 3:5 – “unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Romans 6 – ” Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Colossians 2:12 – “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” 1st Peter 3:20-21 – “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” You can try to discredit a clearly biblical concept by referring to it as a “dunk in the water,” but don’t try to tell us that it “just isn’t there in the scripture.” What do you suppose they were doing then? Just wasting their time getting wet, just a “dunk in the water” with no further significance? A dunk in the water may seem a ridiculous means for putting on Christ to you, but the significance of that action in scripture can hardly be overlooked. And if it were so unnecessary, why even bother putting it into scripture at all? Was it just a red herring to trip us up? I’m sure that the apostles and the scribes in the hundreds of years that followed would gladly have reserved their ink for more important matters if baptism was of no import. Perhaps Paul, Peter and Christ Himself were simply wasting their breath and their time talking about a mere “dunk in the water.”
Braden, you are assuming that these references to baptism are about water baptism. How do you know they aren’t baptism by the Spirit (which is where actual transformation occurs). Water does not transform the heart.
You’ve already been proven that the baptism is water baptism (Acts 10:47-48).
First, it is very clear that having the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not equal to being saved at the point it was received. The Apostles, prior to the death of Christ were cleansed by the instruction or word that Christ had given to them – not by the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the ‘baptism’ of the Holy Spirit position fails. Second, the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not given as a ‘sign’ of salvation, nor has it ever been used as such. The purpose is clearly express in scripture – Prove Jesus is Deity/God (John 1:1-3; 20:30,31; Acts 2:22), confirm God’s word to those who heard (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:1-4), verify a true apostle (2 Cor. 12:12), and fulfill prophesy (Matthew 8:17). Here we have the miraculous manifestation that falls within the last category, fulfilling prophesy, because it was foretold that this would be a sign of the kingdom (Joel 2).
Please read the entire account. You will notice that no one acknowledged that Cornelius or his house was saved at that point they began to speak in other languages. The text confirms that they understood that God had opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles. From Peter’s account in Acts 11, Notice: “As I BEGAN to speak…” what would be the purpose of Peter going any further with words if they had just been saved? Notice “Then remembered I the word of the Lord…” he did not say that what he was witnessing was in furtherance of salvation, nor did he negate the required baptism that was once administered by John prior Jesus’ death. Notice “Forasmuch then as God gave them the LIKE gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” The full context tells of Peter’s mind toward the Gentile world (verse 28) – At first he did not know why he was sent to a Gentile house when Gentiles were not in God’s plan to save. But once he witnessed the confirmation of the word that had been spoken by Joel, he then recognized that he was their to present the keys of salvation to a Gentile family which God would cleanse through their obedience. Notice, “When they heard these things…they said Then hath God also to the Gentiles GRANTED repentance UNTO life.” No where is it indicated that the Jews believed Cornelius was saved at that point. ONLY that they recognized that God has granted them the right to become his child.
Notice that Luke records the event in greater detail in chapter 10 of Acts. Peter says that of the things he has been sent to say, “You yourselves know these things” (verse 37). He related what they had known concerning Christ. Peter was perplexed about why he was sent to tell them what they already knew but had no way of responding to the gospel since they were Gentiles. It was not until the Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household in the same way of miraculous manifestation as Peter understood was from the Lord, that he then accepted what God had ordained. Peter then opened his mouth and proclaimed what was needed to fulfill prophecy and open the kingdom unto the Gentiles. Notice verse 47 as he spoke to the Jews who were with him, “Can any man forbid THE WATER, that these should not be BAPTIZED…” Peter recognized that what had just occurred was not THE BAPTISM of salvation nor was what just occurred A BAPTISM that was connected to salvation. Cornelius had not heard the command directed to be baptized because salvation had not be offered to him as a Gentile. That was what he was praying for. Notice verse 48 “And he COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.” The words which Peter was to give them that they did not know were the words that would bring salvation just like it was recorded in Acts 2.
Chapter 11 then begins with the brethren hearing “that the Gentiles also had received the WORD of God.” Notice it does not say having received the Holy Spirit. Again, this emphasizes the fact that what saved them was the obedience to the word given by Peter and not the Holy Spirit which was only a sign to the Jews as well as fulfilling prophecy. Cornelius and his household were obedient to the command of baptism which saves.
Thank you, Kyle. Excellent words.
Kyle, are you saying that the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary in process of conversion? Are you actually endorsing an intellectual conversion over a Spiritual conversion? Do you understand the difference? WOW!
James, I’ll leave Scott to address the matter with Cornelius. However, as for the part where Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach, you are greatly overlooking the context of that passage. The passage in question is 1st Corinthians 1. In verses 10-14, Paul is addressing how divided the Corinthians are based on who taught them the gospel. Look at verse 13: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” The Corinthians thought their salvation membership the body of Christ was directly linked to who baptized them! But then look at verses 14-15: “I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.” Paul says I’m glad didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius so none of you think you were baptized into me instead of into Christ! Paul’s gift was preaching and that’s what he was called to do. It doesn’t matter what kind of person baptizes an individual. Basically anyone can do that, but not anyone could preach and reach souls like Paul could. So I’ll let you and Scott discuss the matter of the spirit and Cornelius, although to me, that passage is just simply saying that God was demonstrating how the salvation of Christ is for all, not just Jews. And for the record, the scripture never says Cornelius was saved as a result of receiving the spirit. But you aren’t the first person I’ve seen use the 1st Corinthians 1:15 to say “Hey! Paul didn’t want to baptize, he wanted to preach!” With all due respect, it’s terribly out of context and an extremely weak argument.
You’re right. Paul did baptize even though he did have to personally. He had been sent to proclaim the Gospel among the nations, which he did beautifully.
Scott:
I believe you are the one in error on this issue and not the First Baptist Church. The Spirit fell on Cornelius and all who were in his house before they were baptized with any water. They were saved and sanctified and justified when they believed in their heart, not when they were immersed in the water. That’s why God sent them the Spirit before any water baptism. Acts 10. Also in Acts 15 Peter is explaining to his brothers in Jerusalem how the Spirit fell on Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) because “God saw their heart” and saw faith in their heart. In addition, Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach Christ! Do you believe for one second that Paul would not also baptize people if he that that water could save them or that it was necessary to save them? No way! He would have never made a comment like that if water immersion was a requirement for salvation. Scott you are all wet on this matter. Pun intended. : )
Thank you for your gentle approach and I hope you will reconsider.
I agree with Braden’s comment below concerning 1 Corinthians 1. I would only add that 1 Corinthians 6:11 is very clear that the Spirit sanctified, justified, and washed in Jesus’ name. About the baptism in Christ’s name that Paul certainly did do (1 Cor. 1:11-13), Paul would rather preach the Gospel that included baptism in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ than be the one administering it when people were dividing concerning the baptism in Jesus’ name.
James,
Concerning the Holy Spirit and salvation, you are right to connect the two. Yet, I disagree and I agree with Kyle below concerning salvation and the Holy Spirit. Clearly, the Holy Spirit fell on those all who heard the Word, but they were not yet sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11) and born of the Spirit (1 Pet. 1:3, 1:22-23, 3:21). Notice what Peter said about Jesus’ name before the Spirit fell on them, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43), and then Peter commanded, “‘Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days” (Acts 10:47-48).
I plead with you to reconsider your understanding the Gospel with all honesty. I considered your point likewise. Be saved by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and do not consider yourself unworthy. May God bless your studies.
Dear Sir,
In short, the spirit baptism of Cornelius in Acts ch. 10, was a special sign to Peter that salvation was being opened up to the Gentile people. They were then baptized after this special sign from God. Baptism was still apart of the Gospel, just like hearing, believing, repenting, and confessing Jesus as Lord. Respectfully, you need to make sure you know the whole context of the chapter and not just look at one verse.
Regarding Paul, again, the context of the entire chapter in 1 Corinthians, makes it clear that Paul was only saying he was glad that he baptized none of those people simply because they were arguing about the importance of the person who baptized them. That is why the passage from 1 Cor. vs 11-13 states the events that lead Paul to make the statement he made a few verses later. Romans ch. 6 and 1 Peter 3: 18-22 are just a few of many places that further explain the importance of baptism. Also, remember Acts 19, Paul had to explain to the men in that chapter that John’s baptism was entirely different from the baptism of Christ. That is why Paul baptized them. They could not simply mentally acknowledge the important changes between the two baptisms. It required obedience on their part. This is why James says that faith without works is a dead faith.