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By God's grace, still presenting the same old message from the same old Book...

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Never in the Bible is anyone told to be baptized in order to be saved.

What about Acts 2:37, 38, & 40? 

Acts 2:37-38, 40
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, 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.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Regarding Acts 2:37-38, 40, Repentance is a change of direction, from unbelief to belief. There is never any faith apart from repentance, and repentance takes the person from darkness to light. Therefore, the person that repents goes from being an unbeliever to a believer, from a person without faith to a person with faith. The person that believes is saved, for when one believes they have remission of sins. The baptism spoken of is an outward expression of that remission. 

Baptism is a duty of every saved person. When we are saved, we are saved unto good works. Jesus was baptized, and the baptism described as fulfilling righteousness, a good work (Matt 3:15). 

Matthew 3:15
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

When we are saved we are saved unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. But to the point, when a person is baptized, it is because they have repented and believed, a believer is saved, that not by performing righteous acts, good works. 

A saved person is to walk in good works (Pr 4:18; Eph 2:10; John 10:4, 27). The word lights the path of the believer, showing the path we are to follow, thus it is said the path of the just is as the shining light (Ps 119:105). 

Proverbs 4:18
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 10:4
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psalms 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Baptism follows repentance and faith. Many profess to be saved, yet look around, and few are seen walking the path of the just. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish. There is a day of judgement coming. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Matthew 3:15 
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Ephesians 2:10 
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Bob Krajcik
Mansfield, Ohio
August 19, 2004

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A reader wrote to say:

Mk. 16:16 "He that *_believeth and is baptized_* shall be saved." You have to be baptized after repentance in order for remission of sins to be in effect. Acts 2: 38 "....repent and be baptized....._*for*_ the remission of sins." " We are buried with Him in_* baptism*_"

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In answer to the above. . .

Regarding remission of sins, the Scriptures declare, Christ died for many (Matt 20:28; Mark 14:24; Rom 5:12-15, 19), specifically, those the Father gave Him. When those are saved, remission of sins is realized by them, and there is therefore no condemnation for them. 

The person that believes is a regenerate person, i.e., born again, and has come to Christ. He that cometh to Christ shall not be cast off. The believer is safe and secure. Every one which believeth on him has everlasting life. Those that believe were born of God, i.e., born again. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. To be born of God is to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and after that ye believed ye were sealed by the holy Spirit. The sins remitted, there is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Sins are remitted by the blood of Christ, and water baptism is an outward expression of that remission being recognized by those that believe (John 12:46).

John 1:12 
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 1:13
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Romans 8:16 
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Matthew 26:28
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

John 6:35, 37, 40
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 11:25 
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

1 John 5:11 
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 12:46 
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 3:15-16, 18, 36 
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The LORD bless thee and keep thee.

Bob Krajcik
Mansfield, Ohio
September 1, 2004
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Bible Study Letters

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalms 66:16

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