Originally posted by debbiejo
I have been saved 3 times and by Baptism......seems I'm ok.. 😉
You have not been saved 3 times. You see Debbiejo, salvation is not something that occurs repeatedly. You get born again only ONCE.
Baptism DOES NOT save it is merely symbolic.
Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Notice that it does not repeat the word baptized in the second clause to show that if a person does not believe AND is not baptized he/she will be condemned. It just reads, "...he who does not BELIEVE will be condemned. The salvation from sin experience is a matter of FAITH, not a matter of WORKS. Baptism is NOT a necessary corollary to salvation because ANYTHING apart from faith IS A WORK and we are NOT saved by our works (i.e., any good deed).
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins ; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism DOES NOT CHANGE a person's heart or spirit (the aspect of a person that needs to be born again); therefore, it CANNOT effect salvation.
Romans 11:6
And if by grace (i.e. God's undeserved favor) , then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Ephesians 2:5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace (i.e. God's undeserved favor) you have been saved,
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith , and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast .
I rest my case.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 19:5
Baptism can be done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:23-25
The water and the Spirit. The word “water” refers symbolically to the Word of God. We must be born again by the Water or “Word of God,” and by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-13, 16:14-16, 33; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21
Contrary to the teaching and beliefs held by the Church of Christ and other religions, baptism does not save anyone. Baptism is not essential or imperative in order for one to be saved. It is simply an act that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church commanded for us to comply with and to perform on others--but not FOR SALVATION, BUT IN SPITE OF SALVATION. In other words, baptism should occur AFTER YOU ARE SAVED, NOT IN ORDER TO BE SAVED (Acts 10:44-48, 18:8
Baptism dos not save anyone. We are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ONLY. Faith in Jesus Christ always comes before baptism. Once a person accepts Jesus into his heart BY FAITH FIRST, THEN THEY SHOULD BE BAPTIZED IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST’S COMMAND. But don’t associate baptism with getting saved because it is not the baptism, per se, that saves anyone--it is faith in the Son of God alone that saves us.
Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3, 8-14
Baptism is an OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD CHANGE OF HEART. People who turn away from their sins (repent) to follow Jesus should show PUBLICLY THROUGH BAPTISM that they have turned away from their sins. This is what baptism allows the sinner to do. For example, if a person says that they are turning over a new leaf so to speak, and want to live a holy life, ONE EXAMPLE of something that they could do to prove that they are serious about doing what they said, would be to not hang out with people who are a bad influence. Not hanging around bad influences IS NOT turning over a new leaf, IT IS THE PROOF, EVIDENCE, OR SIGN of your commitment to turn over a new leaf. You see our OUTWARD ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOR GOOD OR BAD reveal what we believe ON THE INSIDE OF OUR HEART, NOT WHAT WE SAY. How you act when no one is looking at you IS HOW YOU REALLY ARE. So baptism is an OUTWARD ACTION THAT SHOWS WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE ON THE INSIDE OF OUR HEART. That’s why baptism is frequently connected or associated with REPENTANCE. The repentance always comes first, before the baptism. Why? Because you must turn away from your sins IN YOUR HEART FIRST, then demonstrate, or show ON THE OUTSIDE THAT YOU HAVE DIED TO SIN, BEEN BURIED, AND RAISED BACK TO NEWNESS OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. The word repentance in the Greek language is the word metanoeo, it means “to change one’s mind or purpose.” In the New Testament it always involves a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3-4, of repentance FROM SIN. So it is safe to say that the word repent means to change one’s mind or purpose from sin for the better.
John the Baptist told the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him…BEAR FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE. True change of heart will result in change of behavior. The people who came to John the Baptist to be baptized by him came CONFESSING THEIR SINS OR REPENTING FROM THEIR SINS. It is called a “baptism of repentance,” because there are two parts to repentance: the first part of genuine repentance is confessing one’s sins, or admitting that you are a sinner, and changing your mind about continuing to sin. The second part is to demonstrate, prove, or show by some OUTWARD ACT, SIGN, OR BEHAVIOR THAT YOU ARE TURNING AWAY FROM SINNING. This is what baptism allowed for the sinner. A way of showing that one had DIED TO SIN, WAS BURIED, AND RAISED TO A NEW LIFE. That’s all the baptism of repentance is about.
Acts 19:4
Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Wait a minute, WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM? Him Who? Jesus Christ. How could we be buried with Jesus and He was buried 2000 years ago? I am glad you asked! Look carefully at what the Word of God reveals. We are buried with Him THROUGH BAPTISM! Paul is speaking symbolically about the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is saying that THROUGH BAPTISM WE ARE SYMBOLICALLY BURIED WITH CHRIST INTO DEATH AND RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE OF THE FATHER, AND SO WE SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE! That’s all baptism signifies or means.
Colossians 2:12
buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
The word “baptize” appears 10 times in the New Testament.
The word “baptized” appears 59 times in the New Testament.
The word “baptism” appears 22 times in the New Testament.
The word “baptizing” appears 7 times in the New Testament.
The word “baptisms” appears only once in the New Testament.
The word “faith” appears 29 times in the Gospels (The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). and 227 times in the New Testament (the Book of Acts through Jude)
The word “believe” appears 70 times in the Gospels (47 times in the Book of John alone)
The word “believe” appears 148 times in the New Testament