| Answer: |
What I may feel about any particular matter is unrelated to discovering truth. The truth is found in the Word of God. The Bible tells us that water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). The original language says literally “into the sending away of sins.” So the question is, Can a person inherit eternal life if his sins have not been remitted, or sent away? Obviously no. This is why Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). He did not says, “He who believes and is saved will be baptized,” as some like to believe. This is also why Peter wrote, “There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism” (1 Peter 3:21). Just as Noah had to travel through water in the ark and just as the Israelites had to travel through the water of the Red Sea, so must all who would be saved come to Jesus through the water of baptism.
Please read our articles in the Apostolic Free Library of Shelf 1. Doctrine, especially the ones titled God’s Two Free Gifts and The Water and the Tree.
|
