When explaining why you "dont have to be" baptized. Preachers who are unbelieving would tell you that baptism is a work on our part, and that we are saved by grace through faith alone, so one does not need baptism to be saved. Although I also believe and know that we are saved by grace through faith alone, I am here to tell you, the reader, that baptism is and act of faith on our part, and a work of God. I will explain why baptism is an act of faith on our part, and Gods work using the bible, and using some simple logic.
David Bernard: "Faith and obedience are two sides to one coin. If you believe you obey, if you obey you believe." We have to obey the Lords command to be baptized. Just because we are baptized does not mean that it is a work of our own. We depend completely on God to wash away our sins at baptism. The Water itself has no special quality but when we have faith in the "operation of God" He forgives us of our sins (Colossians 2:12-13).
Faith produces a response. If there is not a response to faith, that faith is dead (James 2:20). James said "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."(James 2:18). Just look at the faith chapter, by faith they all "did something." They all had a response to faith. "by faith Abel offered unto God a more perfect sacrifice than Cain" (Hebrews 11:4), "by faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed" (Hebrews 11:8), "by faith, being warned of God things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). If Noah would not have built the ark, he would have been drowned in the floods with the rest of the people on earth. Can we say that Noah building the ark was works, therefore he saved himself? No. Israel offered sacrifices to God, can we say that the sacrifices were works, therefore Israel saved themselves? No, because if man could ever save himself, he could still save himself, therefore we would not have to depend on God for salvation. Noahs building of he ark, and Israels sacrifices and all the things done in Hebrews 11 were acts of faith. Because they believed God they followed His command, and because we believe God we should follow His command to be baptized as an act of faith.
Lets talk about (Romans 10:9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." and (Romans 10:13), "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Many use these as the full plan of salvation. Though these cannot be the full plan of salvation, because they do not mention Repentance. Repentance is required, Jesus himself said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."(Luke 13:3). Taking these verses as the plan of salvation would mean repentance would not be required for one to be saved. So even the rapist, or the murderer, or the abusers (physical, and drug) etc, would be saved without repenting of their evil. In fact, even the demons would be saved, because they both confess Christ (Matthew 8:29), and believe so much that they tremble (James 2:19).
Just calling on the name of the Lord does not save either (Romans 10:13), because this excludes repentance as well. Paul meant more than just calling on the name in this verse, because not everyone who says Lord, Lord shall be saved, but only those who obey and do the will of God will be saved (Matthew 7:21). We cannot even call him Lord unless we do what he says (Luke 6:46), therefore repentance is required. Besides all this the name of the Lord is called at baptism (Acts 22:16), and no one can call Jesus Lord but by the Spirit of God (1Corinthians 12:3); so the Paul effectively linked faith, repentance and baptism with salvation, and the Roman Christians recognized this.
The book of Romans was sent by Paul to Romans who were already Christians, so he did not have to explain the plan of salvation in detail, because they had already received it. What he meant in (Romans 10:9 and 10:13) is that confessing Jesus, and believing in him, would produce a response to that belief, by obeying the gospel (Death [Repentance], Burial [Baptism], Resurrection [Infilling of the Holy Ghost]), which would save you,(1Corinthians 15:1-4). In fact even a couple verses later he explains, "but they have not all obeyed the gospel." (Romans 10:16). So (Romans 10:9, and 10:13) are not the plan of salvation, It is the act of calling on God with a sincere heart that produces a response which leads to salvation. The full plan of salvation is (Acts 2:38), but that is for another blog.
Baptism is not a work, it is an act of faith, and a work of God. (Titus 3:5) even says that baptism is not our works, but a work of God. "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." The "washing of regeneration" is baptism. Some would like to disagree with that by linking washing of regeneration to renewing of the Holy Ghost, making it one act of receiving the Holy Ghost, but in fact it is not. A comparison of another verse about baptism and birth of the Spirit, (John 3:5) to (Titus 3:5) might help understand the true meaning of washing of regeneration, because it uses parallel language of distinction of water and Spirit.
Here are some other translations of (Titus 3:5) that might help you decide for yourself what the meaning is. (Compare with John 3:5)
Amplified: "He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit."
NLT: "He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy, He washed away our sins and gave us new life through the Holy Ghost." Compare this version with (Acts 22:16 KJV)
Youngs Literal: "(not by works that we are righteousness that we did but according to His kindness,) He did save us, through a bathing of regeneration, and renewing of Holy Spirit."
Here are some theologians who believe that "washing of regeneration" is baptism:
John Calvin (Founder of the Presbyterian church): John Calvins commentary on Titus 3:4-7: "By "washing of regeneration" I have no doubt that he(Paul) alludes, atleast, to baptism, and even I will not object to having this passage expounded as relating to baptism"
John Henry Bernard: The Pastoral Epistles, volume 14 pg 178. "That the 'washing of regeneration' is the water of baptism is undoubted"
John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church): John Westleys notes on Titus 3:5: "Sanctification, expressed by the lavar of regeneration, (that is, baptism,, the thing signified, as well as the outward sign,) and the renewal of the Holy Ghost."
According to the bible, baptism is not a work of our own, it is a work of God in which he uses to save us. At the point of baptism God washes away our sins. We are totally dependant on God to wash away our sins at that point. Baptism is not a work of our own but and act of faith to His command to be baptized. So baptism simply put, is a response to faith in His command to be baptized. It is in perfect harmony with being "saved by grace through faith."
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Baptism: The Washing Away of Sins
Baptism has always been by most denominations an optional extra. They believe you can get baptized if you want to. Some believe it is a sin not to be baptized, but still that you do not have to do it and can still get by with salvation. Because of this a lot of Churches only baptize once a year, or only every so often. I've always wondered, if baptism is not so important, then why is it even in the bible, and why is it stressed so much in the bible? In my last blog I explained that baptism saves us, but exactly how does baptism save us? Baptism saves us by washing away our sins.
The Bible is the infallible Word of God, it is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2Timothy 3:16). So like everything else that we question about our faith, we have to go to the bible for answers. We will have to change our thinking according to the bible, rather than change the bible according to our thinking. "Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
Let me start by saying that water is not magical and cannot wash away our sins alone. I do not know why but for some reason God chose to wash away our sins at the point we are baptized. Water alone has no quality that can wash away our sins. Baptism can only wash away our sins because God has made it that way. When we comply with his command to be baptized, and trust in Him to wash away our sins, only then is baptism effective.
The Old Testament has many types and shadows of what was to come in the New Testament (Hebrews 10:1) Let me explain what a type or shadow is. Lets say you see the shadow of some one walking toward you from the other side of a building. You can make out certain features. You might see that the person is a boy or a girl, you can kinda see the shape of the person, but you cannot see them clearly until they actually come around the corner into clear view. That is what a shadow is in the Old Testament. You can make out certain details of what is to come, but it is not an exact representation of what is to come. That being Said, lets turn to the Old Testament and see what shadows are in the Old Testament concerning baptism.
The Old Testament has man shadows concerning baptism. Rituals of washing for cleansing and purification were shadows of baptism. (Leviticus 14:8; 15:5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21; 17:15-16; 22:6) Unclean people had to be sprinkled with the water of separation (Which was for purification of sin, [Numbers 19:9] signifying baptisms part in cleansing sin) and would not be clean until they did so (Numbers 19:9-20).
Another figure of baptism in the Old Testament is the washing of Naaman, the captian of the host of the king of Syria in the water the Jordan river for cleansing of leprosy(a figure of sin) (2Kings 5:9-14) Only when he complied with the prophet Elisha and washed himself in the waters of Jordan was he cleansed from his leprosy.
Lets turn to the most famous shadows of baptism. The account of Noah's ark is one of the most famous shadows of baptism (1Peter 3:20-21) "Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" How did Peter say baptism saved us? "not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God" He was saying baptism does not save you by making you clean on the outside, but baptism saves you by cleaning you on the inside (spiritually), for that is the only way we can have a good conscience before God, and that it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes it affective in doing so. The blood is applied when we are baptized. A verse about baptism indicates that the "conscience" Peter was talking about was a conscience of sins, and that the blood is applied when we are baptized is (Hebrews 10:22) "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." The same water that saved those on the ark from the sinful world by lifting the ark above the water, also destroyed the rest of the sinful world (who was shadow of sin), and that is what baptism does with us. The same baptism that saves us also destroys sin.
Israels crossing of the Red Sea is probably the most famous shadow of baptism (1Corinthians 10:1-2). The same water that Israel crossed to save them, also washed away the Pharaoh and his army (which were a shadow of sin). Baptism does the same thing to us as it did for Israel. Just like it saved Israel, it saves us. Just like it washed away Pharaohs army (Exodus 14:26), it washes away our sins. If Israel would not have passed through the sea as God commanded (Exodus 14:15-16) Then the Pharaohs army which represented sin would have destroyed them, and so it is the same for us: If we do not comply to the Lords commandment to be baptized (Matthew 19:28) we will be destroyed by sin.
What does the New Testament say about baptism? John the baptist preached the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:4) signifying what Christian baptism would do. Peter at the first church sermon ever, preached baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:38) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." Ananias told Paul that he was to be baptized in order to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16) "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Paul taught that baptism was us being buried into Christs death (Romans 6:3) or that it is the finalization of our own death with Christ, just like a burial is the finalization of any ones death. He preached that by being baptized we the old man (or past life of sin) would be dead with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed (Romans 6:6) "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7). Paul teaches it similarly in (Colossians 2:12-13) "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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made alive) together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." Apparently Paul preached that baptism was for the the removal of sin.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, it is clear that we are commanded to be baptized, and that at the point of baptism God washes away our sins. Therefore we have no excuse in the whole wide world not to be baptized for the remission of sins. If you still have doubt then ask yourself this, as David Bernard puts it, "If Jesus who had no sin, submitted to baptism, how much more should we?"
The Bible is the infallible Word of God, it is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2Timothy 3:16). So like everything else that we question about our faith, we have to go to the bible for answers. We will have to change our thinking according to the bible, rather than change the bible according to our thinking. "Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
Let me start by saying that water is not magical and cannot wash away our sins alone. I do not know why but for some reason God chose to wash away our sins at the point we are baptized. Water alone has no quality that can wash away our sins. Baptism can only wash away our sins because God has made it that way. When we comply with his command to be baptized, and trust in Him to wash away our sins, only then is baptism effective.
The Old Testament has many types and shadows of what was to come in the New Testament (Hebrews 10:1) Let me explain what a type or shadow is. Lets say you see the shadow of some one walking toward you from the other side of a building. You can make out certain features. You might see that the person is a boy or a girl, you can kinda see the shape of the person, but you cannot see them clearly until they actually come around the corner into clear view. That is what a shadow is in the Old Testament. You can make out certain details of what is to come, but it is not an exact representation of what is to come. That being Said, lets turn to the Old Testament and see what shadows are in the Old Testament concerning baptism.
The Old Testament has man shadows concerning baptism. Rituals of washing for cleansing and purification were shadows of baptism. (Leviticus 14:8; 15:5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21; 17:15-16; 22:6) Unclean people had to be sprinkled with the water of separation (Which was for purification of sin, [Numbers 19:9] signifying baptisms part in cleansing sin) and would not be clean until they did so (Numbers 19:9-20).
Another figure of baptism in the Old Testament is the washing of Naaman, the captian of the host of the king of Syria in the water the Jordan river for cleansing of leprosy(a figure of sin) (2Kings 5:9-14) Only when he complied with the prophet Elisha and washed himself in the waters of Jordan was he cleansed from his leprosy.
Lets turn to the most famous shadows of baptism. The account of Noah's ark is one of the most famous shadows of baptism (1Peter 3:20-21) "Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" How did Peter say baptism saved us? "not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God" He was saying baptism does not save you by making you clean on the outside, but baptism saves you by cleaning you on the inside (spiritually), for that is the only way we can have a good conscience before God, and that it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes it affective in doing so. The blood is applied when we are baptized. A verse about baptism indicates that the "conscience" Peter was talking about was a conscience of sins, and that the blood is applied when we are baptized is (Hebrews 10:22) "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." The same water that saved those on the ark from the sinful world by lifting the ark above the water, also destroyed the rest of the sinful world (who was shadow of sin), and that is what baptism does with us. The same baptism that saves us also destroys sin.
Israels crossing of the Red Sea is probably the most famous shadow of baptism (1Corinthians 10:1-2). The same water that Israel crossed to save them, also washed away the Pharaoh and his army (which were a shadow of sin). Baptism does the same thing to us as it did for Israel. Just like it saved Israel, it saves us. Just like it washed away Pharaohs army (Exodus 14:26), it washes away our sins. If Israel would not have passed through the sea as God commanded (Exodus 14:15-16) Then the Pharaohs army which represented sin would have destroyed them, and so it is the same for us: If we do not comply to the Lords commandment to be baptized (Matthew 19:28) we will be destroyed by sin.
What does the New Testament say about baptism? John the baptist preached the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:4) signifying what Christian baptism would do. Peter at the first church sermon ever, preached baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:38) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." Ananias told Paul that he was to be baptized in order to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16) "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Paul taught that baptism was us being buried into Christs death (Romans 6:3) or that it is the finalization of our own death with Christ, just like a burial is the finalization of any ones death. He preached that by being baptized we the old man (or past life of sin) would be dead with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed (Romans 6:6) "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7). Paul teaches it similarly in (Colossians 2:12-13) "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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened (made alive) together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." Apparently Paul preached that baptism was for the the removal of sin.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, it is clear that we are commanded to be baptized, and that at the point of baptism God washes away our sins. Therefore we have no excuse in the whole wide world not to be baptized for the remission of sins. If you still have doubt then ask yourself this, as David Bernard puts it, "If Jesus who had no sin, submitted to baptism, how much more should we?"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Baptism: Necessary For Salvation?
What do the majority of Churches think about baptism? The majority of Churches do not believe that you have to be baptized in order to receive salvation. Misunderstandings like these is why I've decided to answer the question "Is baptism necessary for salvation?" To answer this question we will have to turn to the bible, for it, as Lee Stoneking would say, "Is the anvil that has worn out many hammers."
First off, we should start by answering the question, "What is baptism?" Baptism is part of the gospel. The Apostle Paul identified baptism as being buried with Christ (Romans 6:3-4) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Colossians 2:12) "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." Apparently Paul did believed that you had to be buried with Christ in order to be raised with Him (Romans 6:8) "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" Paul also believed that those who were baptized "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). It seems to Paul, there was no such thing as an "unbaptized Christian."
The Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost preached the first sermon to those who were guilty of crucifying Christ. The people who heard were "pricked in the heart" and as guilty sinners who were scared for killing their Lord asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). In other words, they were guilty sinners asking, "What shall we do to be saved?" Then Peter replied "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). This was an urgent issue, sinners who were pricked in the heart wanted to know how to be saved, Peter did not answer their question with some optional extras, he replied with necessary steps they had to take in order to be saved. Apparently Peter thought baptism was necessary for their salvation.
In (1Peter 3:20-21) Peter paints a beautiful picture of the role baptism plays in our salvation. A better version to help you understand these verses is the "New International Version," (1Peter 3:20-21 NIV) "Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." So in other words, Peter is saying that just like the water of the flood lifted up the ark and saved those on the ark from the sin of the world, so does baptism save us, and it is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the Gospel) that makes it effective in saving us.
Throughout Jesus' ministry he preached baptism. Jesus told Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, a teacher of Israel, that unless one was "born of water and of the Spirit" they could not enter the kingdom of heaven(John 3:5). The water refers to baptism, but some argue and say that it refers to natural birth. Natural birth cannot be the meaning thought, because it would be pointless to say that we must be born naturally, since everyone already has been. Christ actually commanded His disciples to baptize "all nations" in his great commission (Matthew 28:19). If baptism was an optional extra then why did Jesus place so much importance on it, as to preach it and to command his disciples to baptize every nation?
The most undeniable verse where Jesus associates baptism with salvation is (Mark 16:16) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Notice the salvation does not come until after the one who believes is baptized. Some argue this verse by pointing out that Jesus did not mention anything about being damned for not getting baptized in "Part B" of this verse"but he that believeth not shall be damned," but that is an invalid argument, because Jesus knew that a person that did not believe would not get baptized, and a person who got baptized but did not believe, there baptism would have no affect on them. So then by saying "He that believeth not shall be damned" covered both the unbaptized, and the unbeliever.
If Baptism saves then what about the thief on the cross? (Luke 23:43) Jesus tells the thief on the cross "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." This is the question most Christians who do not believe baptism is necessary for baptism ask. To answer this question we must realize that the New Testament was not in affect while Jesus lived, for in order for a testament to be in effect, the testator must be dead (Hebrews 9:16-17). Therefore the thief on the cross was not saved under the New Testament, but under the old. I find it very beautiful how it works out. Jesus was last sacrifice of the Old Testament and the first and only sacrifice of the New Testament. The death of Jesus closed up the Old Testament, and opened up the New Testament.
Whenever baptism is mentioned in the bible, it is mentioned as more than an optional extra, but always seems to be a biblical command (Acts 10:47-48; Matthew 28:19). The bible teaches that baptism is a necessary condition brought on by faith salvation (Mark 16:16; 1Peter 3:21). In sum, baptism is not an optional extra, but is necessary for salvation.
First off, we should start by answering the question, "What is baptism?" Baptism is part of the gospel. The Apostle Paul identified baptism as being buried with Christ (Romans 6:3-4) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Colossians 2:12) "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." Apparently Paul did believed that you had to be buried with Christ in order to be raised with Him (Romans 6:8) "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" Paul also believed that those who were baptized "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). It seems to Paul, there was no such thing as an "unbaptized Christian."
The Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost preached the first sermon to those who were guilty of crucifying Christ. The people who heard were "pricked in the heart" and as guilty sinners who were scared for killing their Lord asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). In other words, they were guilty sinners asking, "What shall we do to be saved?" Then Peter replied "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). This was an urgent issue, sinners who were pricked in the heart wanted to know how to be saved, Peter did not answer their question with some optional extras, he replied with necessary steps they had to take in order to be saved. Apparently Peter thought baptism was necessary for their salvation.
In (1Peter 3:20-21) Peter paints a beautiful picture of the role baptism plays in our salvation. A better version to help you understand these verses is the "New International Version," (1Peter 3:20-21 NIV) "Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." So in other words, Peter is saying that just like the water of the flood lifted up the ark and saved those on the ark from the sin of the world, so does baptism save us, and it is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the Gospel) that makes it effective in saving us.
Throughout Jesus' ministry he preached baptism. Jesus told Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, a teacher of Israel, that unless one was "born of water and of the Spirit" they could not enter the kingdom of heaven(John 3:5). The water refers to baptism, but some argue and say that it refers to natural birth. Natural birth cannot be the meaning thought, because it would be pointless to say that we must be born naturally, since everyone already has been. Christ actually commanded His disciples to baptize "all nations" in his great commission (Matthew 28:19). If baptism was an optional extra then why did Jesus place so much importance on it, as to preach it and to command his disciples to baptize every nation?
The most undeniable verse where Jesus associates baptism with salvation is (Mark 16:16) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Notice the salvation does not come until after the one who believes is baptized. Some argue this verse by pointing out that Jesus did not mention anything about being damned for not getting baptized in "Part B" of this verse"but he that believeth not shall be damned," but that is an invalid argument, because Jesus knew that a person that did not believe would not get baptized, and a person who got baptized but did not believe, there baptism would have no affect on them. So then by saying "He that believeth not shall be damned" covered both the unbaptized, and the unbeliever.
If Baptism saves then what about the thief on the cross? (Luke 23:43) Jesus tells the thief on the cross "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." This is the question most Christians who do not believe baptism is necessary for baptism ask. To answer this question we must realize that the New Testament was not in affect while Jesus lived, for in order for a testament to be in effect, the testator must be dead (Hebrews 9:16-17). Therefore the thief on the cross was not saved under the New Testament, but under the old. I find it very beautiful how it works out. Jesus was last sacrifice of the Old Testament and the first and only sacrifice of the New Testament. The death of Jesus closed up the Old Testament, and opened up the New Testament.
Whenever baptism is mentioned in the bible, it is mentioned as more than an optional extra, but always seems to be a biblical command (Acts 10:47-48; Matthew 28:19). The bible teaches that baptism is a necessary condition brought on by faith salvation (Mark 16:16; 1Peter 3:21). In sum, baptism is not an optional extra, but is necessary for salvation.
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