Baptism Purpose
(Seven Scriptural Proofs Water Baptism Is Not Necessary For Salvation)
by Jack L. Frost
I. Is God a Respecter of Persons?
Scriptural Answer: No!
Acts 10:34 “of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons:”
Romans 2:11 “for there is no respect of persons with God.”
See also:
− II Samuel 14:14
− II Chronicles 19:7
− Ephesians 6:9
− Colossians 3:25
− I Peter 1:17
II. Will God accept or save you one way and me another?
Scriptural Answer: No!
God has the same requirements for all, Acts 10:35 “but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” The requirements are given by the Apostle Peter in the “words” he spake in Acts 10:36-43.
See also:
− Acts 11:14-18
− Acts 15:7-9
− Romans 10:8-13
− Ephesians 2:8-9
− Titus 3:5-6
III. Does God give the Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart of a sinner?
Scriptural Answer: No!
Acts 5:32 “and we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
Romains 8:16 “the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
Galatians 4:6 “and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying, Abba, father.”
Romans 8:9 “but ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
See also:
− Romans 8:15
− Galatians 3:2
− 1 John 3:24
IV. Will God cast a soul into hell with the Holy Spirit dwelling in him?
Scriptural Answer: No!
Romans 8:10 “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Romans 8:11 “But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up christ from the dead shall also quicken (bring back to life) your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Note: the scriptural proof to a soul that he will not go to hell, but has eternal life is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
See also:
− Ephesians 1:13-14
− II Corinthians 1:22
− II Corinthians 5:5
− The word “earnest” means “proof” or “down payment.”
V. Did Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Ghost before or after water baptism
Scriptural Answer: Before!
Acts 10:47 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Note: If the forgiveness of sins were dependent upon a soul being “baptized with water” then God would not have given the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his household before they had been baptized with water. To do so for Cornelius and his household and not for all other penitent believers, whatever the reason, would mean that God is a “respecter of persons,” which he cannot be. There are no exceptions to this rule.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Another scriptural example and proof of a man who was saved before he was baptized with water is the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 8:36 the Ethiopian eunuch asked Phillip, the Deacon-Evangelist “see, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (verse 37) and Phillip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Noting the scriptural confession of the Ethiopian eunuch (Romans 10:9-10) and the clear teaching of the Word of God in I Corinthians 12:3 and I John 4:13 & 15, we can and do know that the eunuch was saved and baptized by the one spirit into one Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27, & Colossians 2:11-12) before he ever stepped down from the chariot to be baptized with water. The Ethiopian eunuch gave the scriptural “confession” which proves by scripture that Jesus christ had already been revealed and had taken up his about in the eunuch’s heart -before - he was baptized by Phillip with water.
VI. Does the rule of one single scripture exception prove the true Doctrine of God?
Scriptural Answer: Yes!
In order for any teaching to be held and taught as “the Doctrine of God” it must be “worthy of all acceptation.”
− I Timothy 1:15
− I Timothy 4:9
This means it cannot have – not one – single exception to it anywhere in “all” of the “precepts” of the Holy Scriptures.
− Isaiah 28:9-10
− II Timothy 3:16
− II Peter 1:20-21
In Acts 15:1-11 we must have sound scriptural proof – that a man does not have to be “circumcised” or “baptized” with water, “in order” to receive “remission of sins” and be “saved.” Both of these “doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1) which have and still yet seek to “pervert” the “Gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7), were eliminated by the divinely prescribed rule of one clear, definite scriptural exception.
The Single Exception
The same example Peter used to apply to those who taught “except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1), also applies to the gospel “perverts” who “corrupt” the Word of God, (II Corinthians 2:17), by teaching “except ye be baptized in water for the remission of sins, ye cannot be saved.”
How was this done? Acts 15:7-9 “and when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
How was this done? Acts 15:7-9, "and when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said until them, men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe (Romans 10:17). and God, which knoweth the hearts (Romans 10:8-10). bare then witness (Romans 8:16, & I John 5:9-12) giving them the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:32) even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Note: The one, single exception that Peter gave to the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem to "prove" conclusively that "circumcision" was not necessary in order to be "saved" was the fact that Cornelius and his household received the holy ghost without being "circumcised."
The Apostles and Elders
The Apostles and Elders knew, as did the "six" Jewish brethren who accompanied peter to Cornelius’s house. (Acts 11:12), that in order for the "gentiles" to "receive" the Holy Ghost, they would first have to be "accepted" of God and thus become the "children" or the "sons of God" (Romans 8:15-16, & Galatians 4:6). This is "the Doctrine of Christ" (II John 7:11) as taught by the saviour himself in John 7:37-39.
"In the last day, that Great Day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." "But this spake he of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive" (Galatians 3:2). "For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." the Holy Spirit must dwell within before he can flow out of!
See also:
− John 4:10-14
Therefore, the issue of "circumcision" which likewise applies to "water baptism" was settled by the apostles and elders once and forever. Not either is necessary in order to be saved. To teach or preach otherwise is to "pervert" the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-8). Water baptism is clearly defined in the Holy Scriptures as being an ordinance "to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15, Acts 10:47, & I Corinthians 1:14-17).
Therefore, it is conclusively provable (I Thessalonians 5:21) that we as never baptized with water in order to become righteous but "to fulfill all righteousness." Recognizing then, that water baptism is a work of righteousness we realize by the final authority of God's word that we are not "saved" by it (Titus 3:5), but by "the gift of God" which comes "by grace through faith" (Ephesians 2:8-9) when we "repent" and believe the gospel.
See also:
− John 4:10
− John 7:37-39
− Acts 8:20
− Romans 6:23
Now to close the mouths of the water idolaters completely (Titus 1:10-11) and leave them without any reason to question or any crack to crawl through; the writer shall present a seventh and final scriptural proof to show water baptism is not “for” (in order to obtain) the remission of sins.
VII. Does the Greek preposition 'Eis" in Acts 2:38 mean - "In Order to Obtain"
Scriptural Answer: No!
Acts 2:38 reads, "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.” There are at least three separate scriptural proofs which destroy the water idolaters claim that the Greek preposition "Eis" translated "for" in Acts 2:38 means 'in order to obtain."
The First Proof
First, "Eis" just as in Acts 2:38 does not always mean "order to" when it is used in the scriptures. Eis, is also translated "unto" in Matthew 8:11, which unmistakably means "because of” or "with reference to." This scripture which reads, "I indeed baptize you with water unto (Eis) repentance: "has to mean "because of or "with reference to." (looking back upon), because john the Baptist demanded "fruits meet (proof) for repentance in Matthew 3:8. He refused to "baptize with water without first having or seeing the evidence, "fruits" or proof of repentance.
The Second Proof
Second, the word "repent" in Acts 2:38, is in the second person plural, which means that it is a direct unequivocal (clear, unmistakable) command. That is, repentance" is absolutely necessary "in order to obtain" the object in view. In Acts 2:38, the "object in view" is to "receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," which is 'the promise" to even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39)."
Now, following the word "repent" in Acts 2:38 is a conjunction "and” which connects or ties together "repent" with "be baptized" which is third person singular. This means that "be baptized" is not (as is "repent") a direct unequivocal command, "in order to obtain" the objective view." if Peter, had said 'repent, 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;" without putting the conjunction and between 'repent' - '1f 'baptized", then being "baptized with water" would have been absolutely necessary in order to obtain the "remission of sins and receive the "gift" or "baptism (Acts 11:15-17) - "of the Holy Ghost."
The Third Proof
Third, the final proof the writer will offer to show and prove that "Eis” is not "for" (in order to obtain) "the remission of sins," is that if that were to be the meaning of "Eis" (Acts 2:38), it would then be in direct conflict and contradiction with what actually occurred in Acts 10:44-47, in Cornelius and his household. If this. Were sol then it would mean that the word, doctrine, and teaching of God is not in perfect harmony with itself throughout all Holy Scripture. And every true student of the word and lover of 'the truth" knows this cannot be so.
"Eis," the True Meaning
The true scriptural meaning of "Eis” in Acts 2:38, is revealed clearly by what happened in acts 10:44-47, 11:14-18 & 15:6-9. Water baptism is "for" Eis, ("because of' or "with reference toll the remission of sins. There is only "one baptism" that can "now save us" as is taught plainly in I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6.3-4, Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:12, I Peter 3:18-21, & Mark 16:16.
The one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6) is unmistakably the "baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire” that is prophesied in Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-18, by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, & John 1:33; and finally by Jesus Christ himself in Mark 16:16, Luke 24:49, John 3:8, 4:10 & 14, 7:37-39, 14:16-17, & 26, 15:26-27, 16:7, 13-14, 20:21-22, & Acts 1:4-5, & 8. Dear friend, you can receive remission of sins before and without water baptism as is proven by the scriptural writings and account of Cornelius and his household conversion in Acts 10:34-47, 11:12-18, & 15:7-9.
However, nowhere does the Word of God teach from the beginning of the "New Covenant” or "Testament" until Jesus Christ comes again, that any soul on earth can be converted," 'born again" of the spirit, and "saved" unless- that soul repents, (calling upon the name of the Lord, believing on Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior (Acts 2:21) by doing this he thus becomes "acceptable' to God - "who knoweth the hearts" and "receives" the "gift" or baptism with Holy Ghost and fire (Acts 16:30 & 31, and Romans 10:8-10.)
Repentance and Faith - Necessary
Unless you repent, believe on Christ, and be baptized with the Holy Ghost, you cannot be saved (Mark 16:16, I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3, & Galatians 3:27). You can be "saved" without the ordinance of water baptism, but you cannot be 'saved" without the washing (baptism) of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed (poured) on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our savior, that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).”
This is the eternal and unchangeable Doctrine of God, believe and obey it to Your eternal salvation or Reject It to Your own eternal damnation.
Water Idolaters: Antichrists
All who contend, demand, and teach - contrary to the perfect harmony of the infallible word of God - that a soul must be baptized with or in water 'in order to obtain" the remission of sins are called, by the word of God, "antichrists."
Why? Because these gospel perverts come to believe in and place a false, misguided trust, and reliance in the creation of God. Water rather than in the creator, God himself. Just as the Jews who were placing their faith and dependence of eternal salvation in the physical act of "circumcision" (instead of having faith alone in the invisible God) so the water idolaters do the same (Galatians 3:2-5, Colossians 2:11-12, & Galatians 5:2-6).
These "antichrists" by demanding on outward - physical act of obedience "in order to obtain" the forgiveness of sins are denying the power of Christ’s blood to cleanse from all sin by “repentance and faith” in Jesus christ and through his blood alone (Acts 20:21, Romans 3:25 & 5:1).
