The gospel is the news that we are saved by grace alone, faith alone, Jesus alone.
No it's not. Salvation is but a part of the gospel message. Read the four Gospels and see if you find Jesus preaching that He was going to the cross for them. His disciples didn't even know of the cross til right near the end.
You will only find the phrase "Faith alone" one place in the Bible. It is in James, and James says that a man is "NOT" justified by faith alone.
Yes, there are places that refer to water in reference to salvation, but its meaning is not baptism. Even Baptism itself is only symbolic...the water has little to do with it...it's not holy water and the water cannot save.
For example, John's Baptism was one of repentance, the need for us to recognise that we are sinful creatures and that we need to ask God for forgiveness. Johns water Baptism was a symbol of this recognition and repentance. Jesus, however, brought a new form of Baptism. Repentance is still necessary, but when we believe in Jesus we are given the Holy Spirit...which you will have to admit, it much more efficient than a dunk under water!
[8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
(Mark 1:8 ESV)
Nothing here preludes water Baptism. Did Jesus have His disciple baptize in water?
[2] And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [3] And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” [4] And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” [5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
(Acts 19:2-6 ESV)
Don't we see water baptism here?
[3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:3-4 ESV)
Read on a few verses and you will see that this is water baptism also.
[5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(Titus 3:5-7 ESV)
Water baptism again. The word "and" tells us that there are two things that God used to save them. One was the washing of regeneration and the other was the renewing of the Spirit. The washing of regeneration when literally translated from the Greek is "The bath of regeneration". The only "Bath" in the Christian religion is water baptism.
Quite often we see the reference to the 'washing away of sins'. The Church still baptises it's congregants, but water Baptism has always only been a symbol for the work of God, taking away our sins and making us clean. The water itself cannot do this....we use water because symbolically that's what water does...cleans. But sin is not dirt, and it takes divine love to wash us clean of it!
The subject isn't the water. I don't think anyone is arguing that the water does anything. It is the act of being baptized that is the issue.Well if baptism is a symbol of the work of God doesn't that mean that one needs to be baptized. If God is doing the work when one gets baptized doesn't that make it necessary?
[Peace with God Through Faith]
[5:1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Romans 5:1-5 ESV)
Firstly, let's make sure we keep this in context. Paul is speaking to the Jewish believers at Rome here and is contrasting faith and the works of the Mosaic Law. Secondly, Paul says they were justified by faith. He didn't say "Faith Alone"
We are saved through Christ, through believing in Him and loving Him. He is the only way, and His love and saving grace is not conditional on us doing anything else.
On the contrary, Is grace is conditional, it is conditional on obedience.Read John 15
I'm not against baptism, I've been baptised and I believe it's a good practice for all Christians to do. But to do as a symbol of new life. To stand up before others and say "I'm a sinner and Jesus has saved me...I'm now giving my life to Him, as He gave His life for me".
The act may be symbolic on our part but it is not on God's. Baptism if for the remission of sin, Just as John the Baptist taught and as Peter taught. It is at this point that God remits the sins of the believer.
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message.The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles, too. And there could be no doubt about it, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,"Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
It is obvious that this group was born-again spiritually before any water baptism.
How its it obviosus? Why do you assume they were born again before the holy Spirit fell on them?
A perfect example of salvation before water baptism!
Please explain how.
