In another thread, the subject of water baptism has intervened into the subject of the thread, and threatens to divert (
The Hope Of The World). This subject can be a contentious one, but I hope it can be approached with love on all sides.
On the side of the necessity for water baptism for salvation, certain verses were quoted, which could provide a starting point.
John 3:5,
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21
Also 1 Corinthians 1:12-13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; Colossians 2:11-12.
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2 Thessalonians 1:8 "
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
The logical implication is that one must obey the gospel of Jesus Christ to avoid being in flaming fire.
1 Corinthians 15:2-4 "
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
The gospel Paul preached was the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
--One must obey the gospel per 2 Thess 1:8 to not be in flaming fire.
--The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ per 1 Cor 15:3-4.
Then how does one obey the gospel, that is, obey historical events of Christ's death, burial and resurrection?
Romans 6:3-7 "
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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."
In baptism there is a death, burial and resurrection that takes place. The old man of sin dies, buried in a watery grave then 'raised up from' (resurrected) from that watery grave to walk in newness of life (born again).
One has not accepted, obeyed the gospel until water baptized:
Acts of the Apostles 2:41-44
Acts of the Apostles 2:41 "
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:..."
Acts of the Apostles 2:44 "
And all that believed were together,..."
(1) Those who are said to have "
believed" in v44 are the ones who accepted Peter's gospel words and were baptized in v41. So "
believed" in v44 is used as a synecdoche where it includes being baptized. This means "
believeth" in John 3:16 would also include baptism. Mark 16:16 clearly ties belief to baptism with the conjunction 'and' making them inseparable.
(2) Those who rejected Peter's gospel message rejected being baptized. Therefore the logical implication of v41 is that rejecting baptism is rejecting the gospel, being baptized is receiving the gospel-obeying the gospel per 2 Thessalonians 1:8.