"repent and be water baptized for remission of sin"........Is not Paul's Gospel.
Its John the Baptist's Gospel, given to Jews before Christ showed up......and Peter used it in Acts 2, because the Church was just beginning and that is all he knew at that time.
Paul never preaches, "repent and be water baptized" and in fact teaches that "Christ sent me NOT to water Baptize".
Water Baptism, in Jesus's name or any other name, does not save you, and can't wash away your sin.
"And it came to pass, that, while Apollo was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” And he said unto them, "unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said unto John's baptism.
Then Paul said, “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, Jesus Christ.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7).
HELL is filled and continues to fill with water baptized religious people who were never born again.
The only way to become forgiven is to give God your FAITH in CHRIST and God will accept you, based on "Justificaton by Faith" and God will use the Blood of Jesus to forgive your sin, and then God will give you the new birth......which is to be born again "IN CHRIST".
Once you are born again, then go and get water baptized.
Born again is a change in the body not in the mind. Now Paul says in Romans 12: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.... Now, Let’s jump right in a conversation that Jesus was having with a man name Nicodemus. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Notice verse 3, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. We have just learned something here. If you are not born again you can not see the kingdom of God. As we go further you will understand this. Remember there is a time for everything.
Nicodemus asked a very good question. Take a look at the next set of verses.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
In verse 5, born of the water in this case is the Word of God. Notice the Lord mentions the kingdom of God again, but He adds a little more information. He says "
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. When he mentions spirit He means exactly that. Watch how the Lord gives something physical to describe exactly what He means.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Notice: He made a difference between flesh and spirit. Ask yourself that question, was you born flesh or spirit? Angels where born spirit being, man and beast are born flesh and blood. There will be no flesh in the Father Kingdom, only spirit beings, so everyone must be born again. Only Jesus in his thousand year reign will have both, which includes the first resurrection.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Notice: He compared the wind to a spirit. Can you see the wind? No! We have seen things being blown around by the wind, but we have never seen the wind. If you are born of the spirit you are like the wind. This is when you are truly born again, when you are born of the spirit.
Notice: what Jesus does in these next few verses.
Remember, this is after His resurrection.
John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas,
Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him,
My Lord and my God.
Note two very important things within these verses. 1. Jesus appeared in the midst of them and the doors were shut. 2. Thomas called Him God. When Jesus came out of the grave he was born into the God family, Jesus was Born Again.