I came across this on a forum some time ago:
It [Baptism] is an act of faith and obedience. The power of baptism is the power of the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who baptises us. The pouring of water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s cleansing us and renewing us. Just before his ascension Jesus tied the normal means of salvation to baptism (Mk 16:16) and made baptism an integral part of the gospel proclamation (Mt 28:19-20)
We are saved by grace through faith, but it is in baptism when we profess that faith that God pours his grace into us and renews us.
Here are some explicit scriptures on how we are saved:
Belief in Jesus: Paul(Acts 16:31)
baptism: (1Pet 3:20-21)
belief + baptism: Jesus (Mk 16;16)
confessing with your lips + believing God raised Jesus from the dead: Paul (Rom 10:9)
calling on the Lord’s name: Peter (Acts 2:21), Paul (Rom 10:13)
grace: Peter (Acts 15:11), Paul (Eph 2:5)
grace through faith: Paul (Eph 2:8)
water & spirit: Paul (Titus 3:5)
repentence + baptism: Peter (Acts 2:38, 41, 47)
Will any one do?
Are they alternative routes to salvation?
Or does salvation require all of them?
All of them = saved by grace, given in (water) baptism in which we profess with our lips repentance and faith (belief) in Jesus, are baptised in his name (calling on his name), and are thus born again (renewed) by the Holy Spirit.
