The Baptism That Saves: What Most People Miss in Acts 11:16

[FredVB]

God is not willing that any just perish, but would that all come to salvation, which is in faith with repentance coming to God through Christ making it possible. Those who do not do that are not in Christ and, remaining apart, they would perish. No, that does not mean they are annihilated. Judgment from God will always be fair justice, Christ still bore it for those who coming to him are in him, that is, they are of the body of Christ still in this world. With this, there should be spiritual growth that is evident, and this is showing what is needed of our security in salvation, which there is with the repentance in the faith, and that is needed.

 

[Pierac]

"In Christ": What does it really mean?

The words “in Christ” and similar, i.e.; “in Jesus Christ”, “in Christ Jesus”, “in him’, are used ad nauseam within the Christian world with hardly anyone ever giving any thought whatsoever as to what the words really mean or entail, thus relegating them to nothing more than Christian “buzz words” that sound good and Christian-like.

So what do these words really mean? What does it mean to be “in Christ” and how does one get “in Christ” or into Christ? Is there a specific way stated in the bible? Are there unique benefits for being “in Christ” once one has achieved that state of being “in him”? Are there benefits available to those not being “in Christ”? Can you receive spiritual blessings without being “in Christ”?

These are logical questions that should be asked or considered when one sees or uses these or similar words inferring the same.

There are 146 references in the New Testament (may not be all inclusive, but close if not) using these exact or similar words as those mentioned above. If mentioned that frequently and to that extent, it must be of great importance, so likewise, all should render like importance to these words when using them, clearly understanding what they truly mean and entail.

Consider the suffix “ian” attached to the word “Christ” to become the word Christian; what does "ian" attached to the end a word mean or indicate? One of its meanings is 'from or belonging to'. As it pertains to Christ, it indicates that a Christian is from or belonging to, or in other words, owned by Christ! It should be noted too that the word “Christian” doesn’t mean a believer in or follower of Christ, but rather really means owned by Christ. So, you could be a believer in and follower of Jesus, practice some form of “Christian” religious worship, be devout, moral, etc. etc, but not be owned by Him, not “in him”.

Note that the bible says the following:

1 Cor 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:"

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

The above clearly states that Christ purchased or bought the church with His own blood, so it's clear that Christians, those owned by Christ, those that are part of his body (the church), have been bought and paid for by his blood which was the price he paid for them who are now “in him”. Therefore, those that are “in” the church are His, and are “in him”.

What are some of the benefits that being owned by or “in Christ” bestowed upon you that are unable to be conferred in any other way according to scripture?

•Be saved, receive redemption, have your sins remitted and added to the Lord’s body which is the church
•Be buried/planted with Him in the likeness of his death thus enabling like resurrection
•Put on Christ and become a Christian and child of God
•Receive the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, blessings, have hope, and be made alive in Him

So, how do you become owned by, “in Christ”, and part of the church? The fact of the matter is, there is one specific way mentioned in the bible as to what one must do to be “in Christ” as well as benefits for being “in him” that can only be realized thereby: by baptism.

Rom 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”?

Gal 3:26/27 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

1st Cor 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Rom 6:4 “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”.

Col 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”.

Rom 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”:

Acts 2:38 “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”. 41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”. 47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

•Christ’s body is the church of which He is the head (Col 1:18, Eph 5:23);
•You become part of the church by becoming a part of His body. You become part of His body by being baptized into it.
•In it (His body, the church), you obtain spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
•Are you really a Christian without being part of His body, the church, which you are added to upon being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47)?
•If you’re not buried with Him through baptism, can you then still be raised with Him?

The whole thrust of Jesus’s teaching, moreover, pointed in the same direction. He categorically rejected the prevailing understanding of the retaliatory justice.
Mat 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

the prevailing understanding of limited forgiveness…

Mat 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

and the prevailing understanding of a limited obligation to love

Mat 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Why, according to Jesus, are we to love our enemies as well as our friends? So that we might be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. Why should there be no limit to our forgiveness? So that we might be perfect as even our Father in heaven is perfect. Why must we forsake retaliation of a retributivist kind? So that we might be perfect for even as our Father in heaven is perfect.

As I see it, then, we have here overwhelming evidence that God, as Jesus understood him, never ceases to love his own enemies, never ceases forgiving them, and sees no ultimate justice in punishment of the retributivist kind. The idea that we are expected to be better than God is unthinkable.

 

[FredVB]

In Christ real believers, with repentant faith, are covered from the fair justice in judgment from God that has been borne by Christ, those ones in him, who came to Christ and are covered that way. Without that the judgment comes to us. With it Christ is our Lord, that we do as we've been told by our Lord. We are to practice what he was showing.

 

[FredVB]

In Christ we have the baptism in the Spirit, it is with salvation any of us have. Repentance in salvation is essential, that we would not fall back to sin and never recover. We then remain with essential faith.

 

[FredVB]

No believers were commanded to go get baptized. There was the commission to go and baptize those of all nations brought to Christ, with water. We are shown that this is a sign of spiritual baptism there is to each real believer that comes to Christ, already.

 

[rwb]

View attachment 64843


Two Baptisms – One Eternal

This verse is often misunderstood, but when we look at it in context of the whole Bible, the meaning is clear. In Acts 11, Peter is explaining to Jewish believers what had just happened in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Cornelius and his household had heard the gospel, believed it, and were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44–46). This shocked the Jewish believers, because up to that point, they had assumed salvation and the Holy Spirit were limited to the Jews. Peter responds by recalling something Jesus Himself said, “John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:5).

This is crucial. Peter is connecting what happened to the Gentiles in Acts 10 to Jesus’ promise before His ascension. They had just witnessed what Jesus foretold, a baptism, not of water, but of the Holy Spirit. It was a real-time fulfillment of that promise, proving that Gentiles who believed in Christ were accepted by God the same way Jewish believers were.

So what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
According to 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” This is not a second experience, not a feeling, not tongues, and not an emotional high. It is the moment a person believes the gospel and is placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. That is what happened in Acts 2 with the Jews, and again in Acts 10 with the Gentiles. It was not tied to water; it was tied to faith.

John’s baptism with water was symbolic, preparing people to receive the coming Messiah (Mark 1:4). It showed repentance, but it could not save. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, however, is the true work of regeneration and salvation. Titus 3:5 puts it plainly, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

When Peter remembered Jesus’ words in Acts 11:16, he recognized that what happened to Cornelius’ household was not some random event. It was the fulfillment of Christ’s promise that believers would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. It proved they were saved, not because they were Jews, not because they kept the law, not because they were baptized in water, but because they believed the gospel and received the Spirit.

That said, water baptism is still important. It does not save, but it is commanded. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:48 says that after Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to be baptized in water. Baptism is the outward expression of inward faith. It shows that a person has died to sin and now walks in new life with Christ (Romans 6:4). If someone claims to be saved but refuses to obey Christ’s command to be baptized, that reveals a serious issue in the heart.

So yes, be baptized. But understand what saves you is not the water, it is whether you have truly been born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:9 says, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” That is the baptism that matters most. And if you have received it, then do what the Bible commands: get baptized in water as a public declaration that you now belong to Christ. Obedience follows salvation; it does not cause it.

Acts 11:16 points us back to the promise of Christ, fulfilled in the lives of real people, not through ritual, but through faith. That is the baptism that saves. And water baptism is how we testify to the world that we belong to Him.

Read the entire article – Click Here

This is absolutely biblical! Excellent expose on the baptism that saves.

Water baptism commanded by Christ for the New Covenant body, like circumcision commanded by God for the Old Covenant body. Both of these 'signs' signified separation from the world in unbelief. It is a means of declaring we belong to the body of Christ outwardly, and inwardly also 'if' we have been born again.

Good article, rwb

 

[DJT_47]

This is absolutely biblical! Excellent expose on the baptism that saves.

Water baptism commanded by Christ for the New Covenant body, like circumcision commanded by God for the Old Covenant body. Both of these 'signs' signified separation from the world in unbelief. It is a means of declaring we belong to the body of Christ outwardly, and inwardly also 'if' we have been born again.

Good article, rwb

Eph 4:5

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism"

NOT TWO!

 

[bdavidc]

Water immersion into Christ. Pretty clear by scripture, since being baptized into Christ by immersion is the only way described in the bible that remits sin, places you in the body of believers which is the church, and enables the gift of the Spirit itself to dwell in you enabling you oo become a Christian and child of God.

The Bible says we are saved, forgiven, and receive the Holy Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ, not by water baptism. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Baptism is an act of obedience, a way to publicly demonstrate your faith in Christ, but it does not wash away sin or cause the Spirit to dwell in us. “The blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). When we believe the gospel we receive the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). So baptism is a symbolic act that points to what faith has already done; it does not save or make someone a child of God–only faith in Christ does.

 

[bdavidc]

From your post I can tell... you did not even read my post!!! Read post #14 again... Your welcome, and I forgive you for not reading my post/comment before posting what you believe/feel... just following what others have to say.... Stop posting feelings before you even read what others have posted... Facts.. not feelings... is what God wants from you! Every apostle and follower of Jesus... Baptised in the name of JESUS!!! This is a Biblical FACT!!! No matter now much you disagree!!! Your still wrong about Matthew 21:19... Jesus' followers did not disobey Jesus in matt 21:19.... They just disobeyed the traditions of men you continue to teach... and did what was right and baptised in the name of Jesus... as the book of Acts teaches!!!

I did read your post, I do understand exactly what you are saying, but what you wrote is not biblical. Test everything by Sola Scriptura, Scripture interpreting Scripture, not emotion, tradition, or personal reasoning.

You said that every apostle baptized only in the name of Jesus and that Matthew 28: 19 is misunderstood or in some way different than what Jesus said. That statement stands in direct contradiction to the Bible. Scripture never says Matthew 28:19 is wrong or replaced. The words of Jesus are clear: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). God’s Word warns not to add to or take away from His words (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19). You cannot re-interpret Jesus’ command to suit your preference.

The book of Acts has examples of baptism done “in the name of Jesus Christ” but that phrase refers to His authority, it is not a replacement of the Trinitarian command. “In the name” throughout Scripture always means “by the authority of.” The same Lord who sent the Spirit also said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Baptizing in Jesus’ name is therefore not a contradiction to Matthew 28: 19—it fulfills it, because the Son acts with the full authority of the Father and the Spirit.

And your statement that baptism itself saves by the water is unbiblical. Scripture is consistent in teaching that salvation is through faith in Christ alone. “By grace you have been saved through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). The water does not cleanse sin—the blood of Christ does. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Baptism is an act of obedience from those who have already believed, it is not the means of receiving salvation.

So yes, I did read your post. But your interpretation does not line up with the whole counsel of God’s Word. The apostles never disobeyed Jesus—they obeyed Him perfectly by baptizing believers into His authority and teaching them to do everything He commanded. Your argument replaces the clarity of Scripture with speculation. According to Sola Scriptura, salvation is by repentance and faith in Christ alone and baptism is a command that follows—it is not a work that saves.

 

[DJT_47]

The Bible says we are saved, forgiven, and receive the Holy Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ, not by water baptism. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Baptism is an act of obedience, a way to publicly demonstrate your faith in Christ, but it does not wash away sin or cause the Spirit to dwell in us. “The blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). When we believe the gospel we receive the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). So baptism is a symbolic act that points to what faith has already done; it does not save or make someone a child of God–only faith in Christ does.

The bible says a lot of things but you've chosen those things that you prefer, ignoring the rest. Doing so pits scripture against scripture. Who did the Ethiopian eunuch publicly demonstrate his faith to when he was baptized in the middle of nowhere by Philip in Acts 8? That's a nonsensical statement that has no biblical validity. Its a man made up cop out for those thst have chosen to not believe that baptism plays an integral part of salvation. Jesus said belief plus baptism saves, znd similarly Peter said baptism saves us. Obviously, you disagree with them both.

 

[bdavidc]

The bible says a lot of things but you've chosen those things that you prefer, ignoring the rest. Doing so pits scripture against scripture. Who did the Ethiopian eunuch publicly demonstrate his faith to when he was baptized in the middle of nowhere by Philip in Acts 8? That's a nonsensical statement that has no biblical validity. Its a man made up cop out for those thst have chosen to not believe that baptism plays an integral part of salvation. Jesus said belief plus baptism saves, znd similarly Peter said baptism saves us. Obviously, you disagree with them both.

You’re right that the Bible says a lot, but it never contradicts itself. The problem isn’t choosing favorite verses; it’s rightly dividing them ~2 Timothy 2:15. Scripture interprets Scripture, not emotion or assumption.

The Ethiopian eunuch believed first before he was baptized. Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” ~Acts 8:37. Faith came first, baptism followed. The water didn’t save him—his faith in Christ did.

Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” ~Mark 16:16. Notice the condemnation falls on unbelief, not the absence of baptism. Faith is the condition; baptism is the confession.

Peter’s words in ~1 Peter 3:21 are also clear when read in full: “Baptism… now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He separates the physical act from the spiritual reality. The saving part isn’t the water; it’s the faith appeal to God through Christ’s resurrection.

To claim baptism causes salvation is to make water do what only the blood of Jesus can do ~1 John 1:7. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by ritual or works ~Ephesians 2:8–9. Baptism is obedience after faith, not the cause of salvation.

 

[DJT_47]

You’re right that the Bible says a lot, but it never contradicts itself. The problem isn’t choosing favorite verses; it’s rightly dividing them ~2 Timothy 2:15. Scripture interprets Scripture, not emotion or assumption.

The Ethiopian eunuch believed first before he was baptized. Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” ~Acts 8:37. Faith came first, baptism followed. The water didn’t save him—his faith in Christ did.

Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” ~Mark 16:16. Notice the condemnation falls on unbelief, not the absence of baptism. Faith is the condition; baptism is the confession.

Peter’s words in ~1 Peter 3:21 are also clear when read in full: “Baptism… now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He separates the physical act from the spiritual reality. The saving part isn’t the water; it’s the faith appeal to God through Christ’s resurrection.

To claim baptism causes salvation is to make water do what only the blood of Jesus can do ~1 John 1:7. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by ritual or works ~Ephesians 2:8–9. Baptism is obedience after faith, not the cause of salvation.

You've basically agreed inadvertently. No one says belief doesn't preceed baptism. Its obvious that it does and must; so that simply says belief is part of the equation. Belief 1st and foremost.

And regardless what 1st Peter continues to say, which is simply the logic, but the logic doesn't negate the words "baptism doth now also save us". The logic, does it matter why? Does the logic somehow make the aforementioned scripture change or mean something else? No. It still saves baptism saves us, clarifying that it ain't the water cleaning the flesh as part of the logical answer, but nevertheless, BAPTISM SAVES US, and baptism is also part of the equation. Same as is repentance and confession of belief (Romans 10:9-10). What you said changes nothing.

 

[rwb]

You've basically agreed inadvertently. No one says belief doesn't preceed baptism. Its obvious that it does and must; so that simply says belief is part of the equation. Belief 1st and foremost.

And regardless what 1st Peter continues to say, which is simply the logic, but the logic doesn't negate the words "baptism doth now also save us". The logic, does it matter why? Does the logic somehow make the aforementioned scripture change or mean something else? No. It still saves baptism saves us, clarifying that it ain't the water cleaning the flesh as part of the logical answer, but nevertheless, BAPTISM SAVES US, and baptism is also part of the equation. Same as is repentance and confession of belief (Romans 10:9-10). What you said changes nothing.

However, the baptism that now saves us is not of water which cleans only the flesh, but the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and fire that makes even the conscience clean.

1 Peter 3:21 (KJV) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 3:11 (KJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

 

[mailmandan]

Eph 4:5

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism"

NOT TWO!

Ephesians 4:5 - ..one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

So, even though there are baptisms "plural" (Matthew 3:11) there is only ONE, NOT TWO baptisms that places us into the body of Christ and that is Spirit baptism, not water baptism.

 

[amigo de christo]

You’re right that the Bible says a lot, but it never contradicts itself. The problem isn’t choosing favorite verses; it’s rightly dividing them ~2 Timothy 2:15. Scripture interprets Scripture, not emotion or assumption.

The Ethiopian eunuch believed first before he was baptized. Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” ~Acts 8:37. Faith came first, baptism followed. The water didn’t save him—his faith in Christ did.

Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” ~Mark 16:16. Notice the condemnation falls on unbelief, not the absence of baptism. Faith is the condition; baptism is the confession.

Peter’s words in ~1 Peter 3:21 are also clear when read in full: “Baptism… now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” He separates the physical act from the spiritual reality. The saving part isn’t the water; it’s the faith appeal to God through Christ’s resurrection.

To claim baptism causes salvation is to make water do what only the blood of Jesus can do ~1 John 1:7. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by ritual or works ~Ephesians 2:8–9. Baptism is obedience after faith, not the cause of salvation.

in fact even the gentile house of cornelious had the Faith of CHRIST and the HOLY GHOST fell upon them
and they all spoke with tongues . peter later tells that to the church .
NOW you are correct my friend that we should then as an act of OBEDIANCE be water baptized .
But what washed away our sins
Nothing but the BLOOD OF JESUS . that song actually is scriptural truth .
Cleasning even the inner conscious of a man , as pertains to sin .
Now to the trenches Bdavidc , for the hour has grown incredibly late , GOD has been VERY long suffering
But the DOOR WILL CLOSE in an anhour and at a day KNOWN to no man .
WHEN IT DO , ALL outside gonna wail .
And by the signs of the times , we running out of time .

 

[JLB]

View attachment 64843


Two Baptisms – One Eternal

This verse is often misunderstood, but when we look at it in context of the whole Bible, the meaning is clear. In Acts 11, Peter is explaining to Jewish believers what had just happened in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Cornelius and his household had heard the gospel, believed it, and were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44–46). This shocked the Jewish believers, because up to that point, they had assumed salvation and the Holy Spirit were limited to the Jews. Peter responds by recalling something Jesus Himself said, “John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:5).

This is crucial. Peter is connecting what happened to the Gentiles in Acts 10 to Jesus’ promise before His ascension. They had just witnessed what Jesus foretold, a baptism, not of water, but of the Holy Spirit. It was a real-time fulfillment of that promise, proving that Gentiles who believed in Christ were accepted by God the same way Jewish believers were.

So what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
According to 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” This is not a second experience, not a feeling, not tongues, and not an emotional high. It is the moment a person believes the gospel and is placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. That is what happened in Acts 2 with the Jews, and again in Acts 10 with the Gentiles. It was not tied to water; it was tied to faith.

John’s baptism with water was symbolic, preparing people to receive the coming Messiah (Mark 1:4). It showed repentance, but it could not save. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, however, is the true work of regeneration and salvation. Titus 3:5 puts it plainly, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

When Peter remembered Jesus’ words in Acts 11:16, he recognized that what happened to Cornelius’ household was not some random event. It was the fulfillment of Christ’s promise that believers would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. It proved they were saved, not because they were Jews, not because they kept the law, not because they were baptized in water, but because they believed the gospel and received the Spirit.

That said, water baptism is still important. It does not save, but it is commanded. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:48 says that after Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to be baptized in water. Baptism is the outward expression of inward faith. It shows that a person has died to sin and now walks in new life with Christ (Romans 6:4). If someone claims to be saved but refuses to obey Christ’s command to be baptized, that reveals a serious issue in the heart.

So yes, be baptized. But understand what saves you is not the water, it is whether you have truly been born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:9 says, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” That is the baptism that matters most. And if you have received it, then do what the Bible commands: get baptized in water as a public declaration that you now belong to Christ. Obedience follows salvation; it does not cause it.

Acts 11:16 points us back to the promise of Christ, fulfilled in the lives of real people, not through ritual, but through faith. That is the baptism that saves. And water baptism is how we testify to the world that we belong to Him.

Read the entire article – Click Here

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” Performed by God.
I Agree that a water baptism is not the baptism that saves

Paul was glad, thanking God he had not baptized anyone

1 Corinthians 1
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [d]speak the same thing, and that there be no [e]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Ce’s household, that there are [f]contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Ephesians 4
I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all.

‘Great thread topic.

1 Corinthians 12:13 is describing how we come to be in Christ; joined to Christ whereby we are one spirit with Him, thus we are joined to the Spirit of (eternal) life in Christ.

The Spirit baptizes us into Christ.

This is how we are born again; born of the Spirit.

Water baptism is for those who are already saved, born again.

Water baptism is how we publicly demonstrate that we have repented, which means we have turned to God in submission to Him as Lord, and by default we have turned away from Satan as our lord.


Now we are ready to be baptized WITH the Spirit.


In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we are baptized BY the Spirit INTO Christ; whereby we are now in Christ.


It is a subtle nuance in language by it is there.


There are three distinct baptisms and three different baptizers in scripture.


Can we discuss this?

 

[JLB]

So, even though there are baptisms "plural" (Matthew 3:11) there is only ONE, NOT TWO baptisms that places us into the body of Christ and that is Spirit baptism, not water baptism.

This is true.

The Spirit baptizes us into Christ.

This is before water baptism.

 

[DJT_47]

However, the baptism that now saves us is not of water which cleans only the flesh, but the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and fire that makes even the conscience clean.

1 Peter 3:21 (KJV) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 3:11 (KJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

It most certainly is water which is why it was compared with the flood incident. Pretty clear.

And you're not at all understanding the baptism of the Holy Ghost you mentioned. That happened (happened then, not now) and started with the 11 apostles on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, as foretold by John the Baptist and promised to the 11 by the Lord as the power from on high in Luke 24:49, commenced as stated in Acts 2, and once again in Acts 10 with Cornelius; Acts 2 and 10 as a sign from God which in both cases resulted in the start of the church, 1st in Jerusalem wirh the Jews and then in Caesarea with the Gentiles.

 

[bdavidc]

You've basically agreed inadvertently.

No, I did not agree. You’re adding what Scripture doesn’t say. The text of ~1 Peter 3:21 doesn’t make baptism the saving agent, it specifically separates the outward act from the inward faith. Peter says, “not the removal of dirt from the body,” but “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” The word “answer” (ἐπερώτημα, eperōtēma) means an appeal or pledge, not a physical act. The saving part is “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” not by immersion in water.

Salvation is of grace through faith, and nowhere do we see Peter and Paul contradict each other. If you haven’t yet realized that you’ve missed the point of what Peter, Paul and Jesus all said together, here it is: baptism doesn’t cause salvation, it’s the public declaration of it. When Peter said “baptism now saves you,” he immediately explained how: “not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” ~1 Peter 3:21. That’s faith, not ritual. The saving power is in Christ’s resurrection, not in the act of being dipped in water.

The Ethiopian eunuch believed first, then was baptized ~Acts 8:37–38. The thief on the cross believed and was saved without ever touching water ~Luke 23:43. Paul even said, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” ~1 Corinthians 1:17. If baptism were part of salvation itself, that statement would make no sense.

What happens when someone makes baptism the saving act is that they’ve replaced faith in Christ with trust in their own performance. It’s human nature to want something tangible, something we can do, but salvation isn’t about what we do, it’s about what Christ already did. “It is finished” ~John 19:30.

Salvation is a matter of the heart, not the hands. Baptism is obedience after faith, not the cause of it. To add baptism as a requirement is to say Jesus’ blood wasn’t enough, but Scripture says otherwise: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” ~1 John 1:7.

That’s the difference between faith that saves and ritual that deceives. Baptism declares what Christ has already done; it doesn’t make Him do it. The water testifies, but the blood redeems.

Are you a Catholic?

 

[amigo de christo]

It most certainly is water which is why it was compared with the flood incident. Pretty clear.

And you're not at all understanding the baptism of the Holy Ghost you mentioned. That happened (happened then, not now) and started with the 11 apostles on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, as foretold by John the Baptist and promised to the 11 by the Lord as the power from on high in Luke 24:49, commenced as stated in Acts 2, and once again in Acts 10 with Cornelius; Acts 2 and 10 as a sign from God which in both cases resulted in the start of the church, 1st in Jerusalem wirh the Jews and then in Caesarea with the Gentiles.

you must be kidding right .
T HERE IT IS yet again . OH that was back then , NOT TODAY .
how often when a man gets proved the truth
he will fall back onto a mindset of men that says , OH that no longer applies
or that was then . Wanna know what this sheep says
LETS NOT TWIST and OMIT SCRIPTURES of TRUTH but rather BELIEVE what was written .
But as i have long said
men gonna do exactly what they have loved and desired to do and to beleive .
but sheep gonna do what JESUS bids them to do and they gonna read and BELIEVE THE TRUTH
and not try and twist and or omit it .