Reasons why water baptism is no longer necessary today.
#1. Water baptism was originally for the Jews and not Gentiles. Water baptism was given up by Paul (
1 Corinthians 1:17), and we don’t see any repeat instructions of Paul saying similar words in Acts 2:38 to other Gentile Christians (like Timothy, or Luke, or a Gentile church, etcetera).
So, Jews and Gentiles are saved differently?
Because clearly, water baptism in Jesus' Name saved those who became recipients of it...they received remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
#2.
Matthew 28:19 says we are to baptize all nations. In other words, if one wants to obey the great commission command, logically, he should also do the baptizing and not merely being baptized. I’m sure millions of Christians are not obeying that command, because while they were perhaps have been baptized, they do not obey the command, which is “to baptize.”
That seems irrelevant to me.
#3. Paul said he came not to baptize but to preach the gospel (
1 Corinthians 1:17), and Paul told us to follow his example (
1 Corinthians 11:1).
You are taking that out of context.
Clearly, Paul's disciples baptized many people in Corinth (Acts of the Apostles 18:8) under Paul's authority.
#4. Paul said he thanks God that he did not baptize the majority of the Corinthian believers (
1 Corinthians 1:14). If baptism was for salvation, he would have never said this. Obviously Paul said this because folks back then were taking baptism to mean something that it was not.
The reason why Paul said this was because of the divisions in the church where some said, "I am of Paul", others, "I am of Apollos" and others, "I am of Christ."
He was glad that he didn't personally baptize many because if he had, some might have said, "I was baptized in the name of Paul."
It had nothing to do with the validity of baptism as an ordinance.
Because clearly, many in Corinth were baptized (Acts of the Apostles 18:8) and Paul was certainly not against that.
#5.
Hebrews 9:10 says, “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” The word “washings” is the Greek word “baptismos” (βαπτισμός) (Check out
here for the Strong’s definition). In other words,
Hebrews 9:10 is saying that diverse baptisms (washings) were imposed on believers until the time of reformation. Meaning, water baptism will give way or pass away until the time of reformation (Which means that Spirit baptism is now the one and only true baptism for today).
No; because baptism as an ordinance is not the same as "washings".
Baptism as an ordinance is "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" (1 Peter 3:21), therefore not a "washing".
#6.
1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “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.” So it is by the Spirit that we are baptized into the body of Christ and not by a water ritual.
I would contend that there is one baptism and if Holy Spirit baptism is the only baptism then water baptism is not baptism.
Nevertheless water baptism is valid because Jesus said, "
John truly baptized in water..." (Acts 1:5).
Therefore water baptism is included in the one baptism spoken of in Ephesians 4:5.
Baptism is triune in nature.
It is one baptism in:
1) water
2) the Spirit
3) fire.
#7. Verses on Initial Salvation by God’s grace through faith like
Ephesians 2:8-9,
Romans 4:2-5,
Titus 3:5,
John 1:12,
Luke 18:9-14, and Jesus forgiving the sins of others all show that water baptism was not necessary for salvation.
Nevertheless the gift of remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost is given to
as many as the Lord our God shall
call.
And if you are not called, you have not been predestined and will not be justified or glorified.
#8. If baptism is for salvation, then why was Jesus baptized?
To set an example for us so that we would follow Him.
Consider 1 John 2:6. If we do not follow His example, we cannot say that we are abiding in Him.
#9.
1 Peter 3:21 makes it clear that baptism does not save us in the putting away of the filth of the flesh (sin), but it only saves us in answering in having an already clean or good conscience. For even the parallel made in
1 Peter 3:20 shows that the flood waters did not actually literally save Noah and his family. It was the Ark (Jesus) that saved them.
1 Peter 3:20 shows that the baptism in question is baptism in water.
1 Peter 3:21 shows that "
even baptism doth also now save us".
It is not the removal of the filth of the flesh; but it does wash away sins (Acts 22:16).
#10.
Ephesians 1:13 says,
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” This lets us know that by hearing the gospel, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This is being immersed into the Spirit for the first time sort of like with Cornelius and his household. In fact, the gospel that we receive that saves us initially (as mentioned in
1 Corinthians 15:1-4) mentions nothing about water baptism.
Consider that in the beginnings of the church of Ephesus, twelve men were baptized in the name of Jesus and received the Holy Ghost after Paul laid hands on them.
So clearly, faith was mixed with baptism in Ephesus, even as it is written in Colossians 2:12.
