Answer: No.
Jesus is all we need - Yeshua is the Gift.
Ephesians 2:5:
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)Ephesians 2:8-9:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
[Excerpt from Volume 6 - 2/15/07 From God the Father, Given to Timothy - A Letter For the United Church of God and For All Those Who Have Ears to Hear - To the Church at the Lord’s Right Hand, Hear the Word of the Lord.]
...So then hear and understand the truth of baptism, of which you hold in such high regard; and be careful that you do not make it a rod or a measuring stick by which you judge others, nor make baptism by water more than it was ordained to be, lest you should make the cross of Christ of non-effect: As is circumcision, so also is baptism - Neither are necessary for salvation.
You speak without knowledge, and have failed to understand the loving mercies of God which are fulfilled in Christ. For you need only look to the thief on the cross, and have understanding. For a man who had never known baptism by water, nor set foot in a church, was assured of salvation when he confessed his sin in the presence of The Messiah, with a true and penitent heart. And in that same moment he was forgiven, and will enter into paradise at the Last Day, as YahuShua had spoken it to him, saying, “In truth I speak to you this day, you shall be with Me in paradise.”
Therefore My sons and daughters, heed these words which I had spoken by My servant already, for they speak to the truth of baptism... Many will there be in My Kingdom, who had not been baptized in water; rather they had been fully immersed in My Word, being enveloped in The Son’s sacrifice and love, for these have been fully baptized in the Spirit. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward, as do you, My precious children. For from the beginning, I have known you and loved you who baptize with water. So also do I love and know those without baptism by water, for they love Me as you love Me. Do not cast stumbling blocks before the feet of those who love Me; be all one in Christ. For if you dispense the food of God to the hungry, while using your own salt to salt that which has salt in itself, will not the food you offer lose its flavor and become bitter in the mouths of those who came looking to be filled?
Therefore, again I say, to all those who hold baptism in such high regard, even as a measuring stick by which they count others worthy or unworthy unto God, according to their own perverse doctrine: Whosoever God has cleansed is worthy; you shall not call them unworthy. For baptism by water was given to men as an outward testimony of one’s commitment to God, in The Christ’s name, and also for union in fellowship one to the other within the body of Christ.
So I say to you, be wary of any doctrine which steals from the power of the cross, as though the sacrifice of Messiah was not enough, lest you fall into judgment for that by which you judge. What is earthly, let it stay earthly; and what is spiritual, let it stay spiritual. Hold not to the earthly or to the understanding of men, nor grab hold of any private interpretation of Scripture or established doctrine... Hold fast to God, by Christ.
For where, in The Commandments of God, have I written all must be baptized by men to be saved? Baptism is indeed good, if it is a confession poured out from one’s heart in pure belief, an outward act of faith revealing one’s acceptance of their forgiveness in Christ. For the water of the earth can only cleanse that which is soiled on the skin; by no means can it cleanse that which is soiled in the spirit... This is reserved for the blood of The Lamb.
Again, I say to you, baptism by water is nothing in and of itself, unless one is first washed in The Word and baptized in the Spirit, which is and can only be received through YahuShua HaMashiach. For He alone is The Baptism, The Very Water of Life, by which all are cleansed and receive their salvation. Therefore, beloved, remember this: The Spirit of The Word, and not the letter, is The Way, The Truth and The Life, by which your entire life shall be cleansed in the waters from Heaven, which are and flow from YahuShua, whom you call Christ and Jesus.
For I tell you the truth, The Messiah comes quickly to baptize all in fire and glory...
Those of a wicked heart, in fire...
And those of The Spirit,
Who have also received the love of The Truth,
In glory forever and ever. Amen.
1/13/05 - From God the Father - A Letter Given to Timothy, For All Those Who Have Ears to Hear
Come Now and Be Baptized in the Living Waters of Life and Truth
This is what the Lord says concerning the baptism of My saints by water.
First, I say to you, be baptized by the Word of God and knowledge in Him. Then shall come repentance and forgiveness of sin, for the Lord God Almighty is He who baptizes His people with His Spirit... and He alone decides, and knows, to whom it shall be given. The Water of Life resides not in the water of the body or the earth of which all must drink to maintain their earthly body. Rather, the Water of Life is that which flows from the body of Christ, Giver of Life, that all must partake of to maintain their spirit, which leads to everlasting salvation and life. "For I am the Water of Life", says the Son of Man. Listen and partake of His words, every one, and be baptized in them.
In what waters have you heard speech?... For baptism comes from the Gospel, and by proclamation of your own mouth unto repentance and the heart's desire of forgiveness. So go forth and baptize yourself of the water of the earth, if you so desire, for it is only of yourself that make it either a strengthening of faith or a mere dampening of your clothes.
Here is wisdom: Jesus the Christ was baptized not for repentance. He was baptized in glory, and My Spirit was shown upon Him in the sight of men, so all would know the Savior has come and was baptized for all, and has become the very Baptism that all seek.
Amen.Behold the Son of Man and the Holy Spirit of God... live in Them and wear Them well.
Wear Them not, and be naked and poor, says the Lord.
Excerpts from the Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 1:
"This is the baptism of which Timothy has been baptized, not of water, but the Water of Life which is in Christ Jesus. Baptism by water is nothing and is earthly. Let yourself be baptized, by that which is spirit which leads to eternal life. Nothing earthly can enter My Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven)." ~ God.
John 4:2:
Actually, Jesus Himself did not baptize anyone; only his disciples did.
Mark 1:8:
I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:16:
So John said to all of them, "I baptize you with water, but Someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John 1:33:
I still did not know that He was the One, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a Man; He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
1Corinthians 1:17:
Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the Good News, and to tell it without using the language of human wisdom, in order to make sure that Christ's death on the cross is not robbed of its power.
Therefore:
Baptism is indeed good, if it is a confession poured out from one’s heart in pure belief, an outward act of faith revealing one’s acceptance of their forgiveness in Christ. For the water of the earth can only cleanse that which is soiled on the skin; by no means can it cleanse that which is soiled in the spirit... This is reserved for the blood of The Lamb.
ng Away Of The Filth Of The Flesh, But The Answer Of A Good Conscience Toward God" ~ 1 Peter 3:21.
[*See "comments" 1 and 2 for more evidence regarding this important issue.]
What the Lord has given me to write, stays written, and what the Lord has spoken, STANDS.
1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:17 CJB
For the Messiah did not send me to immerse but to proclaim the Good News - and to do it without relying on "wisdom" that consists of mere rhetoric, so as not to rob the Messiah's execution-stake of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Corinthians 1:17 NLT
For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News; and not with clever speeches and high-sounding ideas, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
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Many in your life have sinned against you, and all have sinned against Me. Have I not forgiven them through My Sons sacrifice? ~ God [Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 1 ~ The Christian Path]