Post details: Is Water Baptism Necessary For Salvation?

11/13/07

Permalink 03:50:35 pm, Categories: GraceHead teaching, By Timothy
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Is Water Baptism Necessary For Salvation?

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.

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.

Amen.

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.]

Comments:

Comment from: Timothy [Member] · http://www.TrumpetCallofGodOnline.com
Comment in advance:
What the Lord has given me to write, stays written, and what the Lord has spoken, STANDS.


I am not against baptism. Rather the Lord is giving us better understanding, and a warning to not judge others worthy or unworthy according to water baptism...for He, alone, searches the hearts and minds. And from the heart do all works flow. He is also reminding us that there is only ONE WAY and ONE WAY only into salvation, lest we make the Cross of Christ of non-effect, because of the doctrines and mis-interpretations of men.

"Not The Putting Away Of The Filth Of The Flesh, But The Answer Of A Good Conscience Toward God" ~ 1 Peter 3:21

Regarding Acts 2:38:
This is a common verse used by the churches quoted without complete understanding. And so, it remains an error held by certain Churches. We must NOT take this verse out of the context of the New Testament.

Acts 2:38 KJV
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.

Here is Act 2:38 in the Complete Jewish Bible. Notice the difference.

38 Kefa(Peter) answered them, "Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh(Holy Spirit)! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away - as many as ADONAI(The Lord) our God may call!"

Also note: If we quote this verse out of context and do not take into consideration the rest of the New Testament we make Jesus a liar. Compare Acts 2:38 KJV and Luke 23:40-43 KJV and you will see Jesus granted the thief on the cross salvation without "water" baptism.

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.

[*Note: Did Peter say, "now to be saved you MUST be baptized in water"? Or were they saved already and Peter was now only having them be baptized as a solidification(outward act or proof) of that which they already had in their hearts and had already received by faith?(Ephesians 2:8-9:
For by grace are ye saved through faith)]


Luke 23:40-43
40But the other(thief on the cross) answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.


Yours in Christ's service and love,
Timothy
Permalink 11/13/07 @ 18:26
Comment from: Timothy [Member] · http://www.TrumpetCallofGodOnline.com
Comment in advance # 2:

Brothers and sisters, in Christ, be careful that you do not hold too tightly to the understanding of men and the churches. Hold fast to Jesus and the power of His Cross and Resurrection for salvation.
For if we say that baptism of water is essential, we then make the power of Jesus' sacrifice of non-effect and steal also from the power of His resurrection... as though it wasn't enough. Also thereby nullifying the salvation of all those who accepted Christ for their salvation, who either, because of circumstance or ignorance, were unable to be baptized of water, yet still have received of Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and love.
What of the person who receives Him at death, or what of the poor man in the desert? Are these unsaved for lack of earthly water?

Therefore, I have told you the Truth. And the words in the Letters I posted are the Word of the Lord, from His own mouth, and are beyond question, unless that question is in the seeking to better understand the Truth, and not in debating to the contrary. For this would be to contend with the Lord, and not me, as the Words are HIS, exactly as He spoke them to me.

And so the churches lack understanding, and because of this they do err and teach others the same.

Your brother in Christ's service,
Timothy

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.
Permalink 11/13/07 @ 21:13
Comment from: Judah Himango [Visitor] · http://judahgabriel.blogspot.com
Excellent, Timothy. I believe baptism is, like circumcision, an outward sign. Not a bad thing, but not necessary to live in Messiah.

I love these inspired writings. III Timothy - the newest apocrypha book of our time. :-)
Permalink 11/13/07 @ 22:04
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Amen, Timothy.

You have spoken truth, by Him who IS Truth.

This is a true statement that deserves full acceptance: "The lesser gives way to the greater" ...

For example, if God is limited to save only to those that are wearing cowboy hats, than such a thing makes out God to be lesser than the hats ... and limited by them. Can a hat prevent God from accomplishing His will? Of course not, but such is the logic of the churches... In the craftiness of the deceiver, such doctrines are developed to the slander of the Lord .. .making Him limited by such trivial things.

God is NOT the lesser that He would need to give way to anything ... for NOTHING is greater.

Special "anointed" translations of the Bible are NOT greater than God. (God can and HAS saved many even before there was a "king" named "James.")

Special "consecrated" words spoken by special "clergy" while being dipped in water is NOT greater than God. (H2O is not greater than the Spirit of God... the thief on the cross was promised paradise though he was never once baptized.)

Special belief is NOT greater than God. (for even demons believe and yet do not obligate God to save them.)

How wicked that the self-righteousness of man would pervert a gift and make it of none effect! Howbeit that anybody say to God, "You cannot save those accept that they have done what I have done, for I, myself, have obligated God to do my will by my baptism!"

Repent, churches of men, and embrace Truth!

There are those that were baptized in the book of Acts, but I say there are also those that chose leadership by the random drawing of lots (acts 1:26). Yes, Acts chronicles the baptism of a new convert, and Acts also chronicles the leading priests very disturbed that Peter and John were claiming, on the authority of Jesus, that there is a resurrection of the dead. (acts 4:2)

Do we pick and choose? Do those that extol the necessity of baptism, select leaders from the roll of a dice? Do they do all that is done in Acts, or do they exalt only the part of Acts that they can demonstrates applies also to themselves. Yes, this is what is done and it is for the sake of their own egos so that one can build up a lofty perch from which to ridicule all the sorry saps that have not their standing, by the activity of their approval.

This is perverse, and cannot stand! Hypocrites beware, for it does not take a wise person to see the arrogance that drips from your doctrines, so how can you stand, when the Lord is revealed? Do you expect to say to Him, "I did this and I did that, in your name!" For He will surely say, "I do not know you, depart!" ...

So then, make your righteous standing before the Holiness of God in that which we cannot boast of our own accomplishments .. .for even the thief on the cross had the wisdom and understanding to be a recipient of the inheritance of salvation, without having done any righteous thing, other than confess with His mouth, and fall upon God for mercy. No arrogance was found in this thief as is so common among the church-goers. For this man has all the blessings of God, though his sins were as scarlet. Your God has done it to for Him, and blessed Him.

Your God, oh church-goers, tells the thief that he belongs with the Lord in paradise, for His faith. And who can call the Lord Jesus a liar and say only the baptized will be saved? To make the Lord Jesus out to be a liar is blasphemy!

When you stand in faith on the Lord Jesus and receive salvation in humble gratitude, then such a perspective makes all the sacraments of God a blessing and a delight, not to change what you are, but to reveal what He has made you. Baptism is a blessing and a wonder that cannot be exhausted in study nor reduced to dogma. Do not settle with making it only a secret hand-shake to get entrance into heaven, lest you find out that God is not lesser that He should give way to man's self-righteous merits.

Ripening still,
Trent
Permalink 11/14/07 @ 01:48
Comment from: the_burning_bush [Visitor] · http://mere-devotion.blogspot.com/
Excellent post, Timothy.

Reading those verses, I thought, "Oh! That's right! I forgot about that one!"

The word can really catch a person off guard.
Permalink 11/14/07 @ 02:11
Comment from: lenbenhear [Member] · http://www.myspace.com/lenbenherehear
Yes. JESUS IS THE GIFT. So also is faith and grace.

~ ALL GLORY to The Lamb ~
Permalink 11/14/07 @ 06:13
Comment from: Timothy [Member] · http://www.TrumpetCallofGodOnline.com
Judah, Amen.

For whosoever believes in Messiah Yeshua and walks in Him and obeys Him shall have life.

John 3:36 "And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

"III Timothy - the newest apocrypha" ~ Judah

Indeed, I put no difference between the Bible and the Letters as they have the same Author. Yet my name need not be mentioned as it is ALL the Lord's doing and is very marvelous in our eyes.

To God be all the glory and to the Lamb.


Trent, Amen and amen!

Isaiah 50:2
... Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;...

Joel 2:32
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.



B.B., Amen.
Do you know the phrase, "Repetition is the mother of skill"?

No matter how many times I listen to the Bible it never ceases to amaze me how each time it becomes even more powerful and beautiful, as though it comes more alive the more I repeat it. This is the Lord's doing as He continually feeds us with understanding and knowledge according to the good pleasure of His will.
The Word of the Lord truly is the real food and real drink.

John 6:63
...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ~ Jesus



Len, Amen.
"Yes. JESUS IS THE GIFT. So also is faith and grace.

~ ALL GLORY to The Lamb ~" - Len

Amen and Amen.

John 1:16
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.



Permalink 11/14/07 @ 11:01
Comment from: pam [Visitor]
Hi Timothy,

I agree that baptism isn't a part of salvation. I like you, did not come to faith in a church. I didn't attend a church for ten years after Jesus revealed Himself to me. I was saved during those ten years but I was often hesitant in proclaiming Him to others or identifying myself by His Name. For me, baptism was public expression of what had occurred inside of me more than ten years previous. After I was baptised, God began to work in me and throught me in a much more powerful way not because immersion in water has magical power but because I began to unashamedly proclaim Jesus as my Lord and not only my Savior.

I also believe that infant baptism is of NO affect what-so-ever. Believer's baptism is significant and Biblically, should be by immersion. We bury our old nature in baptism and rise to walk in newness of life. This is the meat of what baptism is to represent. It needs only to be done once and not repeated over and over again neither for salvation or because one changes location of fellowship.

Pam
Permalink 11/14/07 @ 12:31
Comment from: emilyc [Member] · http://www.myspace.com/emilylou21
Here are my thoughts:
It all comes down to John 3:16 again--pretty simple and basic. :)

As I am writing this, though, the Lord reminds me to mention Acts 16, about the prison guard who was about to kill himself after he saw Paul and Silas had escaped. After Paul affirmed they were all there....

Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

No more, no less, nothing other than to believe. This is the most wonderful thing about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ--it is indeed simple for any lost or searching soul to understand and act upon. This is true grace. (for us grace heads)

For SOME REASON I'm feeling another round of Jesus/Not Jesus coming up here......
Permalink 11/14/07 @ 17:14
Comment from: Christopher [Visitor] · http://www.myspace.com/thereisonly1king
Explain why the LORD JESUS says in Jn. 3:3,5-8
“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
The man on the cross that was garrenteed salvation died under the old law, forgiven by the Son of God who was given all authority of the Father to do so. The New Testament was not ratified until the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus. Remember the epistles purpose was for those who already believed not for unbelievers is what the Gospel accounts are for converting those whom the Lord has called. Yes Peter is right baptism is the answer of a good conscience towards God, this act shows that you have faith in the gospel message of Jesus Christ crucified for our redemtion. Faith that Works is the theme of the Epistles of James, Paul, and Peter, baptism is a sign of your faith at work...
Permalink 11/26/07 @ 10:33

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