WIP - What is Pentecost - Is Baptism Necessary?

Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

Well the short answer is YES! Acts 2:38 makes that very clear! There is no way around the fact that on the day of Pentecost, which is the day the church was formed or born, the day the Kingdom of God finally was revealed to them that believe. Read (WIP Article – “Kingdom of God”) for more on that subject. Peter said “Repent and be Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 2:41 says “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

And Acts 2:47 says “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

How were they being saved/added to the Church? Acts 2:38 tells us how… They were repenting, they were being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and they were receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Those that gladly received his word that is.

If you search the Internet today you will find that there are thousands out there perhaps millions that do not gladly receive his word now. Today the answer is “no” for so many different reasons it will make your head spin. Yet Acts 2:38 still says what Peter said on the day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago. God doesn’t change! “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) He is not an Author of Confusion. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) People make it confusing by trying to get around what was set in stone on the day of Pentecost.

They start analyzing what the Greek or Hebrew really meant. They start quoting Romans, Ephesians, 1 Corinthians and so on, saying these scriptures say we are saved by grace through faith not by works.

I never see them quote James 2:14 which states “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” or James 2:17-20 “17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

The only book in the New Testament that documents what was happening and what was taught when the Church was born is in the book of Acts. No one will argue this fact but they will say that it just isn’t necessary now. All these other verses they quote are from epistles written to the Church that was already setup and now needed guidance. They say “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward gratitude.” Where is that in the Bible? I can’t find it nor can I find the sinner’s prayer. But setting this doctrine of men aside for a second let us look at what the Bible teaches.

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Some will say that because Jesus didn’t say he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned that means that baptism isn’t necessary. If it is not necessary why would Jesus mention it at all? Why wouldn’t Jesus say he who believes shall be saved and not mention baptism at all?

1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 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:

Peter says they were saved by water a like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. How could that not be any more clear?

Romans 6:3-4
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.

Colossians 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.

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

If baptism isn’t necessary why are any of these scriptures even in the Bible? God is not an Author of
Confusion! Having these scriptures in the Bible and them not being necessary would allow for more than one view on this subject, which is what the conflicting interest (no baptism necessary) is trying to convey but they only cause confusion because they teach in contradiction to what the Bible teaches.

Again why did John the Baptist preach it?

Mark 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Luke 3:3
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Acts 13:24
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Why did Jesus preach it?

Matthew 28:19
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:

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Why did Peter preach it?

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.

1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 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:

Why did Paul preach it?

Acts 19:4-5
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 22:10-16
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Why if it is not necessary?

Acts 8:26-38
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

If baptism isn’t necessary then why when Philip Preached Jesus unto the Eunuch did the Eunuch ask “Here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” If believing on Jesus alone is enough then how did the Eunuch know about baptism unless Philip mentioned it? Why would Philip mention it or perform the baptism if it was not necessary? One should take notice that Philip tells the Eunuch “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.”

God had a pattern and a plan setup before the foundation of the world. This plan was given precept by precept and line by line. In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to preform many ceremonial washings that would cleanse or purify the individual. Some will say that Baptism is not mentioned in the Old Testament that is because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek. The word Baptizo in the Greek means full immersion in water for the purpose of ritual washing or a rite of washing for religious purification and sanctification, which is what Tevilah in Hebrew means performed in a Mikvah (pool of water) in the Old Testament.

Mark 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

John the Baptist came along and took this process to the next level and began preaching Repentance and Baptism for the remission of sins, paving the way for the Messiah who would follow him. If Baptism is not necessary then why would God even have John the Baptist do this? He is not an Author of Confusion. Why did Jesus get baptized and when he came up out of the water the Holy Ghost fell on him like a dove, preluding to the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38)?

You must understand that Jesus Christ shed his blood to save us. We need his blood for salvation.

Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Titus 3:5
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;

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We get washed in his blood from our sins through baptism. Water and blood came from his side when he was pierced. He came by water and blood, not by water only but by water and blood.

1 John 5:5-9
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

We get the blood through water baptism by calling on his name during 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.

Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

You must first believe that Christ died for you and through his death he received the power to save you (Hebrews 9:14-22), once you have established that, by your faith in Christ, you will obey the Gospel. How do you obey the Gospel? Read (WIP Article – “What is the Gospel?”) for more on that subject.

If you don’t understand what the Gospel is you will be lost.

2 Corinthians 4:1-5
4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Baptism is a part of obeying the Gospel. Obeying the Gospel is the process by which you become “Born Again” (John 3:3-8) Read (WIP Article – “What does it mean to be born again?”) for more on that subject.

Once you realize baptism is necessary the next thing to understand is what name to be baptized into in order for the baptism to remove your sins. Read (WIP Article – “In what name should I be baptized in?”) for more on that subject.