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Baptism:Is it a step of salvation?
   There is a lot of feelings about the importance of water baptism in the church world today. I am going to give you the Word of God, and you decide whether or not you want to obey.

   The Word of God states in (Romans 6:3-5) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore 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. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

(Col.2:12) 12Buried 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.

(Acts 22:15-16) 15For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Here we have three scriptures that tell us why we Baptize. We are Baptized to be buried with Christ and to wash away sins.

   One of the big things people want to say are, Paul was preaching to the Gentiles, and he said that he came not to baptize. They take that verse and blow it all out of context. Lets look at that scripture real quick. (1 Cor. 1:17) 17For 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.

Now one thing I want to bring across to you is this, in many scriptures Paul baptized many people. (acts 16:33 ; acts 18:7 ;acts 19:3) These are all verses that tell us that Paul baptized. So what am I trying to say? I am saying that just because Paul said that he did not come to baptize does not mean that he did not command it or did not do it himself. Lets also look at the life of Jesus. In the Word of God, In the book of John 4:2, 2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) but yet we will see that he commanded his disciples to Baptize (matt.28:19).

    Now we have the story of Nicodemous. Jesus was preaching to him and Jesus told him Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:6) Except a man be born of what? WATER and SPIRIT. Also we know there are three that bear witness on earth according to 1 John 5:6-9 (6This 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. 7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.) Look at what he is saying here. Jesus came by Water and Blood (John 19:34), and there are three that bear witness in the earth, THE SPIRIT (holy ghost) THE WATER (baptism) THE BLOOD (repentance).

(Mark 16:16) 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. So we understand here that there is more steps than just believing, and being baptized is one of them.

(1 Peter 3:19-21) 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20Which 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. 21The 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:

That eight souls were saved by what? WATER. Verse 21 says “the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…..

    Here is the story of a Eunuch that Philip preached to. ( Acts 8:35-39) 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36And 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? 37And 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. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

You see Philip preaching to the Eunuch, Jesus. (Just like Paul was preaching in 1 Cor. 1:17) Somewhere in that message the Eunuch must have heard about water baptism because he wanted to be baptized. Now Philip told him, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. The Eunuch said he believed, and Philip commanded the chariot to stand still so that the Eunuch could be Baptized right there and then. There must have been some importance to it to make the chariot stop in its tracks so that the Eunuch could be baptized.

    Peter in Acts 10:47 asked the Jews, could anyone forbid the Gentiles (that had heard the word) water. Then he COMMANDED them to be Baptized. Why command someone if it is not necessary to your souls salvation.

Peter in Acts 2:38 told them to BE baptized.

Philip was preaching in Acts 8:12 and they were baptized. Some will say that the baptized here is talking about the Holy Ghost. Read on down to verse 15-16, they had been baptized but the Holy Ghost had not fell on them yet.

Paul in the book of Acts 19:3-7,Baptized these 12 men and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

      So we should be able to see that Baptism in water was necessary, and still is. As a matter of fact, every one that believeth was baptized.


What Name to baptize in?


    Now we are going to look at why we should baptize in Jesus Name.
Matt. 28:19 says, 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Baptizing them in THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. What most people seem to miss is the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy ghost.

    Lets break this down to 1st grade.

9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Phil. 2:9) we know that name is Jesus.
In Matt. 1:23 says: 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Verse 21 says: 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

In John 14:26 says: 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
Father = JESUS
Son = JESUS
Holy ghost = JESUS
Acts 2:38= 38Then 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

Acts 10:48= 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Acts 19:5 = 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 8:11 = 12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
    Some people will look at you and tell you that it is found in Acts. Well I look at it this way. It is in the Word of God. They want to skip Acts because they can not explain it, But I can. We are to be baptize for the washing away of our sins and we should be baptized in the Name above all Names,JESUS.