Message
from the Monthly Flyer from January 2011
Is the water baptism necessary
for salvation? |
We want to turn to the Holy Scriptures to find out about
the will of God. What took place at that time about 2000 years
ago? In the gospel of Mark, chapter 16, verses 15-16, it says:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
At that time, after Jesus had risen from the dead, He gave
His disciples the commission to spread this good news in all
the world. He paid the price for the punishment of our sins
with His death upon the cross. He had to die for us and rise
again (Luke 24:45-49). Now by faith in this message - the
gospel of Jesus - through confession, turning away from sin,
and obedience to the water baptism in His name, it is possible
to receive the remission of sins. The disciples of Jesus clearly
understood Him. For when the 12 apostles began to preach the
gospel in Jerusalem (Acts, chapter 2), they commanded the
people to seek forgiveness by being baptised in the name of
Jesus for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).This did not only
apply to those who were in Jerusalem, but also to those who
were in Samaria (Acts 8:13-16 +35-39), Paul in Damascus (Acts
9:19), in Caesarea (Acts 10:47-48), and in Ephesus (19:5).
They filled cities and villages with the simple message of
Jesus and stood before the "low and the great".
There is only one way to receive the forgiveness of sin, Jesus
laid it down clearly: Through the baptism in His name, we
receive remission of sins (Acts 2:38)! It is necessary that
the baptism in Jesus' name takes place (Luke 24:47; Acts 4:12).
One Lord, one faith, one baptism Eph. 4:5). These are references
from the Holy Scriptures.
Christian tradition: Whoever compares the Bible with the current
day church teachings, which were added to the doctrine of
faith throughout the centuries, will immediately see that
today in many points, the opposite from that which was taught
and practised earlier is believed! Babies were baptised instead
of being blessed. Going beyond things is also baptism, which
took on the form of sprinkling instead of immersion .They
teach that baptism is not the only way to receive remission
of sin. They have taken away the name of Jesus from the baptism,
and so on.
Fact: Jesus only acknowledges His Word.Whoever does not believe
and is baptised in His name just like the Scripture requires,
is not obedient to the Scriptures and had no hope of receiving
eternal life! rw
