***Water baptism does nothing toward your salvation***
If water baptism does nothing to save us, then why did Jesus specifically say, “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19 ??
John 3
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Seems every time you guys see the words 'water' or 'baptism' in a verse you get tunnel vision and don't see anything else in the verse, or the rest of the scriptures...
What did Jesus tell these guys to do??? He told them to teach...Teach what??? He was teaching the same thing John the Baptist was teaching:
Mat_3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat_4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mar_1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mar_6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luk_13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk_13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
A tremendous amount of repentance here...Doesn't speak of baptism in any of those scriptures...Clearly, repentance it the issue and the focus...
Luk_3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luk_3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Mar_1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Every where we look we see repentance...And where it does speak of baptism, baptism is 100% of the time after repentance...No one gets baptized and then repents...No one...
Many of these scriptures speak about remission of sins without the baptism attached...Repent, remission...
Act_10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Here, Peter clears it up and shows us there is no baptism involved for the remission of sins...Cool, eh???
Act_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.
So what is Peter really saying here??? Is Peter saying to get water baptized so you can receive the remission of sins??? We've already seen numerous verses where there is no baptism required to receive remission of sins...
Or, is Peter saying we should get baptized BECAUSE of the remission of sins??? Did the remission of sins come before the baptism??? Sure looks like it does to me...But then what is the point of baptism, you say???
It is a public witness to God and to your friends and neighbors that you repented (turned your life toward and to Jesus)...
You guys worry so much about Mat. 28:19 while completely ignoring Luke 24:7...
Luk_24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The command is to teach repentance resulting in the remission of sins and then baptism for your witness of that repentance...
No one in Mat. 28:18 is getting baptized without first accepting Luke 24:47...They are being told to baptize the people who have repented and received remission of sins...