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**Not long ago I heard a preacher speak on baptism and he noted Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 1:17...**

The context of that passage is that Paul did baptize people there. It was just that some converts had gotten ‘preacher religion’ and had been bragging about WHO baptized them, instead of WHO they were baptized into (Jesus Christ).

In which case Paul was thankful he had only baptized a few in Corinth. But, by Paul’s own words, other ministers had performed baptisms there. Paul showed up in Ephesus and promptly baptized 12 disciples there in the name of Jesus.

Then there is the emphasis on the name, which Paul makes clear to be Jesus: 1Cor. 1:13 “Is CHRIST divided? was PAUL crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the NAME of Paul?”
(Yes, Paul baptized in water at Corinth, in the name of Jesus.)

Heb. 6:1-3 is written to those born again: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this we will do if God permit.” (Notice the ‘doctine of baptisms’ is plural?)

Jesus Christ said that we must be born of the water, and of the Spirit. The Lord put great emphasis on water baptism TO his apostles. THEY were to do the water baptism in his name for remission of sins (”whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted..”), while HE would baptize with the Spirit.

There is SO much proof of that (as my previous post shows), that if one shoves aside the traditions of men that overlook those scriptures (either ignorantly, or willingly), then it becomes quite clear.

Just the fact that the Lord, and his apostles, put such great emphasis on it, should cause one to sit up and take notice.

**His takeaway: “So, the Gospel is NOT water baptism.”**

The Gospel (the death, burial, resurrection, and message of salvation in Jesus Christ) INCLUDES water baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. By Paul’s admission, he did baptize, but his was not a John the baptist ministry. For one thing, Paul said that John’s water baptism was a baptism unto repentance (Acts 19:4). The Gospel’s water baptism is in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

Over 33 yrs ago, when I was first told these things, I promptly asked the messenger, “What about everybody passed on that hasn’t done that?” To which the messenger’s reply was, “That’s not your responsibility. They’re gone, and besides, you don’t know how much they heard”.

So, if after hearing the Law read, that had been missing for so long, Josiah had chose not to have it read to the people for fear of offending them (”Hey Josiah! My deceased relatives didn’t observe those things you’re now following!”), then what? He would have been guilty of rejecting the will of the Lord.

Under the new covenant, the simple question is this: Acts 2:38; is it from heaven, or of men?