Truth for today: “No soup for you!"

Some churches say if you are not water baptized, you are not saved...no soup for you.

Why would the scripture say, that salvation required men to believe AND to be baptized?

Is misinterpretation of this scripture where this false doctrine came from?

Should we, as Bible students, be able to answer this question?

Yes, our teacher, the Holy Spirit Himself, thought it helpful to clarify.

Jesus said, "And he who believes AND IS baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

Mark 16:16

Key: “he who does not believe will be condemned”

Perhaps we should interpret scripture with scripture.

The Bible says:

Jesus answered further, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven."

John 3:5

Key: “unless born of the Spirit...cannot enter”

“For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Acts 1:5

Key: “baptized with the Holy Spirit”

“There is also an antitype (a symbol representing something else) which now saves us--baptism (not as by the removal of filth from the flesh, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God), through (faith in) the resurrection of Christ."

1 Peter 3:21

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38

“And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be BAPTIZED with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 11:16

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

Titus 3:5

Being born of the spirit is easily interpreted. Salvation involves a new life that only the Holy Spirit can produce.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Born of water is not a reference to water baptism.

Jesus may have been using a teaching technique of comparing a physical reality to a spiritual reality.

In a physical birth, unborn babies float in a sack of amniotic fluid. When the birth begins, the sack of amniotic fluid bursts, releasing the baby in a rush of water. i.e. born of water.

As in the scripture references above "born of water and born of the spirit" are explained.

Water baptism, cleansing from the outside, does not save or the thief nailed on the cross, who believed, but was unable to get baptized before dying in (Luke 23:43) would not have been able to meet Jesus in paradise as promised.

Baptism by the Holy Spirit, cleansing, transformation, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, makes us new.

Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, risen from the dead, and you'll be saved....baptized by the Holy Spirit by faith.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Formula: believe (faith) = grace gift of salvation+ gift of Holy Spirit given+ transformation begins directly proportional to the recipients volume of submission to the One transforming.

Water baptism is an act of obedience, an outward demonstration of a miracle that has happened on the inside.

Salvation is immediate when you believe.

Transformation- submitting to the chipping away at the granite has happened, in my case, over many years. The transformation began immediately for me and has and will continue until the day my Master appears.

The Bible says:

“Being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

We are imperfect vessels, beat up mail trucks delivering a flawless message...Jesus saves!

As the old hymn says:

So send I you, My grace made strong to triumph.

Over hosts of hell, over darkness, death and sin.

My Name to bear and in that Name to conquer.

So send I you, your victory to win.

So send I you, to take to souls in bondage.

The Word of truth that sets the captive free.

To break the bonds of sin, to loose it’s fetters.

So send I you, to bring the lost to Me!

The Bible says:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay (dirt) to show that the all surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

And that’s the truth. Now go, deliver the mail.

All my love to the mighty men and women of Christ our LORD.

Ken D. arling