You must be baptized!
Many people today will tell you there is no need for baptism! that
we are not saved by works! all you must do is believe! well, I have more
than enough scriptures to disprove this false teaching and thats what I
intend to do is let the Scriptures speak. I will start by explaining to
you that even in what is called the Old Testament the people of Israel,
Yahweh's people was baptized! In 1 Peter 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient,
when once the longsuffering of Elohim waited in the days of Noah, while
the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by
water. V.21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now also save us
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward Elohim) by the resurrection of Yahoshua Messiah." You
see even by water which saved the eight, water even now saves us!
Also, I will remind you of the miracle at the red sea, all of Israel passed
through the water, and in turn it was the water that saved them! Acts 2:37-38
"Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we
do? v.38 Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized everyone of
you in the name of Yahoshua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Qodesh Spirit." See, according to Matthew 16:17-19
Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom! After the death, burial, and resurrection
of Yahoshua, at the feast of Pentecost Peter delivered the keys to them.
It was the beginning of a new dispensation, the dispensation called 'grace'.
Does this mean that we may sin? YHWH forbid!
Let's continue. John chapter 3 verses 3 through 7 explains to us that one must be born of water and the Spirit...John 3:3-7 "Yahoshua answered and said unto him, Verily,Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Elohim. v.4 Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb, and be born? v.5 Yahoshua answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born of water and of the Spirit He can not enter the Kingdom of Elohim. V.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. 7. Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again." It is very clear here that Yahoshua was speaking of salvation (entering or even seeing the kingdom) and that the only possible way was to be "born of water and Spirit" sounds like Acts 2:38, huh? "repent and be baptized....in the name of Yahoshua for remission of sins....and ye shall receive the gift of the Qodesh Spirit! (Acts 2:38)
Sounds like the very words Yahoshua spoke to Nicodemus. It also reminds me that Peter, who spoke to those about their Salvation in Acts Chapter 2 was given the keys to the Kingdom by Yahoshua himself! Let's go on! John in the same chapter (3) v.14 and as moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: v.15 Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. v.16 For Elohim so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. v.17 For Elohim sent not his son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved. v.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of Elohim!" What? You also have to believe in the name of Yahoshua?
Previously in the same chapter Yahoshua was telling Nicodemus that in order to even see the kingdom of Elohim you had to be born of the water and the Spirit, we just read where Yahoshua said just believe in him and his name. what could this mean? Let's read another qoute from Yahoshua in Mark 16:15-16 "And He (Yahoshua) said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel (the good news) to every creature. v.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Yahoshua sums the matter up right here...he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved! Baptism in its self will not save you! Yahoshua clearly states, he that believeth not shall be damned...it takes both. at the Feast of Pentecost there were 3,000 people added to the assembly. The Scripture says that they who gladly received the word were baptized (Acts 2:41)
Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of Elohim, and the name of Yahoshua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women. v. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..." Philip is preaching what? The kingdom of Elohim and the name of Yahoshua Messiah? And the response of the people was baptism? Why did'nt they just believe in the Messiah? Because of the word preached by Yahoshua and His folllowers, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved! Another passage in Acts 10:44 the uncircumcised receive the Spirit prior to baptism, why? Yahweh revealed to the circumcised that the uncircumcised could receive salvation! After receiving the Spirit, they were commanded (Acts 10:48) to be baptized in the name of Messiah! They completed the steps to salvation! Then in Acts chapter 19 we read of those being re-baptized! Why? Because it was John's baptism they had not been immersed in the name of Messiah!
Romans 6:3,7 "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Yahoshua Messiah were baptized into his death? v.7 For he that is dead is freed from sin."
Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah."
Colossians 2:12-13 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the operation of Elohim, who hath raised him from the dead. v.13 And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses;"
Acts 19:3-5 "And he said unto them, unto what then were you baptized? And they said unto John's baptism, v.4 then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Yahoshua. v.5 when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of Yahoshua Messiah."
Paul repeated the matter to them, John preached saying to believe on Him who comes after me! When they heard this they were re-baptized in the name of Yahoshua! If they only had to believe why then were they baptized again?
I pray you consider this matter of baptism...in Yahoshua's name!
"And why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins
calling on the name of Messiah." Acts 22:16