Can_Baptism_alone_Save

Believing alone does not save us. James 2:19 says in reference to the people�s belief in one God, �Good! Even the demons believe that - and shutter.� Repentance by itself doesn�t save without the acknowledgement of Christ as Lord and Savior. This is verified in Acts 19:1-5 where Paul, having met disciples in Ephesus who had only experienced John�s baptism (that is, a baptism of repentance- Acts 19:4), had to first hear about Jesus, believe in him, and then be baptized in his name. And although Peter says in Acts 10:43 that �the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name�, we know that repentance is not omitted for he also says in Acts 3:19, to �Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out��

We know from reading Matt 3:11-16 (Jesus� own baptism), Acts 8:38, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 22:16, 1Peter 3:20-21 that God uses water baptism to accomplish this cleansing. Matt 3:11-16 & Acts 8:38 lets us know that Jesus and the Eunuch actually went down into, and got out of the water. Thus, baptism is not an act of sprinkling.

Here�s the point I�m making: No one part of the salvation plan can stand on it�s own!

Without any of the other requirements having been met first, baptism alone would just be a mere dunking in water. You would no more find yourself in Christ than the man-in-the-moon.
Let us look at Mark 16:16, �Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned�. Although the Scripture does not say that, <<Whoever does not get baptized will be condemned>>, it is reasonable to infer that a person who does not believe, wouldn�t bother with being baptized in the first place!

To remind you of the cohesiveness of God�s word, let�s look at John 3:18 which says, �Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God�s one and only Son.�    In other words, as it is stated in John 3:36, �Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God�s wrath remains on him.�
Plainly, the person will not be lost because he is not baptized. No, this person will perish because he has refused to come into a right relationship with Jesus. Acts 4:12 says, �Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.�

But for those who would believe, baptism is indeed required for salvation.

Again I quote Mark 16:16, for the word clearly states, �Whoever believes and is baptized, will be saved�. Colossians 2:12 also says that, �having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead�. These passages do not, in any form or fashion, omit repentance or the confession of faith because the other Scriptures that were listed earlier in this discourse, tells us that they are essential. Here, however, God makes it plain that faith and baptism are inseparable as part of his plan to bring man �out of darkness and into his wonderful light�.
Please, let�s understand something once and for all.   If we do not adhere to sound Biblical doctrine, we are not acting in accordance to God�s will.
For the apostle Paul says in 1Corinthians 14:37-38, �If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord�s command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.�
Let us once again obey God�s word, not being those who are ignored, but those who have a place at Jesus� side in eternity!