Baptism is an extremely important sacrament because it is through baptism that people are allowed to enter the family of God. In the Old Testament, the Old Law, it was circumcision that allowed the Israelites to enter the family of God but the New Testament tells us that the new way to enter God’s family is through water. 1 Peter 3:20-21 “who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water, Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you…” Most people would say that Noah and his family was saved FROM water not THROUGH water but the fact that God was going to destroy the world one way or another meant that Noah was going to be destroyed along with everybody else. Then God commanded him to build an ark, which saved him because God destroyed everybody WITH WATER. In fact some would argue that it was not just Noah and his family that was saved through water, but all who came after him. Through water, every person on earth has been saved already, now God asks us to accept that water (or have our parents accept that water for us after birth) and be saved spiritual. Mark 16:15-16 “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’” There is no way that any person can be clearer that Baptism is essential to have in the walk of salvation. Paul says that you absolutely need Baptism but people that have Baptism are not automatically saved, you still must believe and work out your salvation in fear and trembling. John 3:3-5 “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4 Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 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. In Baptism, people take an outward sign but receive the greatest gift Jesus left us on earth, the Holy Spirit.
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