Baptism, DOES IT REALLY WASH AWAY SIN??

[Jason B]

This is really simple, just direct the repentant sinner to water baptism, if they refuse to be water baptized, did they really repent?

I know when I repented, they could have told me God required me to jump through flaming hoops, and if they would have showed me a scriptrue, I would have done it like a circus lion.

Thank God, I was instead shown 2:38, and to the water I went! No one had to convince me, I could read for my self, I just needed to be directed to the scripture, no one had to threaten me, I wanted to get baptized ASAP!

I do think that from the beginning of the NT we see John the baptist preaching the "baptism of repentance" I think that repentace and baptism go hand in hand, and a true believer will do both rather close to each other. More plainly, I do not believe repentace is complete until baptism.

[mizpeh]

Yes, I believe water baptism in Jesus name coupled with faith really does wash away sin.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Yes, I believe water baptism in Jesus name coupled with faith really does wash away sin.

Simple isn't it!

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Ron

Simple isn't it!

Yes, it's a circumcision of the heart removing the body the sins of the flesh. col 2:9, rom 6:6

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Yes, I believe water baptism in Jesus name coupled with faith really does wash away sin.

Here's a post written by an OP from another forum on faith, grace, and remission of sins at baptism:

In Luke's version of the Great Commission, Jesus said:

"46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Lk 24:46-49)

So, what happened after they tarried in Jerusalem and received this power? Peter and the others got up and did exactly what Jesus commanded them to do: preach repentance and remission of sins in His name:

"37 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?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Ac 2:37-38)

Do you see how Peter was specifically obedient to Jesus' commandment in Luke 24?

Repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost does not negate faith, it confirms it. James said:

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (Jas 2:19)

Now, what is the difference? The devils have not God's Grace imparted to them. And how is it imparted? Through the means of Grace. Yes, baptism may be an outward, public witness, but this is secondary and incidental to what God intends for it to be. As Paul said:

"3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Ro 6:3-6)

How is our old man crucified? By being "planted together in the likeness of his death". And how is this accomplished? By being "buried with him by baptism into death".

None of these things negate faith, but faith establishes them. Otherwise, if we have no faith, baptism does nothing for us. But if we have faith, then God's Grace is imparted to us in baptism.

Why do we not baptize infants? Because we teach they have not yet expressed and confessed faith in Jesus Christ. Do you see how that faith must be coupled with baptism? The same is true for all those who have professed faith and repented of their sins. Those sins are then remitted in baptism, just as Jesus commanded, and just as Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost.