John 3: 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God......John 9: 35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?" he asked in return. 37 Jesus answered, "You have both seen Him and He is the One speaking with you." 38 "I believe, Lord!" he said, and he worshiped Him.
As you can see, salvation through faith in Jesus was ALREADY occurring prior to the crucifixion. In fact, that is what happened at the cross with the believing thief.
As far as baptism is concerned, there is no greater indication that baptism in Jesus' name was ALREADY occurring, and John the Baptist testifies that AT THAT TIME his baptism was a lesser baptism than that of Jesus.
22 After this Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. And people were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then a dispute arose between John's disciples and a Jew about purification. 26 So they came to John and told him, "Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing--and everyone is flocking to Him." 27 John responded, "No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of Him.' 29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease." 31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. 34 For He whom God sent speaks God's words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
There is no sign that Jesus disciples ever again had to be water baptized, but there is clear sign in the book of Acts that John's disciples had to be re-baptized.
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they told him, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 "Then with what baptism were you baptized?" he asked them. "With John's baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
John's ministry was the LAST of the preceding era.
Jesus' ministry began the preaching of and the initiation of the new covenant.
Upon reading your words, and the words of Zuriel which exlicted them, I'm having some difficulty understanding the matter under discussion. If it is of baptism as necessary for salvation, I can share Luther's position, which is that it was not the absense of baptism that condemns, but the absense of faith. Said another way, the lack of baptism does not condemn, but the despising of the same does.
responding to post #79.
To believe in Jesus Christ, one must hear (faith by hearing) from preacher(s) sent from God. And believing on Jesus is not just that he died for you and me (and that's ALOT!) but that his words (including commands) are inseparable from him.
Jesus went forth preaching the gospel. Matthew 5 is as good a place as any to start(the beatitudes), and keeps on preaching "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them..."chap. 7:24. Then he tells the leper he has just cleansed in Chap 8:4 "...to shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
Jesus came to fulfill to law. Which was not until the death of the testator (Heb 9:16,17).
Jesus told Peter "...when thou art converted, strengthen the brethern" Luke 22:32.
It is obvious that Jesus properly prepared his disciples ( and prayed for them; John 17) to "teach all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Matt. 28:19,20.
John 7:38,39 is where Jesus prophesied of what was going to happen to people "that believeth on me as the scripture hath said...". That was initiated in Acts 2.
The very first sermon about salvation in Jesus Christ came in Acts 2. That day was the "beginning" Peter referred to when giving acount to the elders in Jerusalem after the gentiles had also received the Holy Ghost. Acts 11.
As far as others that talk of eternal security, I suggest they remove the parable of the ten virgins from their Bible, as well as the little word "if" in countless places.
God is eternally secure, man sometimes rejects the gift after it has been given.
"...few there be that find it." Matt 7:14 sounds like a serious minority IMHO.