Then, why did Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues, BEFORE being baptized? Why did Paul tell the Philippian jailer to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”? When was the thief on the cross baptized? Yet Jesus promised him he would be in Paradise that day!
The Holy Spirit was showing the Gospel was meant for the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. Paul did not tell the Phillipian jailer baptism is the first act of obedience, no one was told that in the Scripitures. Acts 2 and Acts 22 explicitly say baptism is for the remission of sins. The Church received this teaching from the Apostles and has taught it for 2,000 years. When the Roman persecution ended and the Catholic Church could meet at Nicea, it said it believed one baptism “for the forgiveness of sins” It wasn’t until the 16th century did baptism become a useless ceremony. That poor old thief on the cross, he gets pulled out every time somebody wants to attack baptismal regeneration! He died before the Church was founded on Pentecost, so NT baptism didn’t apply to him.
Can you tell me of any Christians anywhere between the years 95ad and the 16th century that believed in this two baptism theory?