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Baptism isn't a way to "earn salvation" or "deserve forgiveness". It is the way Jesus set in place for us to receive the gift He wants to give us.

Except that Paul says in Ephesians that it's by grace through faith in Christ.

No mention of baptism there.

Paul also states that God did not send him to baptize but to preach the gospel. If salvation does not come except through baptism, then was Paul preaching an incompletely message?

Or was he preaching the gospel at all?

Why would he be remiss and mislead people about salvation by not including it if it was so necessary?

"Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" - 1 Cor. 1:13-17

The gospel Paul taught is clear, since the people who believed it were baptized. Though his mission was preaching, yet he still baptized several of the Corinthians himself.

Is there something wrong with a preacher baptizing those who wish to obey that gospel instruction? John the Baptist preached and baptized both. I don't see where the confusion is.

The problem in Corinth was that the disciples were clinging to men rather than to Christ. Some were even saying, "I am of Paul." Paul demolishes that idea with two rhetorical questions, illustrating the two conditions that must exist for a person to be "of" someone:

1. Was Paul crucified for you?
2. Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

If anyone could answer "Yes", then he could say "I am of Paul". Otherwise, he couldn't. (Is it any wonder Paul was glad he didn't baptize more of them? "lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name")

Well what about being "of Christ"?

1. Was Christ crucified for you?
2. Were you baptized into the name of Christ?

If the answers are "Yes", then one is "of Christ". If "No", then one is not.

Paul preached the gospel. (That answered "Yes" to question 1.) The Corinthians believed it and were baptized into the name of Christ. They could answer "Yes" to question 2, and were therefore "of Christ".

Can you answer "Yes" to these two questions, and therefore say "I am of Christ"?

**No mention of baptism there.**

Paul didn’t have to. They had already been born again:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the SAINTS which are at EPHESUS, and to the FAITHFUL in Christ Jesus”. Eph. 1:1

A few years before, Paul showed up at Ephesus, and baptized twelve disciples pronto, the name of the Lord Jesus.

I encourage you to read and evaluate post #276.