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Well, there is no talking to you.

A work - good grief.

Again, those that would deny a simple instruction like be baptised for the remission of sins before accepting the most important gift in the world are a little too "stiff necked", hard-headed or trying to find loopholes IMHO.

What if the people all through biblical history after being told by God to do something, had merely said "He did not mean it, it was code for doing only this". What if Moses had only done a part of what he was told, saying the other part is not what we normally think it is - it means _______.

Would it have been "work" to pray? Would it have been "work" to serve Jesus through your days on earth? Was it "work" to tell Jesus I accept you as my Saviour and want to serve you all my days?" If baptism is a "work", so would be uttering the words accepting Jesus.

Would it have been "work" to go to church weekly? And just why would God even need Christians that are afraid of "working" because it means Jesus salvation was just not good enough?

A "work" to be baptised. Gee, God is really out of line to require absolutely anything from man to be saved isn't He?

Maybe Jesus should have told God, "You are powerful enough to save the world without me having to do the 'work' of dying a horrible death on the cross".

I know you mean well and you are a good person, but, gee, baptism is a simple request and it does show that you have faith to follow the instructions given by God.

Also, go back to the Old Testament and notice how God gave specific instructions on how animals were to be sacrificed before being acceptable to Him, notice how specific instructions were provided on who could enter the most holy places of the temple and how they were instructed on handling the sacrifices.

Was all of that unnecessary to please God? Was it a lack of faith that they followed the instructions? Or did it prove their faith?

And, one other point. The purpose of Jesus was the one time sacrifice to cover the sins of man as opposed to the continual animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. Man following each and every law he could, was never pure enough and would fall on one broken law. God owned all the animals of the world, the animal offerings to pay for their sins were really nothing other than showing their contriteness and willingness to appease God.

With God's history of requiring purity, wouldn't you think God would tell those accepting salvation to cleanse themselves of their sins as they accept Jesus as their Saviour? They are buried with Christ in the baptismal water and arise a new person, free from sin, and saved by the blood of Jesus who will intercede for them with God the remaining days of their lives. And what better one to intercede for weak man than Jesus?

I don't know enough of the Bible to be any good at proving doctrine - so this is just a discussion from one person learning to another person seeking God's direction. These are just my views from where I stand and the knowledge I have at this time.

Nice to discuss with you. I have many baptist relatives and I have never had this discussion with them as I do not wish to get into a confrontation. It is nice to be able to discuss the different views of religion without bringing family and hurt feelings into it.

May God help each of us find the way to heaven and to serve Him as He would wish.