“REALLY????
please show me one verse in the Bible that says baptism is a first act of obedience?”
——————————————————————————————I got the idea from right here:
Rom 4:3-13 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (9) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
If God really agreed with you, there would be many people in hell who converted before death but were not baptized. The scripture cannot be contradicted. Baptism is a seal of that faith, like circumcision, a sign of that submission to the precepts established by Christ and the Apostles.
And here is further proof:
Act 10:40-48 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; (41) Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. (42) And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
The Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and the other listeners as Paul preached to them the Gospel. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.... before Baptism, which you say, is for the remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.
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there’s a reason no one believed this 16th century tradition of men before the 16th century, it’s not Biblical.
John the Baptist lived long before that, and there is no where in scripture where it says “be baptized and repent.” It says “repent and be baptized.”
Act 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
All those people who converted that day are in hell, then, since Peter did not tell them they had to be baptized by him or some other Apostle/Priest as part of the salvation formula. He said “repent and be converted” for the remission of your sins. Sounds like baptism is, again, a seal of that faith like circumcision was to the faith of the Jews, but not the key to salvation.
Oops, I said Paul, but meant Peter in the Acts 10 reference.
thanks for confirming that no one was ever told to be baptized as a first act of obedience.
Paul was told to rise, be baptized and wash away his sins.