How can I not know Baptist doctrine on baptism when you just agreed on what I just said? Whatever. What YOU don't know is CHRISTIAN doctrine. That from the example of Christ, to the Great Commission, to Acts 2:38 when the church began, to the teachings of Peter, Paul and the Apostles and well, just EVERYWHERE in the Bible, we see the COMMAND to be baptized unto salvation.
Sorry, but your "Billy Graham" doctrine against baptism is wrong.
We become Christians when we repent and believe, and JESUS baptizes us in the Holy Spirit:
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
Water baptism also plays a role in salvation, but salvation has two parts: justification and sanctification. Water baptism does NOT justify us, but it does play a role in sanctification: separating us from the evil world around us.
Peter wrote:
“when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Water baptism corresponds to the Flood. The Flood did not save Noah’s life or give him life. It did, however, separate him from the world - sanctification. Water baptism corresponds to the Flood, not to Noah’s faith.
Butting into this, let me suggest you know neither the Bible nor the doctrine of baptisms, if you are forwarding the concept of baptismal regeneration.
If that was Billy Graham’s doctrine, then that’d be one of the few things he got right. Actually, that doctrine has survived since Christ established it, and despite the establishment’s attempts to eradicate it: Sometimes through institutional violence and lately through demagoguery. Baptist was the name given the early Christians because they re-baptized people.
It’s pretty clear in the scripture that baptism is for believers. I can’t imagine anyone would miss it unless they’re interpretation is contaminated by two millennia of extra-biblical teaching.
Baptism? I don’t recall Jesus, while dying on the cross, asking the thief to his right if he had been baptized in the church. I do remember the thief confessed his sins to Jesus, repented, and accepted Jesus as the true son of GOD. And Jesus assured the thief, HE would go and prepare him a place in paradise today.
I know parents want what’s best for their infants, but I believe an infant can neither accept nor deny Jesus. But Jesus knows the little children - he knew them in the womb.
Jesus, knows our heart and I believe all that are given to him by the father will not be lost. He will find his lost sheep. When I was lost I was not seeking Jesus, but he found me. I accepted him (whether through election or free will) and have his promise of eternal life. Truly this was amazing grace.
Obviously, I believe the physical act of baptism will not save you, only the blood of Jesus Christ. There is a place in the church for baptism, but again any physical act by you or others will not save you.
Peace to all brethren.
OK. So what does "baptized unto salvation mean to you?
Most particularly, what does the preposition "unto" mean to you?
In Romans 10:10 the AV says "confession is made unto salvation" in which no mention of baptism is made.
So which is it that imparts salvation, water baptism or confession? Or is it faith alone?