You Must be Baptized!

Many people today will tell you there is no need for baptism! 

That we are not saved by works! 

All you must do is believe! 

Well, there are more than enough Scriptures to disprove this false teaching, and that's what I intend to do in letting the Scriptures speak. I will start by explaining to you that even in what is called the Old Testament, the people of Israel, YHWH's people, were immersed! 

In 1 Peter 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of Elohim waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. V.21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now also save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward Elohim) by the resurrection of Yahushua Messiah." you see, even by water which saved the eight, water even now saves us!  Also I will remind you of the miracle at the Red Sea. All of Israel passed through the water, and in turn, it was the water that saved them! 

Acts 2:37-38 "Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? 

v.38 Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Yahushua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  

See? According to Matthew 16:17-19, Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom, and after the death, burial, and resurrection of Yahushua, at the feast of Pentecost, Peter delivered the keys to them. It was the beginning of a new dispensation, the dispensation called 'grace'. Does this mean that we may sin? YHWH forbid!

Let's continue. John chapter 3 verses 3 through 7 explains to us that one must be born of water and the spirit...

John 3:3-7 "Yahushua answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim. 

4. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb, and be born? 

5. Yahushua answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born of water and of the spirit he can not enter the kingdom of Elohim. 

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 

7. Marvel not that I say unto you, ye must be born again."      

It is very clear here that Yahushua was speaking of salvation (entering or even seeing the kingdom) and that the only possible way was to be "born of water and spirit".  

Sounds like Acts 2:38, huh? "Repent and be baptized....in the name of Yahushua for remission of sins....and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 2:38)

Sounds like the very words Yahushua spoke to Nicodemus. 

It also reminds me that Peter, who spoke to those about their salvation in acts chapter 2, was given the keys to the kingdom by Yahushua himself! 

Let's go on!  

John in the same chapter (3)  

v.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: v.15 Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

v.16 For Elohim so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

v.17 For Elohim sent not his son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved. 

v.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of Elohim!"  

What? You also have to believe in the name of Yahushua?

Previously in the same chapter Yahushua was telling Nicodemus that in order to even see the kingdom of Elohim you had to be born of the water and the Spirit. We just read where Yahushua said just believe in him and his name. What could this mean? 

Let's read another quote from Yahushua in Mark 16:15-16 "And he (Yahushua) said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel (the good news) to every creature. 

v.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."    

Yahushua sums the matter up right here..."he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"! 

Baptism alone will not save you!   Yahushua clearly states, he that believeth not shall be damned...it takes both. 

At the Feast of Pentecost there were 3,000 people added to the Assembly. The Scripture says that they who gladly received the word were baptized (Acts 2:41) .

Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of Elohim, and the name of Yahushua Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women. v. 13 then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..."        

Philip is preaching what? The kingdom of Elohim and the name of Yahushua Messiah? And the response of the people was.... baptism? Why didn't they just believe in the Messiah? Because of the word preached by Yahushua and his followers. "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved!" 

Another passage... in Acts 10:44 the uncircumcised receive the Spirit prior to baptism. Why? Yahweh revealed to the circumcised that the uncircumcised could receive salvation! After receiving the Spirit, they were commanded (Acts 10:48) to be baptized in the name of Messiah! They completed the steps to salvation! 

Romans 6:3,7 "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Yahushua Messiah were baptized into his death? 

v.7 For he that is dead is freed from sin."

Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah."

Colossians 2:12-13 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the operation of Elohim, who hath raised him from the dead. 

v.13 And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses;"

Then, in Acts chapter 19, we read of people being re-baptized! Why? Because it was John's baptism of repentance, they had not been immersed in the name of Yahushua!

Acts 19:3-5 "And he said unto them, unto what then were you baptized? And they said unto John's baptism, 

v.4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Yahushua. 

v.5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of Yahushua Messiah."

Paul repeated the matter to them, John preached saying to believe on him who comes after me! When they heard this they were re-baptized in the name of Yahushua! If they only had to believe, why then were they baptized again?

I pray you consider this matter of baptism...in Yahushua's name!

"And why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins calling on the name of Messiah." Acts 22:16