Baptism is very important; no one who takes the Bible seriously can dispute it.
Not even Jesus Christ, who was baptised to fulfill all righteousness. Matthew 3: 13-17
But:
1. Is it necessary to be saved?
Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2. Does it actually wash sins away?
Acts 22:16. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 2:37. 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?
38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
3. Is true faith needed for one to want baptism so it saves them?
Acts 2:37. 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?.......
Acts 2:41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.......
Acts 2:47. ......Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
No to all three. It is not necessary because Christ took care of that.
Christ thinks it is necessary.
It also doesn't wash sins away because it is a work opposite of faith.
Baptism is not of the law given to Moses, therefore not a work
Faith brings us to baptism.
Acts 8:26. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31. And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36. And as they went on their way,
they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37. And Philip said,
If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Finally, Faith does not make one get baptised to get saved (it will never save anyways). Lets say a believer does not want to get baptised, is he really a believer? Like the statement, "Saved Will Work to be saved," no. Believing that he's sins are washed away when baptised defeats the purpose of Christ's work on the Cross - never did believe Christ can.
Romans 6:1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Ps. Since I have school, I need to be stern - No flood! I answer verses one-by-one - no exceptions. So don't give me a list.
agur
Have a good day.