The New Testament teaches that the penitent believer must be baptized for the remission of sins.

I appreciate my opponent's quick response. My opponent has not really read my arguments and the links I provided clearly and therefore he asked:"what is grace, if one must work for it?". Indeed, we are saved by grace. But just what is ‘grace’? The Oxford American Dictionary defines grace as: God’s loving mercy toward mankind. Other words that may be found in a thesaurus as synonyms for “grace” include: mercy, favor, kindness, blessing, and compassion. And it is because of God’s mercy, His favor, His kindness, His blessing and His compassion that He has provided mankind with a salvation plan! We are saved by God’s mercy. We do not deserve the blessings God has given us. Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Baptism in no way minimizes or nullifies God’s grace as some critics argue that baptism does. They make this argument because they do not understand the role baptism plays in God’s salvation plan. Baptism confirms and verifies God’s grace to us! God’s grace is manifested inbaptism! And after we are baptized, His grace continues to cover us. Notice this passage says: God made us alive in Christ when we were dead—and this is God’s grace. God raised us up with Christ God expresses His grace to mankind by giving us Christ Jesus God’s grace is through faith. When did God make us alive when we were dead, and raise us up with Christ? What is Paul talking about? Romans 6:3-5 describes just such a scenario-- when we were dead in sin and God raised us up with Christ: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we toomight walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). And when we had sinned and were dead, and had received only what we deserved, God in His mercy and grace provided a way for us to be saved—He provided His Son, Jesus Christ. And without Jesus, baptism is meaningless. Baptism, coupled with faith, is the means by which we become unified with Christ. Baptism is how we are “put into” Christ. It is by God’s grace that He has given us a salvation plan—and this salvation plan, though His Son, Jesus Christ, includes faith,repentance and baptism. We should be grateful and thankful beyond measure that God has provided a salvation plan for us who deserve nothing but death. We are saved by God. We are saved by grace. We are saved by faith. We are saved by baptism (1Peter 3:21). We are saved by all of these combined because in baptism God’s grace is manifested through our faith. In baptism, God’s salvation plan to mankind—which is purely a gift by His grace-- becomes a reality.[1] Rebuttals round two: Mark 16:15-16 Regarding Baptism as a social display of acceptance to Christ, what I meant was baptism is not anoutward show it is an inward reality meaning you are baptized for the remission of sins notbecause of remission of sins. Later, my opponent said that I was contradicting myself saying “Continuing, my opponent made the following comment: "There is not one passage in all the New Testament which makes baptism symbolize our salvation from sin.””. Do not be fooled by this smokescreen. Notice what I really said: “My opponent claims that baptism is just “a symbol that we have already been saved.”Is baptism a symbol? Yes. But is baptism a symbol of our already having been saved? NO! A thousand times, no. There is not one passage in all the New Testament which makes baptism symbolize our salvation from sin….” Furthermore, my opponent said that I stated that “ it takes more than faith to achieve grace, henceforth, achieve salvation.” I will ask you, what does Mark 16:16 mean when it said: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” Does this mean believe only or faith only. No it doesn’t! Why do you keep asking these foolish questions when scriptural evidence is seen by your eyes? And my opponent tirelessly uses Eph. 2:8 which I already stated that it does not refute my proposition. And he uses Gal 3:26 as a proof of his faith alone doctrine. Well, let’s see what context says: Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. Again my opponent misuses the scripture and twists the scripture to his own destruction (II Pet. 3:16). Yes, we are sons of God through faith, through baptism! My opponent wants me to elaborate more why his verses became my proof text, unfortunately I can’t put this in the debate because of the character limit. Just click the link. John 3:16 [1] Tit. 3:5 [2] Acts 2:38 I don't know about my opponent here but he is bringing the debate to another topic. I did not say anything about Holy Spirit baptism or something like that. Now, i want to challenge my opponent to refute my opposition starting from my verses provided. You are Con right? So, what part in Acts 2:38 that don’t prove that baptism washes away sins. Let's show what context says: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." I think that’s pretty clear that baptism is essential to salvation! Acts 22:16 I have one question for my opponent. Where did he get the doctrine of spiritual baptism and social baptism? There are no verses that support you erroneous claim. And you also contradict Eph. 4:5 which say of only one baptism and that baptism is for the remission of sins. My opponent is trying to put a smokescreen to what really Acts 22:16 mean! Can you please get back to pure biblical doctrine and stop trying to make assertions just to protect your doctrine! The thief on the cross My opponent is not really refuting my argument here. He just puts comments here that seem to prove his position. For you see he’s trying to struggle with my arguments here and therefore he twists the argument. And my opponent has misinterpreted what I said in Christ’s authority to forgive sins here on earth. My point was when CHRIST WAS STILL HERE IN EARTH! No one denies that Christ can still forgive sins whether he will be on heaven on earth. Once again my opponent brought the topic of prayer. I’m not going to respond to this anymore. I already showed my contention in my first affirmative and you have barely responded to it. I Pet. 3:21 “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” My opponent said that he has refuted this issue but he has not really addressed the issue here. He’s been circling around just to lost me in his erroneous argument. Col. 2:12 My opponent again makes attempts to twist this verse. Clearly observe what this bible verse says: “having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” By faith baptism done and through it in the working of God.Due to the charactercter limit I can't post arguments in Romans 6:3-4 and Gal 3:26-27. I will post my arguments in the third round [1]http://www.bebaptized.org...[2] http://bebaptized.org... Onto Con