Resolved the Bible teaches: Salvation follows baptism and is for the remission of sins.

Iron sharpens iron, as the Word says, and any chance to discuss doctrine can be beneficial for both parties. Also, I should note that I am copying and pasting my opponent's words and he wrote them, so I ask that I not be judged for spelling and grammar when it comes to quoting my opponent. "I don't disagree one must hear the truth and believe the same. That is what was said In (Matt. 28:19-20. ) But that is not where Jesus stops. Jesus did not stop there. Jesus said, to make believing, disciples and then baptize them. " My opponent is actually making my case here. I contended that this is the order of things to be done, as given by our Lord: to make disciples, and then baptize them. Baptism comes after making disciples (i. e. , they have believed and confessed as per Romans 10:9). "He starts here to mince words here [sic]. But it's simple to explain. Some would try and say. Yes, but what about those that believe and are not baptized…. It doesn't say they will be condemned… Oh yes it does! Baptism = faith. Those that do not believe will not be baptized to start with. The Bible does not spell out every single thing we have to do to be lost. Instead, it tells us what we have to do to be saved. If we don't obey it, we will be lost. Christ clearly warns in Mark that baptism is such an important matter that it will be criteria for judgment. " Actually, the Bible does spell out what will make us lost. The Bible clearly states certain sins that will keep us out of Heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, et al). There's also an unforgivable sin which will keep us out (Matthew 12:31). Not being baptized is never stated in Scripture that it will keep us out of Heaven. In fact, allow me to quote Romans 10:9: "…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. " There are three possibilities: either Paul, and writing under inspiration, God was lying (and obviously, this isn't true as God cannot lie), Paul was in error and this verse should be stricken from the Bible (again, he was writing under inspiration of God so he was not in error), or this verse is true. This verse clearly states if you believe in your heart and confess Jesus, you will be saved. If you are not baptized, while in disobedience, you are still saved according to this verse. And we must interpret Scripture with Scripture. Christ does not "clearly warn" that baptism is criteria for judgment, and you will not find one verse in all of Scripture that warns this. "Lets look at it this way. Question 1: who shall be saved? Answer: Those that believe and are baptized. Question2: Who will be condemned? Answer: Those that do not believe. " Right. So not being baptized will not condemn you. "Now, notice what Jesus did NOT say. He did NOT say, ‘He that believeth and is saved shall be baptized. '" No, He did not, but other verses in Scripture teach this, and all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus also did *not* teach that failure to be baptized is grounds for judgment or condemnation. "Moving along, my opponent said that his best interpretation of the Greek word eis means "because of" as it relates to Acts 2:38. (Greek eis)" I may not have been very clear here. Allow me to try again. The Greek word has many translations, one of those being "for. " However, this is the fickle thing about language; one word can have many different meanings, especially in English. The word "for" has several meanings, in fact, one of those being "because of. " An example would be: "She wept for pure relief. " In this context, and because Scriptures are quite clear that baptism does not save, neither does failure to be baptized condemn, a better rendering of the word "for" would be "because of. " We are baptized because our sins are washed away. It is not the method of washing our sins away. Repentance is how we are forgiven (1 John 1:9). Confessing our sins and asking forgiveness is how we are forgiven, not being baptized. On Galatians 3: Again, my opponent is misrepresenting the Scriptures here. The passage he quoted says nothing about baptism. We must take the Scriptures in context in order to properly interpret them. We cannot take them out of context to mean what we want them to. We "put on Christ" not by being baptized, but by being saved by repentance and confession (to become "like Christ"), and to keep ourselves grounded in the Word (the Scriptures) so that we cannot be led astray. Also, faith plays a major role in this passage, which only serves to back up what I was saying. It's by grace we are saved, *through faith,* not of works lest anyone should boast. In this passage, Paul is saying we are no more under the Law, but we are now justified by faith. "Notice: I did not misquote Roms 10:9. " Perhaps not intentionally. But here is what you said originally: "So if you have not repented of your sins, confessed Jesus, and been buried with Him in baptism. " Here is what Romans 10:9 says: ""…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. " Do you not see how you are adding baptism to the list of what we must do to be saved, which the Bible doesn't even teach? Your words sounded like Romans 10:9 with an extra step added. A step that Paul, under the inspiration of God, did not teach. On Colossians 2:12: Again, my opponent continually takes verses out of context to fit his theology. Allow me to quote Colossians 2:11, the verse immediately preceding the verse he quoted: "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. " (Colossians 2:11-12). This passage does not teach we are saved by baptism. We are saved when we forsake our sins (i. e. repent). After we are saved, we share in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection by being baptized (which is an outward expression of the event). Also, the analogy of the doctor doesn't work. Yes, my doctor is the one who operated on me and saved me, but he wouldn't have been able to heal me if I didn't go and see him first. We must first call on Christ before being baptized, and it's calling on Christ that saves us, as the Word continually attests to. "I am going to knock this faith only thing in the head, once and for all! " If my opponent is so confident his arguments will land a TKO on my position, why did he, in fact, want five rounds in which to debate? I believe I have successfully shot down my opponent's objections, and have sufficiently proven my own. On to the questions: 1) "Can you provide a Bible that translates: eis>"because of"? Actually, I expounded upon this in the body of my debate. I did not mean it should have been translated "because of," but "because of" would be a better and more accurate rendering of the word "for" in English. 2) Will anyone in heaven be allowed to enter with their sins? No. But this is irrelevant to the discussion. We both contend that sins must be forgiven, we just disagree on the method of forgiveness. 3) Can evil spirits confess and believe in Jesus? No. In fact, Hell was created for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Now for my three questions: 1) If baptism is necessary for salvation, why does Paul leave it out in Romans 10:9? 2) If baptism is necessary for salvation, why is it not listed as a sin that will keep us out of Heaven, or as an unpardonable sin? 3) Other denominations contend there are other works which we must add to our salvation (e. g. Communion). Do you also believe these are necessary for salvation? I look forward to my opponent's response.