The Bible Teaches That Water Baptism Is Necessary For Salvation

My opponent pointed out that, "In the Bible, baptism is compared to circumcision (Colossians 2) [...]" Which is exactly what I have been saying. I would think we both agree that circumcision is not required for salvation (made clear in the book of Acts) and I believe the scriptures teach very clearly what is needed for salvation and baptism does not seem to be in that description based on scripture. My opponent has also said, "Furthermore, instead of using the Scriptures why does my opponent quote multiple references from CARM.org?" I did post scriptures, most notably the book of first Corinthians. However, I also used Carm.org, bible commentaries, and systematic theology to help the readers and voters gain a better understanding of the context as well as the grammar used in the verses that you have pulled out. As theologians say, "Text without context is just pretext." "Was Paul saying that baptism is not important? Certainly not. Remember it was Paul who said that we put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:27).[...]" I agree whole heartily with this quote. I do think baptism is extremely important, just not necessary for salvation. I already pointed out that the terms such as: "put on Christ in baptism" and "baptized into Christ" simply means a strong correlation to. The same kinds of terms are ascribed to Abraham as I pointed out in the last round. My opponent seems to think that 1 Cor 12:13 (For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body "whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free" and we were all given the one Spirit to drink) shows that all took part in water baptism. However, that is simply not the case. "Here, Paul does not have in mind water baptism as much as Spirit baptism: 'For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body'. Paul here is writing of the common 'immersion' all believers have in the Holy Spirit and in Jesus, a common 'immersion' which brings them into 'one body'". [1] My opponent still holds that Mark 16:16 somehow implies in the second half of the sentence that baptism is necessary, however that is simply not the case. "In no way does this verse establish baptism as a condition for salvation; it is merely the declaration that those who believe and are baptized are saved. Any act of obedience to the Lord could be added after the expression 'whoever believes' and it would remain a true statement, because salvation is the result of faith in Christ. It should be noted that when the Lord added, 'but whoever does not believe will be condemned,' there is no mention of baptism. In identifying what would bring about condemnation, Jesus did not say that 'whoever believes but is not baptized shall not be save.' If baptism were necessary for salvation, there are many significant verses which should be amended to read 'you are saved through faith and baptism.' It is clear that faith in Jesus Christ is what saves a person (Acts 16:30-31; Eph. 2:8-9). Baptism is a distinct act of obedience, apart from salvation. This is clarified by the order in which the words 'believe' and 'baptize' occur in the text (cf. Acts 2:38; 10:44-48). Baptism with the Spirit places believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), while water baptism merely signifies to others that a person has professed Christ. The word 'saved' is translated from the Greek word 'sesosmenoi', which is a perfect passive participle. It means that this salvation took place at some point in the past, being accomplished by Jesus Christ Himself, and is continuing on in the present." [2] Acts 2:38 Let's look at the context. The people had just asked Paul what they should do. In that time it was not common for Jews to be baptized, only Gentiles who wanted to become Jews. "For these Jewish men and women to be baptized showed just how strongly they felt they needed Jesus." Acts 22:16 "Furthermore once again i will post this question to my opponent: If Saul(Paul) was saved when he was at the Damascus road, then, why did Ananias told Paul to "wash away thy sins" if his sins were already gone?" The verse actually says, "'[...]Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'" The washing away of sins was not in reference to being baptized, rather the calling on the name of the Lord. I apologize for not addressing 1 Peter 3:21. I only had 7 characters left. This verse states "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also" not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" [4] "Peter was careful to point out that it isn't the actual water washing of baptism that saves us, but the spiritual reality behind the immersion in water. What really saves us is the answer of a 'good conscience toward God', a conscience made good through the completed work of Jesus." [5] Romans, Colossians, Galatians: "Is baptism a symbol? Yes. But is baptism a symbol of our already having been saved? NO! A thousand times, no.[...]" This was just be beginning of a list of bare assertions. It is essentially 3 dropped points as he says, "The context does not support that view at all." But does not give evidence to back up this claim. "Furthermore, if baptism is necessary for salvation then anyone who receives Christ on his deathbed in a hospital and who also believes Jesus is God in the flesh, who died and rose from the dead for his sins, etc., would go to hell if he doesn't get baptized before he died. This would mean that we were not justified by faith because if we were, then the person would be saved. Also, if baptism is necessary for salvation, then all babies who die go to hell since they weren't baptized. Remember, when someone says that baptism is necessary, there can be no exceptions -- otherwise it isn't necessary." [6] For those of you that have either seen my other debates or have talked with me, you know I'm a pretty simple guy. I try not to make things too complicated. I tend to just look at the scriptures and say, "I think it actually means what it says." I believe Paul states very clearly that the gospel saves us, "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." Paul then goes to tell us what the gospel is, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." I think Paul gives us a very clear description of what the gospel is. It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the atonement of sins. While baptism is necessary for obedience, it is not necessary for salvation which Paul and Jesus made clear through the holy scriptures. Thank you. [1] http://www.enduringword.com... [2] Spiros Zodhiates, editor, The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1996), note for Mark 16:16. [3] http://www.enduringword.com... [4] http://www.biblegateway.com... [5] http://www.enduringword.com... [6] http://carm.org...