So was Jesus only partly right in what He said in John 3:16? Repentance is part of the believing. Baptism is the outward expression of an inward conversion. Like a wedding band is an outward expression of a marriage relationship.

Having a different opinion of doctrine is totally different than believing the everyone else is going to hell except the ones who are a member of my denomination.

According to my Bible if you truly believe in the finished work of Christ on the Cross of Calvary and His susbequent resurection to life, so much so that you've comitted your life to following Him (turned from your way of life and turned to Christ's way), then you are a child of God. The evidence that you've truly accepted Christ's offer of salvation and have committed your life to Him, is that you will strive to live a life of obedience to Him and His Word (your will be convicted more than ever by sin). This first act of obedience after salvation should be following Christ example in baptism. Those who say they believe in God but still live a life that looks much like the rest of the world are not giving evidence that they are truly a child of God. As a side note saying that we are not supposed to judge is based on a misunderstanding of the totallity of scripture. The Bible tells us how we are suppposed to judge (without hypocrisy). We can't help our brother take the splinter (that we wouldn't be able to acknolwedge without judgment)out of his eye, unless we take the log out of our own eye first. Our judgement of our brothers in Christ should be for the purpose of restoration.

So was Jesus wrong when HE said "he that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved"

There are more scriptures that speak of believing in Christ for salvation without any mention of baptism than there are verses like the one mentioned in another post about believing and baptism for salvation. So you have to ask the natural question, if baptism is a requirement for salvation why isn't it always equated with salvation? First let me say that I believe the Bible is never in contradition with itself, it's our misunderstanding that causes the controversy. That being said, I believe that the first act of obedience to Christ that all New Testament believers did, was to follow Chirst in baptism. So scriptures that speak of believing and baptism in regards to salvation are not in contrast with the passages that don't mention baptism, becuase those verses assume that everyone who has believed in Christ for salvation will be obedient to follow Him in baptism.

I guess since the Apostle Paul was not of the origanal 12 we can just throw away Romans 10. and particularly verse 13.

Brethren, my heart�s desire and prayer to God for Israel[a] is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God�s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, �The man who does those things shall live by them.�[b] 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, �Do not say in your heart, �Who will ascend into heaven?��[c] (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, ��Who will descend into the abyss?��[d] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? �The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart�[e] (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, �Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.�[f] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13. For �whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.�

wait!! Who's right Peter, Paul or the Prophet Joel?

Acts 2:21

"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved"

Oh yeah I forgot that we must "Repent" there is something besides believeing, even Jesus preached it.

Repent=metanoe�: to change one's mind or purpose.

Could it be? all one must do is like Jesus said Himself? Repent(change your mind) and believe the Gospel (the good news)

Well what is the good news? that He is the Christ, the anointed one, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

I've heard no one leaving out the rest. The "rest" doesn't include works to get into heaven. The works are proof of your salvation because of the Holy Spirit living inside of you compels you to do those acts, out of LOVE. You couldn't keep it from happening to someone who truly surrendered their lives to Jesus if you tried.

Also, the "rest" isn't me going to the Church of Christ. It isn't baptism , though that is an important step of obedience and an outward expression to the world of what God did on the inside. By the way , it's not once saved always saved. It's IF saved always saved. There is such a thing as deception. When one surrenders to Christ, they surrender completely. then the Holy Spirit does the rest. Not ourselves...That's another thing I can't agree with about the Church of Christ denomination. They discount nearly all the works of the Holy Spirit. When in fact when it's the Holy Spirit that does "the rest".....

Here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Then Peter said repent and be baptized.

They that gladly received the word were baptized.

And on and on and on.

Unfortunately for many you speak the truth.

Jesus said to the thief on the cross, "today you will be with me in paradise." The thief was was never baptized.
What about death bed confessions and they die without being baptized?
Having to be baptized to be saved and go to heaven doesn't hold water with me. Sorry.
Jesus said come to me as a small child. Some times we try and make things more complicated than what they should be.

Ok there are scriptures that do say you must believe. But there are also scriptures that say you must repent. There are scriptures that also says you must be baptized. Dont take chances when eternity is at stake.
The scripture references the flood and noah and his family being saved by water wherein the likeness of Baptism now doth save us.
Jesus saying he thay believeth AND is baptized shall be saved
Peter when asked what MUST we do to be saved replied "Repent and be Baptized"
Nicodemus asked about being saved. He was told unless you are born of the spirit and WATER you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Paul was not saved on the road to damascus as some believe. He was told to go to Damascus and he would be told what he MUST do. He was told when he arrived "arise and be baptized and wash away your sins" he believed in jesus when he was confronted by him on the road. So if belief was all that was necessary he would have had no sins to wash away.
Now after stating all of this
baptism is useless unless you believe. It is useless if you dont repent. But Baptism after belief and repentance completes the process of being saved that Gods word (not mans word)plainly states.
So back to the original question Geezer asked,if you are truely saved( the way the Bible teaches) you are automatically added to Christs church. The church is not a building it is the body of Christ composed of those that have been saved .

And many more other places in scripture where repentance and belief were the only things called for. He was speaking to those particular people...

Acts 10 / 47 tells a very different tale though...The gentiles (us) heard the word of God and were saved... They had already received the Holy Spirit of God....THEN were given the command to be baptized..

"Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit JUST AS WE HAVE".....

Real direct scripture clearly explaining that these people were saved BEFORE THEY WERE BAPTIZED......

When Jesus ministry began He said this in Mark 1 vs. 14-15 "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying 'The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel"...

There are many more Romans 10 vs. 9-10. Eph. 2 1-10. etc. I know it doesn't matter because the COC will only stick to their guns on a few verses of scripture and claim they "have a more literal interpretation of the bible"....

Jesus had not died yet. The old covenant was still in effect until his death. Jesus had the authority to raise the dead,heal and even forgive sins.

Baptism is part of the sanctification process, not the salvation process.

300 gr. explain Acts 10 /47.

That is correct

Tensaw , explain Acts 10 / 47 for me.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The only blood that was shed for the theif on the cross was the blood of Christ. It was blood of Jesus and his faith in Him as the Christ that allowed the thief to fellowship with Christ after death.

Bottom line when it comes to baptism is this. If we are all obedient to Christ and follow His example, we are going to be baptised anyway. So the only way this matters to those of us who have truly put our faith and trust in Christ, is if you get ran over before you get baptised after putting your faith and trust Christ. And if that happens, I will see you in heavan and we can continue the discussion there.

Thank God His grace is not conditional. Grace is not dependent on obedience. Obedience is the result of faith.

not sure of what your looking for but I think it pretty much means what it says. I certainly couldn't sit here and in one little post solve this whole "Salvation by Baptism" issue. If I could then I'm sure the COC and many others would have to tear their churches down, lol! This debate is an age old one and one that I am afraid that will never be resolved this side of Glory. It really boils down to what one is been taught and is willing to believe. I personally do not believe that the whole of scripture in all of its proper context is teaching that Salvation comes through a formula of "any sorts" whether that be Baptism by water, the name Jesus only, the trinity, speaking in Tongues and so forth. Having said that I do believe that Baptism by water is a Christian right and that is what Peter was reffereing, "Can any man forbid". Since the Gentile believers had evidently received the Holy Spirit such as they had then the Jews nor anyone could not claim that they were not saved so they had that rite to be Baptized and show their conversion/faith in the finished work of Christ.

I could say more but hope that helps ya. If you want more just say so and I'll try to write a little more.

I might add that Acts depicts the very early beginnings of the church and not everyone including the Apostles had it all down yet. It took many years to learn, Remember that Paul had to with stand Peter to his face on one occasion because yes the Great Peter had messed some things up. Not everyone understood even the Apostles all of what the "Finished work" entailed or what the Grace and free favor of God really meant at the start of the early church. Also remember it was Paul that the mystery of the ages was revealed to. That was the famous "Christ in us the hope of Glory" scriptuer that Paul used.

Read up on some Hebrews. It explains how Christ was the atoning sacrifice for all sins, past, present, and future. So the argument about the thief being "under the old covenant" doesn't wash. Jesus was the covenant all along. From Genesis to Exodus.