Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

Is Water Baptism Required for Salvation?

by HOIM Staff

BAPTISMAL REGENERATION is the unbiblical teaching that a person of Israel MUST be water baptized in order to receive eternal life. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible is abundantly clear that Baptism is only an ordinance, to be observed by each individual believer AFTER being called by YEHOVAH God, as a public profession of one's faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Baptism is symbolic of the Messiahs death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5); and is our public profession of faith.

1 Peter 1:18-19: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

So wrote the apostle Peter to the early Christians. He, as all the other apostles, believed that we are redeemed, cleansed, forgiven, in the blood of the Messiah. Yet, there are many today who would replace the blood of the Messiah with the water of a baptistery. They teach that we are regenerated, made alive, cleansed, by water baptism.

Some insist that it must be baptism by immersion; others say that sprinkling accomplishes the same thing. In either case, the work of Yeshua the Messiah on the tree cannot be said to be finished and efficacious until man does something -- in this case, adds his work of baptism to the work of YEHOVAH God in the Messiah. Baptism is said to be the means of salvation, the method by which the Messiah’s work at Golgotha is taken from the merely theoretical to the actual.

Baptism is NOT a sacrament, i.e., there is no mystical power (efficacy) by being dunked in water. No grace is bestowed. Apart from water baptism's spiritual meaning, you are only getting wet. Being baptized doesn't make someone a believer, anymore than walking into a garage makes someone an automobile. As mentioned, water baptism is symbolic of the Messiah's death, burial, and resurrection, and the passing of Israel through the Red Sea (Romans 6:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2). We should take note that the Israelites passed through the Red Sea without getting a drop of water on them, yet Paul stated that "all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Water, evidently, had no part in the Old Testament baptism!

In water baptism, we are identifying ourselves with our Savior, signifying that we have already believed on him. Nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever baptized until AFTER they were called by YEHOVAH God. The Israelites were not "baptized" until they were called out of Egypt by YEHOVAH God.

It is not our intention to engage in a lengthy discussion of the topic of baptismal regeneration in this article. Such would require far more space than we have available at this time! Instead, we wish to point out a basic, foundational error of the position taken by such groups as the Church of Christ, the Mormon Church, and many of the Churches of God -- all have some doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Then, we will briefly respond to a couple of the more often used proof-texts provided by proponents of baptismal regeneration.

We realize that there is a whole area of discussion that we are leaving to the side by taking this approach, that being the sacramental concept of regeneration in infant baptism. This view is found in Roman Catholicism (indeed, baptism is the original means of justification in Roman theology) and in various of the sacramentally-oriented Protestant churches.

The apostle John tells us exactly why he wrote the Epistle of 1 John:

1 John 5:13: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

John states that the sole purpose of his epistle is to teach us how to KNOW that we of Israel are saved. Carefully notice that John NEVER mentions the word “baptism,” not even once. That speaks volumes!

John doesn't mention "speaking-in-tongues" either, solid proof that Charismatics who require tongues as initial evidence of salvation are also wrong.

Baptismal Regeneration is a lie of Satan the Devil. Romans 4:5 plainly states:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

How much clearer could the Bible be? A person's faith in the Messiah is COUNTED for righteousness. Salvation is of YEHOVAH God, and not men. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and not our own self-righteousness..."but to him that worketh not."

In view of such plain Scriptural teachings, how could anyone teach or believe that water baptism is required to be forgiven of one's sins? It is utter heresy! Many people ask us about Acts 2:38. Others ask us about 1 Peter 3:21. Please read on.

The Biblical Teaching of Sin

Underlying the idea that man, by an action such as baptism, can bring about his own regeneration, is the rejection of the Biblical teaching of sin, and most especially, the truth that sin enslaves man, debilitates man, brings spiritual death to man. The Messiah spoke clearly of this truth:

John 8:31-34: "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'”

Man in sin must be freed from slavery to sin. He cannot free himself, but must be freed by the Messiah himself. This is an offensive truth to the unregenerate man, as the response from these would-be self-made disciples indicates (8:41, 48). Men do not like to hear that they are, in fact, totally dependent upon YEHOVAH’s grace for salvation -- they do not want to know that they are incapable of saving themselves, or even of coming unto the Messiah for salvation, outside of YEHOVAH God’s gracious calling (John 6:44). But as the Messiah himself said, we of Israel are slaves to sin. Slaves must be freed.

The apostle Paul describes the lost Israelite man’s condition with the graphic language of death. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” he tells the Ephesians (2:1). How can a dead man be made alive? Only by the work of YEHOVAH God, just as he told the Colossians, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ” (Colossians 2:13).

This deadness has tremendous results according to the inspired apostle. First, it means that there is no man who, in and of himself, seeks after YEHOVAH God: “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11).

Paul says that when men are alienated from YEHOVAH God, they are His enemies in their minds (Colossians 1:21). These are strong words, and they well describe the hatred and enmity that exists in the heart of the man who continues to live in his rebellion against YEHOVAH God. What is even more striking is Paul’s absolute belief that this condition cannot be changed by man -- not only is it not the natural man’s desire to be at peace with YEHOVAH God, but it is beyond his capacity to do so -- even if he were so inclined. Note Paul’s words in Romans 8:5-8:

"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Likewise, there is no man who understands the things of YEHOVAH God unless he is first changed from being “natural” or “carnal” to “spiritual”: “The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). So, what does this mean?

The "Book of Life"

The Bible reveals that YEHOVAH God keeps a record of the activities of every person of Israel. The most important record is called the Book of Life. Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, and John all bore witness of the Book of Life.

The Bible indicates that every Israelite person begins life with his name in the Book of Life (Exodus 32.33; Deuteronomy 29.20; Psalm 69.28; Revelation 3.5). But on the other hand, two scriptures indicate that the names of individual non-Israelite people of the earth are not recorded (Revelation 13.8, 17:8). The important thing is to know is that those of us of Israel have our names in the Book of Life from birth -- from "the foundations of the world."

All of our names are there. One can know that his name is in the Book of Life by trusting in the true gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). Those of Israel who have chosen not to believe the gospel will stand before the Messiah with their works and their own righteousness to commend themselves to YEHOVAH God rather than on the Messiah’s work and his righteousness -- and risk having their names removed from the Book of Life.

Eternal life is given to those Israelites redeemed out of those written in the Book, who are worthy. (See our article, The Genetic Code and the "Book of Life.") 

Acts 2:38 - A Highly Debated Scripture

There are several meanings of “baptism” in the Bible. John the Baptist told the Judeans that he was only baptizing them with water, but the Messiah would baptize them with the holy spirit:

Luke 3:16: “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the holy spirit and with fire.”

This is an important distinction to understand, because it explains Acts 2:38:

Acts 2:38: “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 spirit.”

At first glance this Scripture could be referring to water baptism or the baptism of the holy spirit. According to Dr. John R. Rice, the Bible is telling us to be water baptized as a result of having had our sins remitted through the Messiah's sacrifice, and because we of Israel are saved since we have our names in the Book of Life.

Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) teaches concerning Acts 2:38:

"Some people think that this passage contradicts the dozens of other plain statements in the Bible that a man is saved by faith and saved immediately when he believes. But when you use the word for in this passage just as it is used so many times in every-day conversation, you will see what Peter said. A man is arrested for stealing; one is grateful for a favor; one is blamed for carelessness; one is commended for bravery. The word for here does not mean in order to or to secure remission of sins, and it is not rendered that way in any translation of the Bible we know of anywhere. The Greek word eis here translated for is sometimes translated in the Bible against, among, at, unto, upon, etc. It might properly be translated here 'baptized upon the remission of your sins' or 'baptized referring to, or pointing toward the remission of your sins,' or 'baptized in the remission of your sins.'

"When one repents, he receives the remission of his sins. Then the obedient heart, following Christ in baptism, is promised the gift of the holy ghost....What Peter said was that people ought to repent and then, after their sins are forgiven, they should be baptized as evidence of that. That is exactly what people ought to be baptized for, that is, to show the remission of their sins. That Scripture, then, does not mean that people ought to be baptized in order to be saved" (Dr. John R. Rice, Bible Baptism).

Dr. Ray Stanford (1916-2012) teaches the following in his book, Personal Handbook of Evangelism:

"In order to understand the Scriptural teaching regarding baptism, you must know what the word means. The Greek words translated 'baptize' and 'baptism' are 'baptizo,' 'baptisma,' and 'baptismos.' Even if you are not a linguist, you can see from the above that the word 'baptize' is not really a TRANSLATION of 'baptizo' at all. The translators simply replaced the 'o' with an 'e.' This is called a TRANSLITERATION not a translation, because in true translation work the meaning of the word is carried over from one language into another. In the case of the word 'baptize' or 'baptism' this was not done.

"The result of this is that every time someone reads or hears about baptism, he automatically thinks it must mean WATER baptism. So, when such a person reads in Acts 2:38, for instance, 'Repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins,' he erroneously concludes that one must be dipped in water to be saved...because the verse does say you have to be baptized to receive God's forgiveness.

"Much harm and confusion has resulted from not understanding the real meaning of baptism. It means 'to whelm (engulf or cover) and to cleanse.' When Scripture refers to WATER baptism the context ALWAYS makes this clear. When water is not mentioned in connection with baptism, we need to use utmost care in our study of the passage so that we will recognize what kind of 'baptism' (cleansing or whelming) is being spoken of" (Dr. Ray Stanford, Personal Handbook of Evangelism, page 54).

Although there are many preachers who believe both positions, We are firmly convinced that Ray Stanford has it correct. One thing that we have an issue with is Dr. Stanford's opinion that Acts 2:41 also refers to the baptism of the holy spirit. He contends that 3,000 people could not have been water baptized because of a lack of water; however, after researching this matter we learned that there was plenty of water in Jerusalem, at the Pool of Siloam. But we DO KNOW that water baptism is not required for salvation, because hundreds of Scripture passages teach how to be saved without mentioning water baptism. For example:

John 6:28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom He hath sent.”

Another example passage of Scripture which teaches the simple plan of salvation is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Acts 10:44-48

Notice, now, Acts 10:44-48:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the holy spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the holy spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days."

In Acts, chapter 10, we find that YEHOVAH God miraculously opened the door of salvation to those of the House of Israel by calling into His truth Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Cornelius was a devout God-fearing man, and YEHOVAH sent him a vision that he should send to Joppa for one Simon Peter (Acts 10:1-8).

Peter went to Caesarea with the men that were sent to Joppa, to the house of Cornelius, even though Judeans were, according to Pharisaic custom and rules, generally forbidden to associate with those of the House of Israel. However, Peter knew that YEHOVAH God had shown him he should go with these Israelites, and accompany them. After hearing why Cornelius had sent for him, Peter replied,

"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation [of Israel] who fear him and do what is right" (vs. 34-35).

As Peter spoke to them of the gospel of the Messiah, suddenly "the holy spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles [House of Israel]. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising YEHOVAH God."

We should note here that AFTER they had received the holy spirit was when Peter told them to get baptized. So, obviously, baptism is not required for salvation!

Acts 22:15-16

What, then, of Acts 22:16? Here, Ananias, having confronted the blinded Saul, says, in context:

Acts 22:15-16: "For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (NKJV)

We again see the common theme of the calling and sovereignty of YEHOVAH God in the context of this passage as well (“God…has chosen you”). Verse 16 presents us with a significant construction in the original language. The terms “arise” and “call” (anastas and epikalesamenos) are aorist participles; “be baptized” and “be cleansed” (baptisai and apolousai) are aorist imperatives. These terms form two sets -- the first, “arise and be baptized,” the second, “wash away your sins, calling upon the name of the Lord,” or more literally, “wash away your sins, having called upon the name of the Lord.” The remission of sins is effected by calling upon the name of the Lord in this passage -- it is represented, as elsewhere, by baptism. One thing is for certain: given what we have seen previously of Paul’s own theology of justification, he certainly did not interpret Ananias to be teaching any form of baptismal regeneration!

What About 1 Peter 3:21?

Some will surely object and point out that Peter asserts that baptism is indeed required for salvation -- is this true? Let's look at 1 Peter 3:21 in context.

"There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to him" (NKJV).

This is one of the more difficult passages in Scripture due to the earlier reference to the Messiah preaching to the "spirits in prison" (1 Peter 3:19). However, staying on topic, we point out that foremost in Peter's mind is the death of the Messiah as the sacrifice for sin. Men are brought to YEHOVAH God -- not by what they do -- but by what YEHOVAH God has done in the Messiah (verse 18). Upon the heels of this Peter mentions YEHOVAH's act of judgment in the days of Noah. At that time eight people were physically saved through water. Peter then goes on to say that this water "symbolizes" baptism (as the NKJV translates the Greek term antitupon, literally, "antitype").

Baptism now saves us, claims Peter -- just as the water "saved" Noah and his family. However, we know that Peter was not asserting that there was some salvational aspect to the flood waters themselves -- YEHOVAH God shut up the ark, and YEHOVAH saved Noah and his family. But the water is a symbol, Peter states, a symbol seen now in baptism. But is Peter dropping the symbolization so as to make baptism the means of salvation? Absolutely NOT!

Notice what Dr. Kenneth Wuest has to say:

"Water baptism is clearly in the apostle's mind, not the baptism by the Holy Spirit, for he speaks of the waters of the flood as saving the inmates of the ark, and in this verse, of baptism saving believers. But he says that it saves them only as a counterpart. That is, water baptism is the counterpart of the reality, salvation. It can only save as a counterpart, not actually. The Old Testament sacrifices were counterparts of the reality, the Lord Jesus. They did not actually save the believer, only in type.

"It is not argued here that these sacrifices are analogous to Christian water baptism. The author is merely using them as an illustration of the use of the word "counterpart." So water baptism only saves the believer in type. The Old Testament Jew was saved before he brought the offering. That offering was only his outward testimony that he was placing faith in the Lamb of God of whom these sacrifices were a type....

"Water baptism is the outward testimony of the believer's inward faith. The person is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus. Water baptism is the visible testimony to his faith and the salvation he was given in answer to that faith. Peter is careful to inform his readers that he is not teaching baptismal regeneration, namely, that a person who submits to baptism is thereby regenerated, for he says, "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh."

"Baptism, Peter explains, does not wash away the filth of the flesh, either in a literal sense as a bath for the body, nor in a metaphorical sense as a cleansing for the soul. No ceremonies really affect the conscience. But he defines what he means by salvation, in the words "the answer of a good conscience toward God," and he explains how this is accomplished, namely, "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," in that the believing sinner is identified with him in that resurrection" (Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies from the Greek New Testament -- 1 Pet. 3:21; Eerdmans Publishing Company; 2nd edition (June 1, 1980)).

The "Flood" of Revelation 12

The ground-breaking work by Alexander Hislop entitled The Two Babylons Or the Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife brings to light a fascinating revelation concerning the doctrine of baptismal regeneration and its history:

"No sooner was Paganism legally abolished, the eternal fire of Vesta extinguished, and the old serpent [Satan] cast down from the seat of power, where so long he had sat secure, than he tried the most vigorous means to regain his influence and authority. Finding that persecution of Christianity, as such, in the meantime would not do to destroy the church symbolized by the sun-clothed Woman, he made another tack (Rev. xii. 15):

'And the serpent cast out of his mouth a flood of water after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.'

"The symbol here is certainly very remarkable. If this was the dragon of fire, it might have been expected that it would have been represented, according to popular myths, as vomiting fire after the woman. But it is not so. It was a flood of water that he cast out of his mouth. What could this mean? As the water came out of the mouth of the dragon -- that must mean doctrine, and of course, false doctrine.  But is there nothing more specific than this? A single glance at the old Babylonian type will show that the water cast out of the mouth of the serpent must be the water of baptismal regeneration.

"Now, it was precisely at this time, when the old Paganism was suppressed, that the doctrine of regenerating men by baptism, which had been working in the Christian Church before, threatened to spread like a deluge over the face of the Roman empire. From about A.D. 360, to the time of the Emperor Justinian, about 550, we have evidence both of the promulgation of this doctrine, and also of the deep hold it came at last to take of professing Christians.

"It was then precisely that our Lord Jesus Christ began to be popularly called Ichthys, that is, 'the Fish,' manifestly to identify him with Dagon [the fish god]. At the end of the fourth century, and from that time forward, it was taught, that he had been washed in the baptismal font was thereby born again, and made pure as the virgin snow" (Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, NJ, 1959, pp. 246-247).

Pretty revealing!

We Are Saved By the Blood of the Messiah, Not Water Baptism

Various churches have numerous videos posted on YouTube which teach that we apply the blood of the Messiah to our sins by getting water baptized. This is false religion and a doctrine of demons. According to Hebrews 12:24 the precious blood of Yeshua (who is our resurrected High Priest -- Hebrews 4:15-16) was sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in Heaven (Hebrews 9:12). The Messiah did this in the presence of God the Father on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24). It is the blood of Yeshua that washes our sins away, and not water. There is no instance in the Old Testament Temple ritual where water was ever sprinkled on the Mercy Seat!

Colossians 1:19-20: “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

There is not one verse in the Bible which even remotely hints that water baptism is associated with the Messiah's shed blood. To teach otherwise is to corrupt the Word of YEHOVAH God.

In John chapter 3, where the Messiah is witnessing to Nicodemus, he plainly teaches that being “born of water” refers to the physical birth, and not to water baptism as some heretics falsely claim. John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” The Messiah is contrasting the fleshly birth to the spiritual birth. This passage of Scripture has absolutely nothing to do with water baptism.

Titus 3:5 is often used by false prophets in a foolish attempt to teach water baptism for salvation:

Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy spirit.”

Being “born-again” means that, being like the Messiah, who is "the first-born of many brethren," we will eventually be "born again" at the resurrection. To be “regenerated” means to be born anew from above by the holy spirit of YEHOVAH God (John 1:13), quickened (or made alive) by YEHOVAH's spirit (Ephesians 2:1). The Bible plainly teaches in Titus 3:5 that we are not saved “by works of righteousness which WE HAVE DONE”!!! Being water baptized is something that WE DO, not that YEHOVAH God does!

The Bible says in John 1:12-13:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

What a beautiful Scripture. Here we clearly see that we of Israel are saved simply by BELIEVING ON THE MESSIAH'S NAME! Notice that we are not saved because of anything that we have done; but rather, because God in His mercy, love and grace has made a provision for our redemption by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the tree. Confession, water baptism, forsaking the world, ceasing from sinful living, committing one's life to the Messiah and surrendering our will to serve God are all futile actions of HUMAN EFFORT. As we just learned in John 1:12-13, salvation is completely of God. Our part as Israelites, whose names are in the Book of Life, is simply to believe, and then YEHOVAH God does all the saving!

Bible Proofs That Water Baptism is Not Necessary for Salvation

Consider that the Bible doesn't mention anyone in the Old Testament being baptized with water for salvation. It is a simple fact that YEHOVAH's Chosen People in the Old Testament -- Noah, Shem, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and all the prophets, etc., -- were dead in their sins until the birth of the Messiah and his predicted sacrifice.

Genesis 15:6 teaches that Abram (later to be renamed Abraham) believed YEHOVAH God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Romans 4:3 mentions this event, i.e., Abraham's salvation. We are saved by the imputed righteousness of the Messiah, i.e., the Messiah's righteousness is attributed to our record in Heaven by faith (Romans 4:6). Abraham was saved by simple childlike faith in YEHOVAH God.

While John the Baptist baptized many Israelites in Judea while the Messiah was still alive and had not yet offered himself up, and if baptism was a requirement for salvation, were his efforts totally in vain since they were still "dead in their sins"?

The thief on the tree, who believed on the Messiah, wasn't water baptized. Unless you errantly believe in two different plans of salvation, then the only logical conclusion is that water baptism is NOT required for salvation.

Over and over the Bible tells us that we are saved BY FAITH alone (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Acts 10:43; John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; John 3:16-18). If water baptism were required for salvation, then certainly the Bible would stress its importance for salvation. In fact, the apostle Paul stated the opposite:

1 Corinthians 1:17: “For CHRIST SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

Paul proclaimed that the Messiah DIDN'T send him to baptize. There you have it! Paul stated in Romans 10:1 that his heart's desire was for Israel to be saved, so Paul definitely would NOT have made such a statement in 1 Corinthians 1:17 if water baptism were necessary to be saved.

A Church of Christ minister once said that Paul's disciples did the baptizing instead. That is mincing words! It is abundantly clear from the apostle's Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that the Messiah didn't send him to baptize, because water baptism is not necessary to receive the gift of eternal life. What if I bought you a gift, but said that you need to take a bath first to receive it? Then it wouldn't be a gift!

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world [of Israel], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

There's no mention of water baptism. The Bible is the most misinterpreted book in the world, because most people study it out of context and without the presence of its Author, YEHOVAH God.

Religious Sacraments are Unbiblical

Water baptism is an ordinance, like the Lord's Supper. Those are the only two ordinances which the Messiah ordained to be carried out by the New Testament Ecclesia. They are NOT “sacraments,” a term not even found in the Word of YEHOVAH God. Sacraments are unbiblical. Catholics teach seven sacraments; and Protestants, such as Presbyterians and Lutherans, teach two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Neither of these terms are found in the Bible.

There is no such thing as “Holy” Baptism (which is their term for water baptism). Nor is there such an animal as “Holy” Communion. There's the holy spirit and the holy Bible. Even the Ecclesia is not called “holy.” There are no perfect churches. There are no perfect Christians. The only way that we can be “holy” is by abiding in the Scriptures through the holy spirit that indwells every Israelite believer (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 8:9). Only YEHOVAH God can make men holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Protestantism is not taught in the Bible. Every Protestant believes in sacraments and the heresy of Infant Baptism. We don't follow John Calvin nor Jacob Arminius, nor do we follow the Westminster Confession as Presbyterians do. We certainly don't follow John MacArthur as Lordship Salvationists like Ray Comfort, Jack Chick and Kirk Cameron do. WE SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as the Messiah commanded in John 5:39!

Martin Luther Taught the Baptismal Regeneration Heresy

Contrary to what most Christians have been misled to believe by handed-down tradition, Martin Luther was an unsaved reprobate. Just because Luther once stated that the just shall live by faith doesn't mean that he was saved. Most every Protestant member believes the just shall live by faith, but they also require water baptism to be saved. It may seem like a trifle issue, but eternal life is a free gift from YEHOVAH God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Lutherans errantly teach that one's faith is demonstrated by the act of being water baptized. This is unbiblical. There is confusion amongst Lutheran churches whether water baptism is required for salvation or not; but their heretical founder, Martin Luther, clearly taught the false doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. Luther was a lifelong Mary-worshipper. Luther was confused doctrinally, and died in his sins as an unsaved reprobate.

Martin Luther even taught that a person could be saved without faith, just so long as they were water baptized. Luther was a false prophet until the day he died, and sadly his writings are still leading people to destruction. It is tragic that Lutherans idolize such a doctrinally corrupt heretic. Luther rejected the book of Revelation because he couldn't understand it.

What people should be focusing on, instead of the ceremony of baptism, is the precious blood of the Messiah that takes our sins away:

1 Peter 1:18-19: “...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (NKJV)

Please, simply read the Gospels!

Max Lucado's Demonic Deception

We mention Pastor Max Lucado, a Church of Christ minister, here because he is a deceiver. He is a well-known Ecumenical minister, a servant of the New World Order, leading inter-faith denominations into apostasy. Satan's goal is to raise up sinister ministers like Rick Warren and Max Lucado, who speak fundamental Christian doctrines in one deceitful breath; while leading different denominations of hellish unbiblical doctrines of demons to unite in sinful compromise in the other.

On Max Lucado's website, in the article Baptism: The Demonstration of Devotion, Lucado refuses to answer the following question with a straight answer: What if a person is not baptized? Can he be saved? Any Gospel preacher worth his salt, who is of Israel, would immediately answer with a resounding...YES!!!

Yes, a person of Israel who is not baptized CAN BE SAVED. In fact, that's the only person that can be saved. If you, as an Israelite, have been water baptized and don't believe, then you're damned according to Mark 16:16, “He [of Israel] that believeth and is baptized [with the spirit] shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Notice that the damnation is upon the unbeliever; and not upon the unbaptized. We tell you truthfully from the Bible: YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE WATER BAPTIZED TO BE SAVED!

Since Max Lucado won't answer the question directly, We just did! Max Lucado is hiding the fact that he is a Church of Christ minister. The Church of Christ teaches Baptismal Regeneration, i.e., that you must be water baptized to be saved. Lucado states that water baptism cannot save, and sounds like he is doctrinally correct at first; but then he won't answer the simple question: What if a person is not baptized? Can he be saved?

The fact that Max Lucado is beating around the bush is cause for alarm. The Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah teaches that we are saved by the fact that we are genetically Israelites and by the Messiah's work of redemption; and not by any work on our part other than BELIEVING on the Messiah.

John 6:29: “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, THAT YE BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent.”

Mark 13:22 says that in the Last Days, false prophets shall arise that will deceive, even saved believers if they can. Max Lucado is New World Order all the way, evidenced by his Masonic book cover, Fearless. The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) are a New World Order (NWO) false religion. On their main website, it is no coincidence that the following joining of hands coincidentally forms an Illuminati pyramid (as seen everywhere in the corporate and religious world today). The symbol shows allegiance to the New World Order, whose god is Satan, whose anticipated leader will be the Antichrist.

We don't want to digress off topic, but you need to understand that Satan is the god of this wicked world. Satan wants you to experience eternal death when you die. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan blinds the mind of unbelievers to hinder them from receiving salvation. The entire agenda of the forming New World Order and its World Religion is to hinder YEHOVAH's Israelite people from responding to YEHOVAH's call to be saved. The religious masses of this world will all be pointed toward the Antichrist when he comes, and many people will worship him because “they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). If you reject the truth then you are open game for Satan.

The core belief of the New Age movement is that you can believe anything that you want, except Bible Christianity. New Agers vehemently reject anyone who proclaims that the Messiah is the only way to eternal life. Satan's only will for our life is to prevent us from doing YEHOVAH's will. Has Satan blinded your mind? Romans 10:9-10 says that salvation is of the heart. Most all of the Protestant Churches are fraudulent, having religion without truth. They all have churchianity without Christianity. Religion wants to fit you with glasses, but YEHOVAH God wants to open your eyes.

Most so-called “churches” today are mere entertainment centers. Others are social clubs for the elderly. They sing. They preach religion. They have everything that the real Ecclesia has except truth and the spirit of YEHOVAH God. In John 4:24 the Messiah told the Samaritan woman that they who worship YEHOVAH God MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. You cannot worship YEHOVAH God in ceremonial rituals, sacraments and formalism.

Such churches are Satan's counterfeit for the New Testament Ecclesia. Counterfeit churches teach a false gospel. There is ONLY one gospel and that is childlike faith in the Messiah, who died, was buried and rose again, paying for the sins of Israel with his literal shed blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). The Biblical gospel excludes all forms of self-righteousness. Adding anything to the gospel corrupts it into a sure road to eternal death and damnation.

Have you believed a LIE? One of Satan's biggest lies is that you must be water baptized to be saved. The Bible plainly teaches that we are saved by simply childlike faith in the Messiah (Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Baptismal Regeneration is a Road to Eternal Death

If you think that getting dunked in water is going to help you receive salvation, then you are truly misled. You have never been born-again. Biblical salvation is one unmistaken mindset that cannot be altered -- it is A GIFT!

Those who errantly teach that salvation can't be lost all have a deadly mindset of self-righteousness. Matthew 5:20:

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The Messiah told the people that the Pharisees were going to the Lake of Fire; and that they would also go if they followed the teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees.

Think about that for a moment! The job of the Scribes were to copy the Bible from one generation to the next, because they didn't have printing presses back then. No one handled the Scriptures any more than the Scribes; yet they were woefully ignorant of truth and unsaved. That is so sad and hard to grasp. The Scribes were the ones who dealt with the Scriptures as a career! Yet they were corrupt, woefully ignorant of truth, and on their way to eternal death.

"Religion" is a road to eternal death! Getting water baptized is religion. When Adam and Eve sinned, Adam made clothing of fig-leaves to cover their nakedness; but YEHOVAH God rejected their works-based religion (i.e., their own attempt to deal with their sins). Instead, YEHOVAH killed an innocent animal, shedding its blood; which pictures the Lamb of YEHOVAH God, Yeshua the Messiah -- who was born to SAVE SINNERS!

Everything that was required for our eternal redemption was completed by our heavenly High Priest, Yeshua the Messiah. It is the Messiah's precious, literal, physical, blood that takes our sins away (1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5). If you grasp this simple, yet profound, truth; the simplicity that is in the Messiah; then you will clearly understand that salvation is a totally free gift from YEHOVAH God, which we of Israel simply receive to have. Salvation is not something we do to get; it is a gift that we receive to have.

Adam and Eve already had fig leaf clothes to wear; but YEHOVAH made them wear different clothing, to teach them the truth of salvation. YEHOVAH God will not accept water baptism on Judgment Day.

If you understand the importance of the work of the Old Testament high priest, then you know that eternal life is a free gift, paid for by the Lamb of YEHOVAH God. The Messiah literally entered BY HIS OWN BLOOD (Hebrews 9:12) into the heavenly holy place, to appear in the presence of YEHOVAH God the Father (Hebrews 9:24), to complete his work of redemption. It was finished, once and for all (Hebrews 9:26). Salvation is freely offered to WHOSOEVER of Israel found in the Book of Life (Romans 10:13; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:17).

John 20:31: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye [of Israel] might have life through his name.”

There is NO mention of water baptism! You just BELIEVE on the first-born Son of YEHOVAH God, the Messiah; and YEHOVAH God will forgive your sins.

1 Peter 1:18: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

There is NO mention of water baptism! It's the blood of the Messiah that washes our sins away; and not the water of baptism.

1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

There is NO mention of water baptism! We of Israel have the spirit of YEHOVAH God in our DNA from conception!

In conclusion, we must again insist that the Scriptures must be taken as a whole. When we find in the direct, clear statements of Scripture truths that are contradictory to assumptions based upon passing comments, we must take the clear statements over the assumptions. In the issue of salvation, we must take the clear statements of Scripture regarding the work of the spirit of YEHOVAH God in those of Israel from conception. By teaching baptismal regeneration, people thumb their nose, not only to the sovereignty of YEHOVAH God and the finished work of the Messiah, but to the real purpose and meaning of baptism as well.

While some like to refer to the evangelical doctrine of baptism as a “mere symbol,” we respond by pointing out that an ordinance, given by the Messiah to his Ecclesia, in which the great and marvelous work of YEHOVAH God in salvation is pictured for all to see is not properly described by the term “mere.” Instead, Christian baptism must be understood as representing a true and inner reality -- one that is brought about by the grace of YEHOVAH God in an Israelite person’s life. When we properly present baptism as it is presented in Scripture, we glorify YEHOVAH’s grace and magnify His work of salvation in Yeshua the Messiah.