Whatever happened to "Repent and be Baptized?"

Let's look at the gospel message as people heard it in the 1st century A.D.

In Mark 16:16 Jesus says, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved."
In Acts 2:38 we read, "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." In Acts 10:48 the apostle Peter commanded the new believers to be baptized.

When the apostle Paul became a believer he was told, "rise up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16). The apostle Peter makes it very clear in 1Peter 3:21 that it is not the washing of the water that saves us, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, but that didn't change the fact that he preached, "repent and be baptized".

Now let's look at the gospel message in the 21st century A.D.

"He that believes shall be saved."
"Repent for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
"Rise up and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Whatever happened to "Repent and be Baptized?"

Have we removed the call to be baptized from our gospel because the water is not what saves us? Or, do we believe that because many of us were christened as infants that we do not need to repent and be immersed when we are old enough to understand the gospel?

Jesus was brought to the temple as a baby by his parents and dedicated to the Lord. But He still stepped into the river Jordan as an adult to be immersed by John. John the Immerser (i.e., Baptist) was telling people to repent and be immersed. Even though Jesus had nothing to repent of, He still got into the water and submitted to immersion as an example for us to follow.

And he [the apostle Paul] brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
(Act 16:30-33)


God joined together repentance and baptism in a holy union. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.