Can I Not Be Saved Without Baptism?

Question.-Can you be saved with baptism?

Answer.-Yes I may be saved if I am baptized; for Jesus Christ has said, that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.

Question.-But can you not be saved without believing?

Answer.-"Without faith it is impossible to please him;" therefore, if I do not please him, how can I expect to be saved by him?

Question.-True, but suppose it were possible for you to exercise faith in Jesus, and yet neglect to do the things which he and his apostles commanded, would he be pleased with that neglect any more than with a want of faith?

Answer.-the commandments of Christ are a law to his children; and if I break his commandments, I break the law of God, and that would sin, for "sin is the transgression of the law" and sin is the thing which God hates.

Question.-And is it reasonable to expect that you can be saved by displeasing God?

Answer.-I discover the force of your question, but I am determined to have the truth; and I know that Jesus says, "he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved" but does the scripture any where say, that he that is not baptized shall be lost?

Question.-Has God more than one method of saving sinners?

Answer.-I think not, for that would imply that he was changeable, and had respect to persons if he would save one on one condition, and another on other terms.

Question.-And did not Christ say to Nicodemus, that except a man be born of water, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God?

Answer.-Yes, but did he not mean spirit, when he said water?

Question.-Do you believe that the Bible is true?

Answer.-Most assuredly I do.

Question.-Then how can you suppose he meant spirit when he said water,-for he said "of water and of the spirit" putting the water first, and the spirit after; for if he meant spirit when he said water, he should have said of water and of water, which would make the Bible to tell a falsehood as it now stands, and you say you believe the Bible is true?

Answer.-Yes, I do,-and I perceive that there would be an inconsistency in the phrase spirit and spirit, although I had always supposed that the water meant spirit in this place.

Question.-Do you not remember that Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan in a river of water, and that to fulfil [fulfill] all righteousness as Christ himself said.

Answer.-Yes.

Question.-And that Peter who hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven, commanded those who enquired [inquired] on the day of Pentecost, what they should do to be saved, to be baptized every one of them for the remission of their sins?

Answer.-O, yes!

Question.-And that Paul who had a share in the same ministry, required the people to be buried with him (Christ) by baptism for the answer of a good contience [conscience?], as Peter says; and what would

be more likely to produce a good or peaceful conscience than obedience to the requirements of the Saviour [Savior]?

Answer.-True, we read thus, but I had supposed that baptism was done away now, and that sprinkling answered the same purpose.

Question.-If in the days of the Apostles, God required men to be buried in, or born of the water; and now will save them without that inconvenience, or by sprinkling simply, must he not have changed; and is he not a respector of persons?

Answer.-To be honest it does appear so; and I never can believe that God will change the plan of salvation, or respect any man's person, but how is it that Jesus said "these signs shall follow them that believe,-they shall speak with new tongues, cast out devils; heal the sick; take up serpents, &c." and we see none of these things in these days?

Question.-I hope you do not doubt the declaration of Christ, do you?

Answer.-Certainly not, I believe those signs did follow the apostles just as the scriptures state, but we see none of these things now.

Question.-Can it be possible that Christ designated the promise of these signs for his apostles, when he said "them that believe" addresing [addressing] himself self to his disciples, concerning those who should believe on their testimony, and be baptized by them? Or was the promise to be confined to that people only or that age, when Peter said concerning this matter, "this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call?

Answer.-No it cannot.

Question.-Then if you do not doubt the testimony of Jesus and his apostles, must you not conclude that these signs have ceased to follow the children of men? because faith has ceased from among men.

Answer.-These are new ideas to me, I will think of them more; but am I to believe that if men would exercise faith, and attend unto the ordinances of the gospel as in the days of old, these signs would be made visible again on the earth, or would follow the believer as in the days of old?

Question.-Will not the same cause produce the same effects in all ages?

Answer.-Without doubt it will.

Question.-Why then should not these signs follow those who believe, have faith in God, and keep his commandments, just as they did in the days of Christ?

Answer.-What! and receive the Holy Ghost too, by the laying on of hands?

Question.-If God is not changed, nor the ordinances of his house, nor the plan of salvation, how can you hope to receive the Holy Ghost in any other way then they did in those days, when "on whomsoever they laid their hands they received the Holy Ghost?"

Answer.-But why have I not seen and believed these things before!

Question.-How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher; and how shall they preach except they be sent?

Answer.-I have heard a great many preachers before, but they never taught me such doctrine.

Question.-Do you not remember that Paul said that "the day of Christ should not come except there came a falling away first," a falling from the truth, and men should be given unto fables?"

Answer.-Yes, and I begin to suspect it has been so, but do you really think that sins are forgiven when men are baptized?

Question.-Does not the scriptures say so? Did not Peter say, be baptized every one of you for the remission of your sins; and did not Ananias say to Saul, arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins?

Answer.-Yes, the bible says so; but it says also calling upon the name of the Lord: now I have been upon the penitent form, and called upon the name of the Lord, as Ananias commanded, and my sins are forgiven.

Question.-Can there be a transgression where there is no law? and you say you never had this law before, therefore, you could not sin against it; but should you now reject it, how could you get clear of that sin? and where can you find any direction from scripture to erect penitent forms, or to make use of them?

Answer.-I see your propositions appear quite scriptural.

Question.-Inasmuch as you say you see, does not your sin remain?

Answer.-And may I be baptized for the remission of my sins?

Question.-Do you believe with all your heart, and are you willing to repent of all your sins and forsake them;

determined in the strength of the Lord, to keep his commandment to the end? thou mayest.