Text Box: There are only 2 ways to not go to Heaven: Don't accept Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and salvation Blasphemy of God, Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit The One Baptism Baptism is mentioned in several ways in the Bible. There is the baptism of repentance, the baptism of fire, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of Moses, baptism for the dead, baptism of suffering, water baptism, etc. Ephesians 4:4-6 says there is one baptism. Since the Bible is without error or contradiction, we must conclude that the one baptism is the baptism commanded by the Lord and the apostles and the one in effect today. This one baptism (water immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins) is plainly shown in examples throughout the New Testament where believers were converted. Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Acts 2:36-38 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Romans 6:1-7 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Do you want to be buried by having a drop of soil or a sprinkling of soil, put on you? No to be buried is understood as no part of your body will be showing. In fact we say you will be six feet under. Buried is immersion in soil and baptism is immersion in water. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Acts 10:47-48 "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. Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Baptism needs to be done when one decides to give their life to Christ, not at a scheduled time of the year. Acts 8:26-40 But a messenger of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Stand up and go toward the midday sun to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a wilderness. And he stood up and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch sovereign under Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who was in charge over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; he was returning and sitting in his chariot and was reading the prophet Isaiah [53:7-8]. And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot. And Philip ran up to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, Do you know what you are reading? And he said, For how can I, if someone does not guide me? And he pleaded with Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearer is voiceless, so he did not open his mouth. His judgment was taken away in his humiliation. But who will describe his generation? Because his life is taken from the earth.’ And answering Philip, the eunuch said, I am beseeching you, concerning whom is the prophet speaking about in this? Is he speaking concerning himself or concerning some other person? And Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed to him Jesus. And as they went on the road, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold, here is water; what is preventing me from being immersed; And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is permitted. And he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he immersed him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found in Azotus and going through, he proclaimed the good-news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea. If you believe with all your heart, be immersed in water for the remission of your sins; Be baptized NOW for the remission of your sins! God’s Promise 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some deem slowness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but all to make room for repentance. God’s Desire John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments. God’s Requirement Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. God’s Timing Another thing to remember is that God has told us that He will sent Jesus back as a thief in the night. Our earthly permanent retirement may be today, tomorrow or later. ONLY GOD KNOWS. 2 Peter 3:10-18 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, being without spot or blemish, and at peace. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. God’s Word - Read it and handle it correctly 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. God’s Word - How to handle it correctly 1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. Luke 24:44-49 Then Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”