baptism is indeed faith in action and obedience.

I agree whole heartedly!

I cannot judge a man upon his death, Wb, but I will say that baptism is indeed faith in action and obedience.

Jesus said we have to believe in Him to have eternal life (Jn 3:14-18)
Paul said we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:9-10).
James said faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)
Paul also taught the need to change, Turn to God and prove repentace through deeds (Acts 26:20).

But it is belief held to the degree where it can be called faith or confidence that we need to be saved. Should someone live longer than the instant they come to have the believe spoken of by Christ (which Pail and James term faith) it will engender them to put their trust into practice through obedience to what Christ taught, including calling upon Christ verbally and through through baptism.

However, since Christ said we need only to believe to be saved, I must take Him at His word and say we only need belief to be saved. Therefore, I think if a man dies before putting that belief into action, they were saved if they had the belief spoken of by Christ, and so gave eter al life.

Faith is a commitment, a conviction which produces evidence. What then of baptism but our pledge and commitment in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ which made because of our conviction produces the change of remission of sins which is evident?

Further, what then is the Gospel, but the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ? In Romans 6, we are called to die out, to be buried with Him, and then arise in new life by means of baptism.

If Faith was a mere belief, then yes, baptism a mere symbol, but faith is active and growing. It is a commitment by which we participate with Christ. Baptism is that commitment.

I see faith as trust.
It is belief with conviction.
It is belief held to such a degree that it engenders change.
If we have faith, we will have evidence of it our lives.

ESV Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

KJG Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

NAU Acts 22:16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

NIV Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

NLT Acts 22:16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

There is no mention of baptism in Romans 10.

Again, there are too many verses which speak of the need for faith to be saved – it boils down to what you believe affecting what you do. There are many ways to call on the name of the Lord. That is poutting the faith we are to have into practice.

But I miss where Paul equated calling upon the name of the Lord with baptism (although I would agree it is one way to do so).

But Paul did speak of baptism, in Romans 6. Further, when Paul called upon the name of the Lord, he was being baptized.

Please consider your words here carefully. You wrote, “it is the faith in baptism – believing and is baptized – which saves.”

I THINK you wrote that in order to show that people who have been baptized without faith in Christ are not saved.

I would agree with that, as I was going to write: See the thing is, many have undergone baptsim and it was just the act of washing dirt from the body, which Peter was clear that is NOT what saves.

But that is not quite what you said. You said it is faith in baptism and the baptism itself that saves. I’m pretty sure it is faith in God through faith in Christ’s atoning work that saves us. Anything else is adding to what Scripture says, it seems to me. Romans 3:22,

Paul spoke of the need for faith in Christ, self control, and the coming judgement (Acts 24:24-25). Paul spoke of the need to change and to turn to God and prove their repentance through their deeds (Acts 26:20). God’s righteousness comes through faith in Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22). We are justified through faith (Romans 5:1).

In fact, Paul wrote in Romans 10:9-13 (NLT)

9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Notice, Paul did not write of the need to be baptized – but the need to call upon God – which is the same thing James and Peter spoke of – putting belief into action.

What saves is the appeal to God (the trusting in God which causes one to call upon God) – not the form of the appeal. One is saved through faith, not through deeds.

The only way reconcile all the different verses concerning baptism and faith and salvation and justification is to understand that it is Faith that saves us. But iut must be faith which engnders change (repentance) and is evidenced in our lives (baptism).

ESV 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

KJG 1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,),) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

NAU 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,

NIV 1 Peter 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

NLT 1 Peter 3:21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Is baptism necessary for salvation? No. It is the faith that results in calling upon God through faith in Christ that saves us. One way of calling on God is through baptism (and I think all Christians must choose to obey Christ in this area), but it is not the only way to call on God or to give evidence of faith.

But, Wb, what you still have not answered what Peter said. Noah was brought safely through water which is the symbol of what happens now with baptism. Further, I would agree – baptism in water is a means of people calling upon the name of the Lord and baptism is the evidence of faith. Further, what Paul said – we die out to sin in baptism.

Look at it this way – we teach the death (repentance), burial (baptism) and resurrection (regeneration) of Jesus Christ. Paul said for us to be united with Him in baptism because in baptism, we die out to sins.

The baptizing in water is a means of people calling upon the name of the Lord – making a public profession of faith which saves them.

I think Paul and James and Peter all taught the same thing – we need to have a living faith. Baptism is evidence of said faith.

Being dunked in water did not save Noah. The building of the ark was an act of faith, and this was what saved Noah. The NASB has a better translation than the NIV on this point.

Here are two posts which do a good job of explaining my understanding:
http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/roman-catholicism/are-we-saved-faith-alone-or-do-we-need-works-too
http://www.carm.org/christianity/baptism/baptism-necessary-salvation

Why do you believe that NO ONE at the Festival of Pentecost was told that they must BELIEVE (have faith) in the Lord Jesus? They are only told to Repent and be Baptized (in water)… Peter clearly states in Acts 2:39,that they shall/will receive the gift of the Spirit.To me this strongly implies that they did not or would not have received the Spirit before,they did those two things,Repent AND be Baptized (in water) in Jesus’ name…

Peter never once says,even to the Devout Jews and converts to Judaism attending the festival,or to those whom he accuses of having crucified Jesus (Acts 2:22,23 ) that they had to believe ANYTHING.Why not? Then he goes on to say in 2:40 that the ‘ promise’ of the Spirit and or remission of sins,is to them and their children,now,and in the future (a far off) As many as the Lord shall/will CALL…

If God called and ‘ gathered ‘ them at the first Harvest Festival after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension:then it is only by God’s Previening Grace,that they believed Peter’s speech/preaching about Jesus.Yet,they were STILL required to Repent and be Baptized in his name.

If this is the New Covenant/Testament church and gentiles are grafted into it,then non Jews are also required to be Baptized in the name of Jesus,IF they are called by God.Consider the Devout Jews and converts to Judaism,who heard the same speech as those who crucified the Lord.So to me (anyway) is it likely that at the least,those who are ‘ Called ‘ by God,must Repent and be Baptized in Jesus’ Name (First) in order to have their sins forgiven and receive the Spirit…

This cannot be only for Jews,since there is no such thing as a Jew or Gentile in Christ. UNLESS of course this day ‘ Pentecost ‘ was also the day of God’s fulfillment of his promise(s) written in Ezekiel 11:19,20 – Isaiah 44:3-5 and Jeremiah 32:39,40…

I do not say that i understand the order in Acts 10:44-48.Perhaps these are some who were not CALLED by the Lord but ‘ called ‘ on his name??? Nevertheless,there cannot be two messages here or any where else in scripture,seeing that Cornelius and his company, were also baptized in water and likely,in the name of Jesus,after receiving the Spirit..

BTW: the CAPTCHA code is a pain…

Some would interpret the flesh as the Law, Wb.

John 3:3
3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

In Jn 3:5, we see
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

While some might want that to mean water baptism, in fact, we see in Jn 3:6 the explanation of being born of water and the Spirit.
Jn 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Flesh gives birth to flesh – the first birth through amniotic fluid.
Spirit gives birth to spirit – the second birth through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is not saying we have to be baptized, but we have faith in Jesus to have eternal life.