IS THE CHURCH A PART OF THE WHOLE? (Continued, part 2)

The question can be asked, do these brethren accept into their fellowship all “who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s Son Jesus Christ and accept him as Lord and King” as mentioned in the ‘handout’ in the ‘Newcomers Class’? If they do, would not this act declare that baptism is not essential to salvation? Since their belief is that these ‘believers’ are in “God’s kingdom”, why would they require them to be baptized?

And this brings up another question. When a person responds in a public assembly as a penitent believer and confesses his faith in Jesus Christ, why is he baptized? To be consistent with their belief is not this individual already a member of “God’s kingdom”? But if this person is immersed in water so that his sins will be washed away by the blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7), why is this not required of all “who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s Son Jesus Christ and accept him as Lord and King”?

The apostle Paul, in the book of Romans, teaches that we obey a form of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (6:1-4; 17, 18) when, as penitent believers we are immersed into Christ. But observe very carefully that “newness of life” is placed following the resurrection of one who has been “buried with Him through baptism”. And that only those who have “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which were delivered. And having been set from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Please remember the words of our blessed Savior when He informed Nicodemus, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). My dear brethren, if we accept the truth that “water” in this verse is baptism that was commissioned by our Lord (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21), how can we say that immersion is not essential for the remission of sins and an entrance into the kingdom of God?

Because of my sincere affection for my brethren I endeavor to speak “the truth in love” and if I do, “have I become your enemy” (Ephesians 4:15; Galatians 4:16)?