God’s word enlightens us, Psa. 119:105  Understanding of truth, Psa. 119:104  Hatred of error, Psa. 119:104

We must be set for a defense of baptism, Phil. 1:17  Some will rejoice  Most will hate, Jn. 15:18, 19  Stand fast, 1 Cor. 16:13

Many teach infant baptism  Sprinkle or pour – not baptize, cf. Col. 2:12  Believers to be baptized, Mk. 16:16 ∙Babies cannot believe or confess it  Penitent to be baptized, Acts 2:38 ∙Babies have nothing for which to repent

Mormons teach baptism for the dead, 1 Cor. 15:29  Baptized for dead relatives to improve afterlife  Bible: salvation is individual, Phil. 2:12  Bible: condition not changeable after death, Lk. 16:26

Baptized because our sins were remitted  Error: “for remission of sins” = “because of…”  “For remission of sins” same in Acts 2:38 & Mt. 26:28

Non-belief is the condition for condemnation in Mark 16:16; not non-baptism  Like the devil in the garden ∙God: You shall surely die, Gen. 2:17 ∙Satan: You will NOT surely die, Gen. 3:4 ∙God: He who believes & is baptized will be saved ∙Satan: He who believes & is NOT baptized will be saved

Non-belief is the condition for condemnation in Mark 16:16; not non-baptism  No need to state “and is not baptized” ∙He who jumps & falls will be injured, He who does not jump will be safe ∙He who listens & takes notes will be smarter, He who does not listen will not be smarter

Non-belief is the condition for condemnation in Mark 16:16; not non-baptism  No problem with these statements ∙He who believes & is baptized will get a new car, he who does not believe will keep his old one ∙He who believes & is baptized will get $1 million, he who does not believe will pay $1 million

Baptism is a work & we cannot earn salvation  Belief is a work, Jn. 6:28, 29  Baptism is a command, Mk. 16:16  Obedience is not a matter of merit, It is a matter of submission, Heb. 5:9

Paul said he was not sent to baptize 1 Cor. 1:17  The Corinthians were baptized, Acts 18:8  Paul did baptize, 1 Cor. 1:11-16  Not [only] but [also]… Jn. 6:27; 1 Tim. 5:8 ∙Deemphasized one to highlight the other ∙Paul’s preaching led to baptism

The thief on the cross was saved without it  PROVE IT

The thief on the cross was saved without it  How did the thief come to believe, Lk. 23:42 ∙Reviled Jesus at first, Mk. 15:32 ∙Cross seemed to show Jesus was not the Son of God, Lk. 23:35-39 ∙Teaching of John, Jesus, or disciples, Mt. 3:5, 6; Jn. 4:1, 2 ∙Ones who heard & refused to be baptized rejected God’s will, Lk. 7:30

The thief on the cross was saved without it  Jesus had authority to forgive sins, Mk. 2:1-12  Under the Old Covenant, Heb. 9:16, 17