The thief on the cross was saved in old covenant when Jesus said he would be remembered him. The New covenant didn't start till he took his last breath Even more biblical proof that you can NOT be saved like the thief on the cross. Think of it like this. Your living will doesn't go into effect until you pass. You can't have your final wishes done and be alive too.
BAPTISM…..Let’s talk about it!
Why do people look anywhere else for Biblical answers other than the Bible?
How much of what we believe has been fed to us and how much actually comes from the Bible itself?
How many times have we heard - "I know it says that but I believe... or my preacher said….This is where denominational churches (Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.). Especially Baptist gets in trouble. Also Charlie Kirk is another one that plays by denominational rules that led alot a people to hell. Also people with that fit the category is John Hagee, Charles Stanley, Kenneth Copeland just to name a few. The most famous one is Billy Graham. Poor people that he's looking for hope replaces God's word with this man's fault teachings to save them. Billy Graham actually treats baptism as a work or “option” as they think they are already saved before hand. This is a false teaching that leading a lot of people to hell.
Another denominational twist that they put on baptism is “What If I get killed in a car wreck going to be baptized, I am saved aren’t I? The answer here is NO. You still fail to follow Jesus command as stated in Mark 16:16 and will be condemned to hell.
Also another popular easy way to be saved taught by denominational teaches it members is:
The Roman Road to Salvation which is highlighted by Romans 10:9 (call on the name of the Lord you will be saved), which is countered by how you should call on the name of the Lord which is found in 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). I done a full breakdown of these two verses how Acts 22:16 is correct and Romans 10:9 is a false teaching of Baptist churches.
Also more false teachings that is taught by and is not taught by bible was made popular by false TV preachers and false teachings as a whole: I will list them below and let me remind you, you are NOT SAVED by none of these until you follow the command of Jesus in Mark 16:16 and fully follow the Plan Of Salvation!
Sinner Prayer- Not found in the bible.
Asking Jesus in your heart - Not found in the bible.
Confessing by mouth - found in Romans 10:9 and Acts 22:16. One is correct the other is a taught falsely by denominational churches.
Thief on the Cross - This is old old covenant meaning If Jesus said you was saved when he walked the earth. You was saved. No baptism was required. He commands being baptized to be truly saved and it also found in Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, and 1 Peter 3:21.
TV Church isn’t going to save you. If you are healthy and able to go. Go to church! Hebrews 10:25 talks about the importance of going to church to be with other Christian’s.
Church membership by baptism is also a false teaching!
Going before the altar kneeling down and praying thanking you are saved before being baptized. You're not saved!
Lastl If you baptized for not the remission of your sins and to receive the holy spirit. You must be rebaptized for the remissions of your sins and then you receive the Holy Spirit to be truly saved!
Let’s see what the Bible really says about Baptism.
If all we had was the Bible to give us instruction - what would we believe?
Timothy 3:16 confirms the absolute authority of Scripture and its purpose: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, II Timothy 4:3 explains why so many different views can be given on any one subject: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching
ears want to hear.
Luke writes, in Acts 17:11, that the Bereans were nobler than the Thessalonians because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul was telling them was right. We should follow
their example.
How do we go about finding what the Scripture says on any given subject?
An easy way is to use a Bible concordance. You can also Google Bible Concordance. Type in the subject you are studying and you will be given all references that go with that subject. Write them down and look them up.
There is probably no greater controversy on a Biblical subject than baptism. In studying baptism let's put aside our beliefs right now and let God's Word do the teaching. Baptism alone will not save. Without faith in Christ and repentance baptism is meaningless.
Question: Is baptism something a sinner does in order to receive salvation and become a Christian, or is it simply a good work done for some other purpose by someone who is already a Christian?
Let's go to the Scripture.
What is the purpose of baptism?
Many think of baptism as an outward display but it is not. It is an inward cleansing
In Acts 22:16 Paul had been fasting and praying for three days (Acts 9:1-19) when God sent Ananias to Paul with the following message: "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name." If Paul's sins could have been prayed away surely three days of prayer and fasting would have done it and there would have
been no need for God to send Ananias. Baptism is not a work we do -it is a cleansing and it is blessing we receive through obedience.
Peter 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism symbolically represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. throughout Scripture God uses meaningful symbols (rainbow, circumcision, Lord's Supper, all of
the elements of the Tabernacle, etc).
2.Romans 6:3-4 plainly states that being baptized symbolizes Christ death: Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. It not only represents Christ death but our death to sin and new life in Christ. It is the time we bury
the old busted life and God gives a new life.
Colossians 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians plainly states that we are buried with Christ and we are raised up with Him.
3.Baptism cleanses us and allows the Holy Spirit to indwell in us.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "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. Baptism is the time God has appointed for removing the sinner's guilt and to receive the indwelling
gift of the Holy Spirit.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit Titus 3:4-5
Galatians 3:26-27 shows baptism as a time that we clothe ourselves in Christ: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
How is baptism done?
The Corinthian Christians, in I Corinthians 1:13-17, were bragging on who baptized them. Paul was quiet disgusted with this attitude. Paul points to the fact that it was Christ who was crucified for them and that He is the one who gets the glory. It would appear, from Scripture, than anyone who has been baptized can baptize. It is certainly not something that 'only preachers' can do.
A. The word baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo." In explaining the meaning of baptize the Greek lexicons consistently uses the following terms: plunge, immerse, submerge, sink, and go under. Acts 8:35, John 3:23, Matthew 3:6
B. Sprinkling was not used by the apostles or early Christians. There is no record of sprinkling until 300 A.D. It wasn't until 1311 A.D. that sprinkling became the general practice by the Catholics. It was never a practice of the early Christians.
C. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-7: Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
General questions:
Don't make your arguments around someone else. The decisions you make in life are your decisions and you will answer for them. We need to get back to doing Bible things the Bible way.
Anyone who has come of age to realize their sins and are able to repent and accept Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized.
The original sin concept (born with sin) is not taught in the Bible but originated with St. Augustine. Jesus said in order to be converted we must become as a child - Matthew 18:2-3. Baptism is an individual's choice. Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:26-27You can be baptized until you are water log, but if your heart isn't into it you are just a soaked sinner.
There is a case of rebaptism in the Acts 19:4-5. At Ephesus Paul met disciples who had known only the baptism of John the Baptist. John baptized 'unto repentance' but Christian baptism is 'into Christ', Paul re-baptized these.
They are cases that kids got rebaptized when they get older. They are nothing wrong with this.
Occasionally there are those who feel certain that at the time of their baptism their motives were not pure (girlfriend, boyfriend, family, to take communion, or maybe they were baptized just to take church membership, etc.). The reason is Jesus. We are baptized into Christ.
Jesus commanded it. Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20
With every conversion in the book of Acts there is an immediate baptism: 2:38 8:12; 10:48;
16:15; 16:33; 18:8; 22:16
In the book of II Kings we find the story of Naaman the leper. II Kings 5:1-14 relays the following:
There was a captain of the Syrian army by the name of Naaman. Naaman had become a leper.
His wife had a servant girl that told him of a prophet in Samaria that could cure him. Naaman finally went to see Elisha, the prophet in Samaria. Elisha sent a messenger to him with the following instructions: "Go wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you and you shall be clean." This made Naaman furious. He was expecting some great
experience, or at least to be sent to the nicer rivers of Abanah and Pharpar - but not to the nasty
Jordan. "Then his servants came near to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" At that point Naaman believed and obeyed. It's all about complete surrender. It's all about obeying and committing.
Many people think the Church of Christ is a cult and we are the only ones going to heaven. In reality many people in the CoC will not make it to heaven. The true church is stated in the Bible in Romans 16:16 as when Paul wrote the Book of Romans. As much as people would like to think otherwise. We cannot add or remove scripture. It's that plain and simple. There are no other churches stated in the Bible besides the Church of God which can be interchangeable which is the COG split in their own denomination.
A lot of people think the CoC started in the American Restoration Movement from the work of Barton W. Stone (1772-1844) and the two Campbells, Thomas (1763-1854) and Alexander (1788-1866) father and son in the early 1800s.
The Church of Christ started on the first day of Pentecost on 33AD when in the Books of Acts when Peter preached to the masses when he told them what to do to be truly saved in Acts 2:38 and added 3000 souls to the church through obeying the gospel through baptism that day.
The CoC based their teachings on the New Testament teachings of the apostles and Jesus Christ. Many denominational churches put their twist on the scripture by men by starting denomination that is not found in the Bible anywhere.
There is only one church that Christ built and it is repeatedly told in the Bible especially in Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
Also Jesus spoke of his church as he gave Peter the authority to build his one and only church in Matthew 16:18 NKJV
[18] And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
When it comes to how to achieve salvation. People think the Plan of Salvation is a man made plan that the CoC made up. Which is totally wrong. The plan of salvation is not a human invention—it is a restoration of the New Testament pattern.
The Church of Christ today teaches the plan of salvation as a sequence of scriptural steps:
Hearing the Gospel (Romans 10:17) – Salvation starts with knowing Christ.
Believing in Jesus (John 8:24) – Faith in Him as Savior.
Repenting of sins (Acts 17:30) – Turning away from sin.
Confessing Christ (Romans 10:9–10) – Publicly acknowledging Him.
Baptism by immersion (Mark 16:16/Acts 2:38) – For the forgiveness of sins and entry into the church. Living faithfully – Obedience continues after baptism
(Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 1:5–10). This sequence has always been scripturally based in the Church of Christ.
Principle: Bible as the Sole Authority Leaders of the Restoration Movement, like Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone, believed the Bible alone is God’s authority for faith and practice. They rejected creeds, traditions, and denominational interpretations.
The goal was: “What does the Bible say about how a person is saved?”
They read verses in their context (who was speaking, to whom, and why). Example: Peter in Acts 2:38—speaking to the Jews on Pentecost—commands repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Consistency across passages They looked for common themes repeated in multiple passages.
Example: Faith: John 3:16, Hebrews 11:6 Repentance: Acts 17:30, Luke 13:3 Confession: Romans 10:9–10 Baptism: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16 Obedience included in salvation
They noticed that the New Testament never separates faith from obedience (James 2:17). Baptism is commanded in multiple passages, not optional or merely symbolic.
He compared them to the early church in Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 22, Romans 6 to see what the apostles actually required for salvation.
Barton Stone emphasized simplicity and obedience, aligning his selection of verses with Campbell’s.
Every step is supported by multiple verses, not just one isolated text.
They didn’t pick verses arbitrarily; they aimed to fully represent what the apostles practiced. Key Takeaway
The verses were chosen based on pattern, repetition, and apostolic practice. The Church of Christ’s plan of salvation is a careful synthesis of all relevant New Testament passages, not just a random selection or tradition-based list.
In conclusion. I by no means think one church is going to heaven. People truly are lost and unsaved by following false doctrine and man made rules. I love all of you as I worry about people's souls. I think people that truly follow the plan of salvation and been baptized for the remission of the sins and live faithfully are saved. Thank you for reading my post. Always in Christian love. John.
A baitcasting setup with a drag system of a spinning reel! A guy can dream!
The true playbook series is done and uploaded! You can find them by searching my name Johntom2k all the playbooks has true in front of the name of the playbook they represent. Enjoy and please leave me some feedback!
Always carry an assortment of rooster tails with gold and silver blades. Black and white bodies and bright color bodies. At least if you're fishing for bass and they don't bite throughout the day you can throw on a rooster tail and catch something and prevent being skunk.
Just a quick question to see if anybody would be interested in trying out my true series playbooks. I have AI build them for me. For example the spread series playbook I finished genre. I have AI searches out all the spread playbook keeps the the formations is shared in every playbook and picked out the unique formations that isn't shared in the playbook of the spread genre. It's about 15 or 17 formations so far I have made a few and they look really good. If I get enough interest in them I will put them in the download center.