Baptism?

I was talking with my brother this morning about the importance of baptism. It was a great conversation. We read Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." and began to discuss it. "Does this mean if you baptized you can't receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? Does baptism mean your saved?" Well we looked back into the word for our answers and this is what we found.

In Romans the Jews asked what to say to the Gentiles who wanted to be saved. Well Romans 8:9 states "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

We also looked at Acts 11:43-45 "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." In verse 48 Paul then commands them to be baptized.

Through reading these and much discussion we have come to this conclusion. In order to be saved you must believe in God, if you believe in Him and that His son Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again than you will follow His steps and be baptized and open yourself up to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is not so simple, it is a process a daily evaluation of what one believes and how they operate in that believe. Its not just what you did that saves you its what you are doing. With that being said James reminds us in chapter 2 of his book that "faith without works is dead." So if you believe in Him read His word follow His teachings and be open for a miracle.