Bible Questions and Answers

A visitor writes,

"If a person wishes to be saved, what did Jesus say he should do after believing the gospel?"

Following belief of the Gospel, we must repent of our sins – change the way that we think and act - and be baptised by immersion in water.

John Baptist first preached repentance and baptism.

Matthew 3:1  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2  and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"... 5  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6  and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Jesus, although having no sins to repent of, set the example by being baptised:

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Jesus had his disciples baptise people:

John 3:26  And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"

John 4:1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2  (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3  He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

Jesus, speaking to Nicodemas described baptism as 'being born of water':

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3  Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" 5  Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus commissioned his disciples:

Matthew 28:19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mark 16:15  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16  "He who believes and is baptized will be saved…

The apostle Peter told the Jews:

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins… 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch:

Acts 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36  Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37  Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38  So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Ananias told Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, that he must be baptised.

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.’

Peter explains the importance of baptism:

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 

Paul writes:

Romans 6:3  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Galatians 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Baptism marks the beginning of a new life to be lived by the commandments of Jesus.

I hope you find this helpful,

God bless,

Glenn