Let's Go Back to the Bible

Just keep reading. God will give the answer.

One of the most common arguments used against the Biblical doctrine of the necessity of baptism for salvation is based on a misunderstanding of the events in Acts 10.  If you want to have a full understanding of those events in Acts 10, just keep reading into Acts 11.  It is often suggested, “Since the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household before they were baptized, doesn’t that mean that baptism is not essential to salvation?”

In Acts 11, Peter told the apostles what an angel had told Cornelius – “Call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved” (11:13-14).  Could Cornelius and his household have been saved without hearing the words that Peter would speak to them?  The answer is obviously, “No.”  Now, read the next verse:  “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” (v. 15).  Yes, the Holy Spirit fell upon them before they heard the saving words of Peter (and before they were baptized).  If this proves baptism is not essential, it also proves the words were not!