Water baptism not salvation

BEFORE I venture into the subject of this contribution, I would like to share my testimony with you.

I was born in a Christian family. My parents are born-again Christians. In my early childhood I started to be disobedient to my parents and they could no longer control me.

I was involved in many relationships, drinking and smoking.

Let me tell you the secret: There came a time when I did not want to do all these things anymore, but I could not.

I used my own strength to do good, but sins continued to dwell inside me (I could not stop sinning).

One special day came when I asked Jesus to forgive me. I confessed all my sins before him and admitted that I was a sinner.

Jesus forgave my sins, a guilty feeling was lifted from my heart and joy filled me inside.

From that day, all the lust for sins was removed. I became a new creature (Corinthians 5:17).

What is paining me is that some preachers are not giving people the exact gospel of truth that can lead to true repentance.

The word of God says unless a person is born again he will never see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

Then the question is: what is to be born again?

    Is it water baptism?
    Is it completing Bible lessons at church?
    Is it going to church?
    Is it going up front and follow the pastor's prayer?
    Is it declared from the pastor or from God?

Some preachers claim that when a person is water baptised his/her sins will be removed and become a born again Christian.

Quote me right, I am not against baptism, but the actual fact is that water baptism only is not enough (Matthew 3:11).

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, a door was opened for us to directly communicate with him to receive salvation.

Some people claim that they were baptised when they were still young and there is no need for them to be born again.

Be warned, if you think in this manner. It is you who should confess your sins to the Lord.

"Come let us reason together, saith the lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18, KJV).

Most Christians fight a battle against sins, but they are defeated because they have not gone through the right gate of salvation.

When a person is born again, he will never walk in darkness, says the Lord (John 8:12, 1John 5:18).

So, why is it that you claim to be born again and still walk in darkness? Please enter through the right gate of salvation.

Finishing Bible lessons at your church and getting a certificate does not qualify you to be a born-again Christian.

You may have your certificate, but my question is: Are you overcoming sins? If not, why not?

But what does the word of God say?  "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not, whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither know him." (1John 3:6).

If you sin, you do not know him.

The other thing which is paining me most is that in some churches after the preacher has finished sharing the word of God, he/she asks people who want to be saved to come up front and let them follow his prayer and after that declares them born again.

Oh! Preachers do not mislead people, Congregations be warned.

I have some few questions to ask:
    So you want to tell me that the preacher knows all the sins which were committed by those people who follow his prayer?
    Does the preacher or pastor know whether those following his prayer are doing it in flesh or spiritually?
    Those following the prayer, have they received the answer from God?
    Is it the pastor who must tell you that you are born again or it's you who must tell him that you are born again?

But then, what does the word of God say?

It is the person who wants to be saved/born again who knows what wrong he/she has committed before God.

So, it is him who must confess his sins to God not to follow a prayer (1 John 1:9).

The prayer must come from the deep of his heart and the answer shall come to him not to the pastor.

The word of God says: "I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember thy sins" (Isaiah 43:25).

So, it is not the pastor who must tell you that you are born again, the answer must come from God.

The other issue which is affecting most churches is compromising with sins.

There are no small sins or big sins. A sin is a sin before God.

Bring fruits that therefore worthy for repentance (Luke 3:8). If any man be in Christ he becomes a new creature and behold old things have passed away" (2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 13:39).

Those who commit sins are of the devil, no matter what position they have in church.

The Bible is clear and straightforward on that issue and I hold no fear in saying that (1 John 3:8).

"But be doers of the word not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).

"Jesus is the bread of life. He who comes to him shall hunger and thirst no more" (John 6:35). So, why is it that one claims to serve Jesus Christ, while they thirst for sins and sins continue to dwell inside them?

The answer is: You have not gone through the right gate of salvation; you are still not saved because when someone is saved by Jesus Christ he is saved forever.

"For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23, KJV).

You want to do what is right, but you fail to do so. Do not say to yourself you have failed.

God saves someone who is not deceitful and he looks at the heart, not the outside.

If you really mean it inside your heart that you want to serve Jesus Christ, confess all your sins and he will forgive you. You will become a born-again Christian.

"Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me" (Revelations 3:20, KJV).

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