United Church of God EXPOSED!

by David J. Stewart

       The UNITED CHURCH OF GOD (ucg.org) is another demonic religious cult which mandates water baptism for salvation. UCG acknowledges that “MANY” people have asked whether baptism is required or essential for salvation. It is indeed a common question in churches today. Sadly and tragically UCG thinks that water baptism is required to get to Heaven.

In sharp contrast, the Bible plainly teaches that not only is water baptism NOT required for salvation, but it will send you to Hell forever if you trust in baptism in the least to save you. Here is a quote directly from the United Church Of God official website...

Is baptism required for salvation?

Jesus Christ, the apostles and the New Testament Church practiced water baptism. Is baptism a required part of God's plan of salvation?

Answer:
Many have asked whether baptism is required or essential for salvation.

The Bible shows that it is necessary. When thousands of convicted Jews asked Peter and the other apostles how to act on their conviction, Peter's response was to the point: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The biblical record shows that the ministers baptized converts in water.

The gift of the Holy Spirit begins a process, which eventually culminates in God changing Christians to spirit (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). That change to spirit is the essence of salvation—being saved from eternal death. Many today fail to understand that conversion is a process, believing instead that it is only a momentary emotional experience. Without a complete understanding of the Scriptures, they don't understand why baptism should be necessary.

SOURCE: Is baptism required for salvation? - Bible FAQ | United Church of God [emphasis added]

There are numerous Biblical reproofs against the false doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. You can get water baptized, homogenized, pasteurized (just kidding) all you want; but it won't help you one iota to get into Heaven. Roman Catholicism has popularized the satanic practice of baptism for salvation. Mormons even practice water baptism for the dead, and wealthy people (even non-Mormons) around the world fly to Salt Lake City, Utah to get baptized in their giant hot tub. There Are No Secrets In Biblical Christianity (the Mormon church has much to hide!) 

One of the strongest proofs against water baptism is the Epistle of 1st John. The apostle John states in 1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Notice what the Scriptures say, “THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” The Epistles of 1st, 2nd and 3rd John never mention the word baptism even once. This fact speaks volumes. If water baptism were required for salvation, then certainly John would have mentioned it since he is writing to help others KNOW that they are saved.

Furthermore, no one in the Old Testament was ever water baptism. If baptism were required for salvation today, then that would necessitate two separate gospels. The Bible doesn't teach two gospels; but rather,. just ONE. People in the Old Testament were saved the same exact way that we are today under the New Testament, that is, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” As you just read, all of the Old Testament prophets gave witness that through the Messiah's name, whosoever believeth in Him shall have their sins forgiven.

Also consider that the Gospel of John was written to convince the reader that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we will be saved. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The words “believe” and “believed” are found 85-times in the Gospel of John, but we don't find water baptism associated with them.

There are only a small handful of Scriptures which false Bible teachers twist (wrestle) to their own destruction. Here are some of them...

Baptism for Salvation (Examining Verses Used to Support this Theory)

Getting water baptism doesn't make you a Christian any more than walking into a garage makes you an automobile. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Notice the phrase “LIKE AS CHRIST.” Being water baptized is symbolic of what DOES save us, which is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are saved by receiving (believing) the gospel as payment for our sins. It's that simple. 

Religion makes salvation complicated and turns it into a drawn out and burdensome process over a lifetime. In sharp contrast, the Bible teaches that salvation is a new birth—a second birth—a spiritual birth! Salvation is an event in one's life, a supernatural miracle of God in response to one's trust in the Lamb of God. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth. Eternal life comes immediate, instant and forever; never to be lost, jeopardized or taken away for any reason. You don't get saved by good works, and you don't become lost again by bad works. It's not what you are doing that gets you to Heaven, it's where you are looking. LOOK TO JESUS!

The thief on the cross was never water baptized. He was being crucified because he was such a horrible sinner. He simply acknowledging his guilt of sin (Luke 23:41) and looked to Jesus by faith to be saved, saying “Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

We find the gospel defined in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 as the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, there is no mention made of water baptism being a part of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptism is one's profession of faith, an act of obedience on behalf of the believer, showing the dying of the old sinful man and the newness of life in Christ Jesus.

Baptism is not a commitment to live holy, nor is it a promise to do better, nor is it a religious sacrament bestowing some special divine grace upon the participant. There is no efficacy (power) to water baptism. It is a representation of the gospel which saves men's souls. Baptism simply shows outwardly what has happened inwardly, and it also shows that we now have a new life in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Thus, we see that water baptism primarily shows that we have been saved by faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection; and secondarily baptism shows that we now have new life in Christ and ought to live accordingly. Please understand that baptism is not a requirement to live right. Baptism is not a requirement to do anything. What is it, is a visual reminder for the rest of our life that we now belong to Christ and are freed from the curse of sin and spiritual death, and we should walk in the newness of life which has been given to us by faith in Christ Jesus.

A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF BAPTISM

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