2.
The word of God (see Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3).
3.
Repentance as signified in the baptism by John the Baptist
4.
Water is a synonym for the Holy Spirit, so John 3:5 maybe translated by water, even the Spirit.”
12
See Titus 3:4,5.
In summary, we don’t believe that water baptism is required for salvation. Although the meaning of the word water in John 3:5 is not certain, it is clear from other Scripture that faith in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation (for example, see John 3:16). Scripture teaches that we baptize disciples in water. Baptism in Biblical accounts was by immersion. So we also baptize by immersion. If a candidate for baptism is a child, the child should be old enough to understand his commitment to follow Christ. Soon after the believer’s profession of faith in Christ, the believer should be baptized. Salvation is by the grace of God (see Titus 3:4,5). Grace means unmerited favor.” So salvation is a free gift. We cannot earn salvation, because we are by nature sinners. All our efforts fall short of the perfect life that God wants for us. Only by faith in Christ, the
Mediator between God and man, do we receive salvation. We are saved in order to do good works. So we are saved by grace through faith, in order to do good works
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