RIVERFORUM:
One must read on from John 3:3 to understand fully, that rebirth is of the water and of the spirit. (John 3:3-5) not merely confession and repentance. Verse 5 says:
"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
We must be buried with Him in baptism (water) and renewed by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. (fire/spirit).
This is what is referred to in Hebrews 6:1-2 as the "doctrine of baptisms". Note: doctrine (singular) baptisms (plural).
At all critical conversion points in Acts we are told to be baptized in water and in the holy spirit. (Acts 2, 8, 10, 19).
Essential to salvation? Yes.
Mark 16:16.
6 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
1 Peter 3:18-22.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Do you disagree? Does this teaching not reconcile to your current beliefs and what you’ve been taught by your church or fellowship? Does what you are now being shown in the Bible seem new - almost like it was hidden in plain sight?
Reading ALL of these above passages in context, they certainly challenge modern church teaching on the subject of Baptism. Albeit, we must be followers of the Word. Not our church traditions.
I encourage you to come along to what Scripture says and don’t lean on your understanding (i.e. don't look for scripture to confirm your doctrinal biases. Read the words for what they SAY.)
"Why then doesn't my church teach that Baptism is essential to Salvation when these passages clearly indicate that it is.?"
We are to hold steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine. Not our church movements. Why?
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which. leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Critic 1: Nonsense. If we believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins we are "saved."
RIVERFORUM:
"Nonsense" is more than a bit reductionist and quite dismissive. This isn't as much “teaching” as it is “quoting”. I am actually framing for you the biblical position based on what the Bible itself teaches on this subject. One is free to disagree based on their beliefs, but I must point out that such disagreement is not with me. It is with the text itself. If one does not accept the text, that’s another matter entirely. My exegesis is faithful to the texts. They say what they say.
Going on then, belief is essential to salvation, so are baptisms. One can't pick and choose scriptures. It's either all true or it's not. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus. He commanded baptism in Acts 2, and explained why in 1 Peter 3:21-22.
The book of Colossians (Col 2:8-15) discusses how baptism is the new circumcision of the heart. A Jew was not a Jew if left uncircumcised no matter what his faith, because neglecting that left the Jew OUTSIDE of the covenant with God.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
A Christian who believes and has not been baptized in both water and spirit is simply a believer/disciple. This is what they were called.
The book of Acts shows how such believers were brought into the church. (Acts 8, 10, 19) are your examples where believers were brought into the covenant with Christ through aligning to Jesus' direction to be both baptized by water like John the Baptist did, and also with fire as He would later do (Acts 1:5) Luke writing...
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
JEWS
Acts 2 shows god fearing Jews coming to faith after seeing the 120 receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
36 ...Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
OK, NOW THEY BELIEVE PETER'S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS... WHAT NEXT?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
BELIEF/REPENTANCE + WATER BAPTISM + SPIRIT BAPTISM
SAMARITANS
Acts 8:14-16 Shows believers with water baptism, needing spirit baptism.
4 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
BELIEF/REPENTANCE + WATER BAPTISM + SPIRIT BAPTISM
ROMANS
But Acts 10 really brings it home.... It starts out with PETER preaching to the Gentile Roman Cornelius:
Acts 10:43 ...To him (Jesus) give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Ok that lines up so far with what you said, but go on... they weren't done!
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
BELIEF/REPENTANCE + WATER BAPTISM + SPIRIT BAPTISM
GREEKS/ASIA MINOR
ACTS 19
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
SO HERE PAUL IS TAKING THE SAME INVENTORY OF BELIEVERS THAT PETER DID. "OK, SO YOU BELIEVE...WERE YOU BAPTISED IN WATER AND SPIRIT YET?" THEY WERE REBAPTIZED INTO JESUS AND THEN RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
REMEMBER THIS FROM ACTS 1:1-5?
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
BELIEF/REPENTANCE + WATER BAPTISM + SPIRIT BAPTISM
Teaching belief ONLY ignores the weight of scripture and robs the Christian of the fullness of their experience in Christ. It began on the day of Pentecost and endures to this day.
"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)
Critic 2: I know so many "good people", but they do not believe they have to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour to get into Heaven.
RIVERFORUM:
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
One needs more than simply believing that Jesus is Lord. Even the devil believes in Jesus. Judas Iscariot had a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" - and that closer than any of us ever had.
What makes our faith "saving faith" is the covenant we can enter into with Him through the "doctrine of baptisms".
Read above my citations of where the Bible teaches us HOW to be born of water and of spirit.
Notice here below that these are disciples/believers in Jesus who had been baptised in a manner different than the Apostles and Jesus prescribed for the church - They were RE-baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus (not father, son, and holy spirit) AND they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Just as over 644 Million modern christians alive today worldwide have done.
Acts 19 1:7
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.