The Importance of Baptism
Blood baptism is a gift of God that justifies us. Water baptism is a sign of the cleansing and sanctification work of the Holy Spirit. Fire baptism perfects those who have been saved.

Justification Sanctification Glorification Sin Repent Repent Study Believe Baptized Law Fruit Gifts Testing Perfection Gold No Sin Blood Water Water Fire Gift Our Reponse is Required God Examines

There are several steps in the process of salvation. We repent and confess our sins, receive the Holy Spirit, study the Word of God, believe in Jesus Christ and get baptized. This is how we become and remain a Christian.
Everything else that we do is because we have become believers in Christ. We continue in daily prayer and study, obey the Holy Spirit, take communion (eat bread and wine) and do missionary work to teach others and lead them to Jesus Christ.

• Saved By Baptism?. Now, just like the issue of salvation by works, the question is "are we saved by baptism?" My answer is the same. We are not saved by our works, but we do works because we are saved. A life that is being transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit will exhibit the fruits of the nature of God as a part of the natural process
  Similarly, we are not saved by baptism, but we get baptized because we realise how we are being saved. So how do we address statements like these?
  • A Believer Will Be Baptized. I agree that anyone who claims to be a believer will not resist baptism.
    He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (Mark 16: 16)
  • Saved By Which Baptism? 1 Peter 3 is a lesson on the historic works of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who pleaded with people at the flood is the One Who raised Jesus and He can cleanse your conscience. Although this text says that baptism saves, it went on to say that it is not the baptism that washes away dirt from the body (water baptism). The type of baptism that saves is the one that washes sin from the heart and mind.
    Baptism of the Conscience. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3: 21)
    This is purely common sense. With water baptism you could be a wet sinner, no better than before you were baptised. But if the Holy Spirit washes your mind, you will always be clean. You might fail by deliberately backsliding and resisting the Holy Spirit but His baptism cannot fail you.
    » Gifts of the Spirit. Normally, the gifts of the Spirit are given after baptism, but in one case the gifts were given before. Peter was amazed by this but the fact is that the gifts could be given because the important baptism had already been done (Acts 10: 45 - 47). They had submitted to the Holy Spirit.
    Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? (Acts 10: 47)
• Baptism As A Sign. So if water baptism is not the baptism that saves you then why do we have to do it if we are obeying the Holy Spirit? Baptism is the sign that we escaped death through resurrection because of Jesus Christ. It is a powerful statement of the faith.
  • Obedience. Christ did it to fulfill all righteousness. He did not use such arguments to resist baptism. He simply obeyed and followed all the steps laid out by God.
    Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him saying, "I have need to tbe baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to Him, " Permit it at this time, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all reghteousness." Then he permitted Him. (Matthew 3: 13-15)
    Sometimes the answer is, "because God says so". We should not be searching for exceptions because even in those cases God expects obedience. So get baptized already!
  • Signs Are Important. Some of you still want to know why. Here is my response. It is sin because you are interfering with the Plan of Salvation. Most of these signs are prophecies that reenforce the written prophecies. They are often times sealed until the generation that needs it understands it. Those who reenact the prophecy while it is sealed will think that it is stupid to take part in crazy rituals. The symbol cannot end until all the prophecies about it have been completed.

    Signs Before Christ Christ Signs After Christ Signs After the Second Coming Curses Lamb Blood Bread Wine Gifts Obedience Fruit Blessings Death Mikvah Water Baptism Law in the Heart Life

    • Animal Sacrifice. They could not save, God hated it, yet Israel had to do it until the crucifixion (Hebrews 10: 8-9). Participation in this ritual means that you have accepted the fact that in the future, God will send a Lamb Who will take away your sins. Christ recognized His duties in those rituals. He is the Lamb of God. 2000 years later we are able to confirm that He was the Messiah because we have the record that identified Him.
    • Circumcision. It is a symbol of joining the covenant which prophesies that a special male child in Israel would be cut off to fulfill the covenant.
    • Communion (Seder). It is a symbol of the order of events that lead to the death and resurrection and Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Participation in this ritual means that you have accepted the fact that the blood of Christ that was shed in the past brought salvation which will be fully realized at the Second Coming. We will celebrate this fact forever in a feast with bread and wine.
      For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11: 26)
    • Baptism. It is a physical symbol of our spiritual death, burial and resurrection in Christ. Since belief is required before baptism, it is an outward sign of our acceptance of the work of Christ that is being done in us through the Holy Spirit. It is also a sign of the future perfection of our bodies in the resurrection. Christ is washing away sin, burying the old, sinful man and raising a new creature.
      In the Likeness (Visual Example). Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6: 4-5)
      The symbol of perfection promised by baptism are not totally fulfilled in you, so you must do it.
    • Sabbath. The Sabbath is the permanent sign that God gives rest, even rest from sin.
    » Here's Mud in Your Eye Satan! This is the baptism of death that Satan had prepared for us. He wanted us to be degraded to the level of cannibals, then condemned to death when the law examined us, to be slaughtered by spilling our blood, and then to be sent to hell fire to be burned up so that we are cut off forever. The baptisms of God help us survive this death and annhilation planned for us.
  These signs are important because they point to the work of Jesus Christ. We honor Him when we do them.

Becoming A Christian
When does someone officially become a believer or a Christian? What are the steps on becoming a Christian?
There are at least four general steps in becoming and learning about Christianity. We repent, believe, study and then are baptized. Will we be lost if we do not complete all these steps? Which are necessary? Which saves us?

» The Roman Jailor. He followed all four steps.
• Repent. after he brought them in he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved." (Acts 16: 30)
• Believe. ... "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16: 31)
• Learn About Jesus (Study).
  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. (Acts 16: 32)
• Baptized. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. (Acts 16: 33)
» The Ethiopian Eunuch. Although the middle steps were reversed, He also followed all steps.
• Repent. Long before Philip met the man reading Isaiah 53, he had decided to come to Jerusalem to worship. He did not fully understand what he was reading, but he had made a decision to come and worship. He recognized that he needed to change.
• Learn About Jesus (Study).
  Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture he preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8: 35)
• Believe. This shows that belief in Jesus must precede baptism.
  ... "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8: 36)
  And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart then you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God". (Acts 8: 37)
• Baptized. This demonstrates baptism by immersion.
  ... and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch and he baptized him. (Acts 8: 38)
» The Thief on the Cross. He did not complete all the steps. He repented while He was on the cross and Jesus said that he will be saved. Yet he did not have the opportunity to be baptized with water after he had repented.
• Repent. He recognized that he was a sinner, deserving death.
  But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23: 40-41)
• Believe. He expressed belief in the innocence and the powerful role of Jesus.
  Believed Jesus. And he was saying, "Jesus, remember Me when You come into Your kingdom!"
  Saved! And He said to him, "Truly I say to you today, you will be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23: 42-43)
This single example shows that heart felt, sincere repentance is all that is really important because it is the Holy Spirit in us that brings us to this point. So a person can pray a sincere prayer of repentence, get hit by a bus in the next ten minutes and still be saved.
» Other People. There are other people who cannot possibly complete all steps through no fault of their own. Will God destroy them for this? Of course not!
• Young Children. Is a baby lost because they are too young to understand and are not baptized? No! Baptism requires that you must first be taught so that you can make an informed decision. Am I lost because I am unable to read or write or understand language? What would that say about a God Who claims to be more merciful than us?
• Mentally Handicapped. Some people are so mentally impaired that they cannot make a real, informed decision through Bible study which is a prerequisite of baptism. Surely the mercy of God is not so small that it cannot save these people because they have not been baptized?
• Premature Deaths. If someone dies while they are studying to be a Christian will they be lost? Of course not! Their current activities show that they were obeying the Spirit and were on the path to baptism.

We had nothing to do with our justification and blood cleansing. It is a universal gift, falling on the just and unjust like the sunshine and rain. All we can do is accept it and respond by repenting. We are babies in the faith at that moment, but we are believers. I base this on the thief on the cross. He was saved only after repenting.
So continued obedience to the Holy Spirit, Bible study, daily prayer, communion, assembling with the brethren are part of the Plan of Salvation but they are steps done in the maintenance phase (sanctification). If we do not continue with these activities we are in danger of being lost because Satan will be working very hard to make you fail.

Gift Jesus Holy Spirit Blood Water Believe (Faith) Repent Conscience Law Obey Study Baptized Heart Clean Past New Body Clean Mind

What Is Absolutely Necessary For Salvation?
There are several steps of salvation. I make a distinction between what is required for righteousness versus what the righteous will do (fruit). In my definition, the things that are required for salvation are the things that all saved people must do and what has been done for them.
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are required for salvation. Fortunately, they have been given as gifts. Repentance and obedience to the Holy Spirit are the two requirements that must be done by all Christians at all stages of their submission to God so that the cleansing by the blood and water can be effective. As we grow in the Holy Spirit, we produce fruits.

• Two Streams (Blood and Water). We have nothing to do with these, they are gifts. Our salvation began with two streams from Christ that will cleanse us. The stream of blood cleansed our guilty record and removed the penalty of death for sin and provides forgiveness from the great High Priest for ongoing sin. The stream of water administered by the Holy Spirit writes the laws into our hearts so that we will never sin again.
  Washing the Past. but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins, for all time, sat down on the right hand of God.
  Washing the Mind. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts and in their minds I will write them. And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. (Hebrews 10: 12, 16-17)
  The cross merely formalized what God had already made available. The Holy Spirit was active in the Old Testament and Jesus was slain from the "foundation of the world" (Revelation 13: 8). This is why He could forgive sin before the cross and this is how all people from Adam to Christ received real forgiveness.
  » A Nation of Priests Enter the Holy Place. The two streams changed our status as common people and helped us to move from the outer court to the Holy Place where only priests could enter. The blood was sprinkled at the altar of sacrifice and the priests washed at the laver.
  Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
  ... let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10: 19, 22)
  The Jordan river is muddy. It is not pure. So the pure water that gives the true washing that cleanses the body and mind is the spiritual washing by the Holy Spirit that has been made available by the blood of Jesus Christ.
• Repent. If this step is not done, the next steps are irrelevant. This step is the crucial step that is needed by all true believers because the wicked might do the other steps but not this one.
  We can also say with confidence that if you have made this decision that you already have the Holy Spirit working for you, because even our need to repent has not been left to chance. It is God Who seeks you out and leads you to repentance and submission to Him.
  God Woos Us. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted from the Father." (John 6: 65)
  » Water for Repentance. Before knowledge of Christ, all previous baptisms could only acknowledge repentence, the one basic response capable by all sinners with the help of the Holy Spirit.
  » When Are We Responsible for Sin? There is an intriguing text that suggests that whatever you have been convinced is wrong is sin for you and you are responsible (Romans 14: 14; James 4:17). The reason is that this reveals your attitude towards sin. For example, if you believe that eating chocolate icecream is a sin and you continue to do it, then there is no reason to trust that you will stop stealing office supplies when God reveals this sin to you.
  Therefore, babies and mentally handicapped people are not responsible for their sins so that they are led to repentance because they do not yet understand that they are sinning! So repentance is required when your conscience convinces you.
• Learn About Jesus (Study). True repentance will always get you to heaven, and Bible study will help these people. But Bible study is not a guarantee of salvation for practical reasons. Some are illiterate, handicapped and some study with the intention of resisting the Holy Spirit. An atheist can study and become a biblical expert, but he never repents or submits to God. Satan knows the Bible.
  Religion departments in many universities are churning out atheists, agnostics and pastors who are nothing more than social workers or motivational speakers because they study and teach religion, criticise and cast doubt on it but never intend to believe or obey. Religion is treated as a study of social myths and their impact on modern society. So the new pastors are the new sociologists who are guiding the ignorant into the modern truths of science.
• Believe In Jesus. Jesus is a requirement of salvation. Satan knows religion and He knows the truth about Jesus but that fact will not save him because he will not repent and confess.
  You believe that God is one, you do well. The devils also believe and tremble. (James 2: 19)
  So if you believe in Jesus you are doing well, but that will not save you. The devils believe, but will be lost. Many believers who claim to do great works for Jesus will be lost.
  Lost Believers. Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" And I will declare to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness". (Matthew 7: 21-23)
  Belief in Jesus is not enough. You must obey Him. Again, we are pointed back to the work of the Holy Spirit.
  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2: 20)
  
  » Blasphemy Against Jesus. Here is another shocking statement. I know that many people teach that anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ will be lost. This is not true.
  The Gift of Jesus. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4: 12)
  What is true is that everyone who is saved will be saved because of Jesus whether they know Him or not. This requirement of salvation is a gift. Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 38-39). Apparently, not even blasphemy against Him can separate us.
  Here lies the problem. You cannot know about Jesus unless you are told and this knowledge is not naturally attained. It is acquired externally, through hearing and understanding. You cannot be expected to be responsible for what you do not know. So God makes provision for this and that is why this blasphemy against Jesus is forgiven and this requirement of salvation is a gift.
  And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. (Luke 12: 10)
  
  » Believe In Jesus. John seems to suggest that belief in Jesus Christ is required for eternal life.
  He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3: 36)
  • Choosing To Believe The Testimony. This text is aimed at those who know about Jesus. You cannot choose to believe in Jesus or choose not to believe in Jesus if you have never heard about Him.
    He who has received His testimony has set his seal on this, that God is true. (John 3: 33)
  • Disobedient Believers. John says that it is not enough to believe Jesus. You must obey Him.
    Jesus gives you the gift of eternal life just for believing. However, if these believers do not obey Jesus then they will not see this gift of life because they have thrown it away.
  This text is not aimed at the person who never heard about Christ or Christians. It is warning believers that they must be obedient. In order to obey a law, one must be aware that it exists and there are consequences. In order to believe in something, one has to know it exists. One must see it, hear it or be told about it to know it exists.
  Believers Must Be Taught. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10: 14)
  If our eternal life or damnation is dependent on any important knowledge, then one must be taught.
  So I ask, how are they responsible for believing in Jesus Christ if they have never heard about Him? Millions have died who have never heard about Jesus. This includes Abraham, Isaac, Moses, king David and all the native American tribes before the arrival of Columbus. If belief in Jesus is an absolute requirement, then God must make sure that all people have a chance to hear about Him and reject Him before they die. This is not the case, and if so, it is neither fair nor just.
  » Human Standards Of Fairness And Justice. I am not simply applying human wisdom to analyze the problem. God Himself says in Isaiah 45: 20-25 that even when we judge Him with our standards we will acknowledge that He was correct. So I acknowledge that even the sins we do in ignorance are still sin and still require atonement. This is why there is a process called justification. So I say that it is unjust and unreasonable to condemn a person to death for an action that they did not know was required and cannot naturally acquire by reasoning.
  We can naturally come to learn that murder, rape and robbery are wrong, but we cannot naturally come to the conclusion that we need salvation through the death of a Man named Jesus Christ and that He is God.
• Obey The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a gift. But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. Why? This gift is internal, given at birth and works with your conscience.
  ... think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12: 3)
  Therefore submission to Him is crucial and is an absolute requirement for salvation. Anyone who repents has already received and obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit Who has begun the task of permanently washing away the desire to sin and planting the desire to be obedient.
  
  Many good people will be in heaven who have never heard about Christianity or Jesus Christ! Jesus said that blasphemy against Him can be forgiven, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit! Those who enter heaven without hearing about Christ did not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Consequently, they have demonstrated the working of the Spirit in their hearts by their obedience.
  Law Written in The Heart. For when Gentiles who do not have the law do instinctively the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them. (Romans 2: 14-15)
  The Holy Spirit is responsible for everything related to your perfection. He woos. He teaches us and He writes the laws in our heart.
  Taught By The Spirit. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (1 John 2: 27)
  
  » Two or Three Witnesses (After Christ). The two streams are also from the two witnesses of God who will testify about whether we deserve salvation or not.

  Judges Vote				Judgment
  #	Satan	Jesus	Spirit	Saved	Group
  1	N	Y	Y	Y	Christian
  2	N	N	N	N
  3	N	Y?	N	Y?
  4	N		N	N	Blasphemer
  5	N	N	Y	Y
  6	N	N	Y	Y	Non-Christian
  7	N	N	N	N

  • Jesus Christ (Word Of God). He is the written witness in the law and the prophets whose testimony must be made available by learning, hearing and reading.
  • Holy Spirit (Conscience). He is the internal witness.
  • Satan (Accuser). He always tempted and condemned us.
  According to the law we can only be condemned based on the testimony of two witnesses who agree. Incredibly, this means that if we do not know about Jesus Christ but the Holy Spirit can testify that we responded to the pleas of our conscience, then we cannot be condemned to death!
  Therefore, it takes both the vote of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to condemn us.
  This means that one possibility is also impossible. It is impossible for the Holy Spirit to testify that we disobeyed Him and yet Jesus testifies that we obeyed Him (#3). However, it is possible for Jesus to say we never knew Him (not that He never knew us), yet the Spirit testifies that we obeyed Him. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit speaking to our conscience is only possible if we resist all other authority. If we resist the Spirit we will resist Jesus. Then our own conscience will accuse us in the judgment. We will testify against ourselves!
  » Two Witnesses (Before Christ). The laws did not box God into a corner of injustice. Two witnesses had to agree to pass the death sentence. One vote saves us.
  • Satan (Accuser). Before Jesus, Satan our representative condemned us to death.
  • Holy Spirit (Conscience). He was the internal witness. Although Satan votes "no" every time, his vote for execution will not count unless the Holy Spirit also agrees.
  So Jesus gives us a warning, Do not grieve the Holy Spirit because His vote is the most important.
  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4: 30)
  » The Vote. So the votes can be seen not just as "Y/N" they obeyed, it is also "Y/N" I know and love them. It is not "Y/N" they know and love me. So Satan is always voting that we are disobedient and he hates us.
• Keep The Commandments. Since people will be saved who never kept all the commandments, they are not required for salvation. If you do not know by law or experience or example that something is wrong, then you are not responsible.
  Ignorance Is An Excuse. Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. (Acts 17: 30)
  » No More Excuses. However, after Christ, God will remove all excuses. At some point all men will be convinced to repent. Those who are being led by the Holy Spirit will be convinced that they must obey the law. Knowing that the righteous must demonstrate obedience to the law, God was also proactive in this area. He did not leave this up to our consciences only, otherwise every man who do what seems right in his own eyes. So God gave a printed copy of the law on stone and He promised to write it on our hearts with the Holy Spirit. So this response comes as a consequence of the works of the Holy Spirit.
  » God Expects Repentance. This is an ominous warning. God expects belief. Since choice and belief are necessary, God must dispatch the Holy Spirit in a more convincing way at first contact with information about Jesus. Therefore, no matter how poorly Christians represent their God, the Holy Spirit makes up for it through inner conviction which will condemn our sins and introduce us to Christ.
• Baptized. My objection to the statement that, "you must be baptized to be saved" is based on the fact that this means that anyone who is not baptized by water will be lost. I totally disagree. Since there are examples of people who died without being baptized, then water baptism is not absolutely necessary to be saved.
  Forgiveness Of Sins. Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2: 38)
  Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name. (Acts 22: 16)
  After reading these texts you would think that baptism forgives sin by washing away sin. The Old Testament made the same claims about animal sacrifices which were also symbols that could not accomplish the task. Common sense says that washing the outer body with water cannot remove sin or change the heart and mind just as killing a lamb cannot remove sins. You need to understand what is the real process that saves.
  
  Only one type of water baptism saves and that is baptism by the Holy Spirit. Labeling baptism as a symbol does not diminish its importance or function or the fact that we are commanded to do it. But it is still a symbol of the real death to sin, the real circumcision from sin, the real cleansing and the beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ that is accomplished when the Holy Spirit, as the real agent of change, transforms the heart.

The Wicked Will Never Repent Or Obey.

Salvation By Baptism? A misunderstanding of the significance of water baptism has led to forced baptisms, infant baptism, the belief in limbo and the belief that only Christians can be saved because all savages will be lost if they do not become Christians. Surely the Plan of Salvation has found a way to reconcile all people in all circumstances. The internal baptism of the Holy Spirit is the solution.

At the final judgment, everyone will have the greatest Bible study ever presented by the greatest Rabbi who ever lived. Everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is God. Every knee will bow and confess that God is righteous (Philippians 2: 9-11). They will admit that they were wrong. Yet the wicked will attack God soon after this great revelation. Knowledge or truth or common sense did not save them. They refused to repent and obey and submit to God. Repentence involves acknowledging that you are wrong and turning away from what you are doing by ceasing hostilities with God and submitting to Him. They did not cease their hostilities.
You will become a friend of God at the moment you cease your hostilities. This is when you are saved. Water baptism is the formal signing of the peace declaration. The gift of the blood of Christ, repenting and obeying the Holy Spirit will save you. Every saved person will have these in common. Every lost person will not submit to them.
Studying, believing in Jesus, keeping the commandments, working for God, belonging to a particular church and being baptized with water do not save you. However, the person who is being saved will do these things because the Holy Spirit will convince you to do them. So the process of salvation will include all those steps, but God does not wait until you are finished or graduated to save you. You can die anywhere along the steps and still be saved because you have already received the Holy Spirit as a gift and repented of what you are convinced is wrong. You have submitted to God, an action that the wicked will never do.
» A Great Salvation. The incredible news about this wonderful salvation is that the two absolute requirements have been given to us as a gift! They are Jesus and the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is to accept and submit. Repentance and obedience are our response when we have the knowledge, opportunity and the mental capacity to do so.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. (Ephesians 2: 8)