Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. ~ Marc Taylor
While it is admirable that one makes an attempt to logically support his conclusions from the Bible, such efforts that have as their purpose to dispel clear biblical teaching are doomed to failure. If the veracity of the two sentences quoted above runs counter to biblical fact, all the remaining sentences expended (not here noted) are irrelevant and useless.
Who should be believed today regarding religious instruction, especially respecting salvation and baptism’s relationship to salvation, if any? Should mankind trust in his fellow, uninspired man, or should he rely on the writings of the inspired writers of the New Testament? For instance, many claim today, “Baptism is not necessary for salvation.” However, the apostle Peter penned by inspiration just the opposite, “…baptism doth also now save us…” (1 Peter 3:21 KJV); the ASV, NKJV, NIV, NASB and the RSV all teach in 1 Peter 3:21 that baptism saves us (i.e., is the point at which one’s sins are removed). Therefore, the inspired Luke recorded the “must do” (Acts 9:6) relative to the salvation of Saul of Tarsus (later the apostle Paul) as “…arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Was Cornelius saved before he was baptized? Peter baptized him (Acts 10:48). However, the apostle Peter taught before and after his acquaintance with Cornelius that baptism saves (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). Please don’t think badly of me if I opt to take Peter’s inspired word on the matter of the relationship of baptism to salvation, as well as understand the events relating to Cornelius, baptism and his salvation based on what the inspired apostle Peter wrote about baptism and salvation.
