I read your article, “Why I Am Not a Nazarene<\/a>,” as I have been researching the\u00a0Wesleyan Nazarenes and was considering attending there as a member but I am having doubts. However, I read your article and where it says\u00a0“No one is saved without being baptized with water” is\u00a0not biblical.\u00a0\u00a0One is saved by faith in Jesus Christ and by the grace of God.\u00a0\u00a0That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved ( Romans 10:9).\u00a0 Not by works OR baptism.\u00a0 Baptism is an outward symbol of your old life dying and being renewed again in Christ.\u00a0 The\u00a0old has\u00a0passed away.\u00a0 One of the criminals dying on\u00a0one of the crosses with Jesus was not baptized but did confess Jesus is the Lord.\u00a0 Jesus told him\u00a0“Today, you will be with me in\u00a0Paradise.”<\/p>\n I do appreciate the article written there about why you are not a\u00a0Nazarene, however, unless I misunderstood what was written, one’s salvation does not <\/b>hinge on whether you have been baptized.\u00a0 Should we be?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 The Bible tells us so.\u00a0 It does not say that is where\u00a0our salvation comes from and it is quite clear.<\/p>\n Please be careful when you are leading others.<\/p>\n\t What do you think being saved means? Saved from what?<\/p>\n “Corresponding to that,\u00a0baptism now saves you<\/strong>–not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience–through the resurrection of Jesus Christ<\/em>” (I Peter 3:21).<\/p>\n “He who believes and is baptized will be saved<\/strong>; but he who does not believe will be condemned<\/em>” (Mark 16:16).<\/p>\n “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins<\/strong>; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit<\/em>” (Acts 2:38).<\/p>\n “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore\u00a0we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life<\/strong>. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin<\/em>” (Romans 6:3-7).<\/p>\n “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,\u00a0by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism<\/strong>, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,\u00a0He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses<\/strong><\/em>” (Colossians 2:11-13).<\/p>\n “‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and\u00a0be baptized, and wash away your sins<\/strong>, calling on the name of the Lord<\/em>” (Acts 22:16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Thank you for responding. I am going to read all this information but it will take a minute. I just wanted to thank you for your response.<\/p>\n I know that Jesus was baptized and was not a sinner. I believe He did it as an example of what we should be doing. And again, that prisoner that was killed with him on the cross was not baptized. I have been doing some real searching and am going to read all your information now.<\/p>\n I never answered your question to me: I think saved means saved from our sins and eternal separation from God in hell.<\/p>\n I was raised Catholic and was baptized as a child then I attended a Baptist church and was saved on the altar by confession and baptized at a lake by immersion.\u00a0 The church I attended (the Baptist one) I loved but they went to being a “Purpose-Driven” church and a split took place.\u00a0 I was new at the time and didn’t quite understand what was going on.\u00a0 I do now though and actually started searching for a church closer to my home which led me to First Church of the Nazarene.\u00a0 However, the more I learn about doctrine (and I don’t want to obsess about it and let it hinder my walk but I think it is <\/b>important) I have been having doubts as to if the Nazarene is for me.\u00a0 I am leaning toward going to a different Baptist church near me that isn’t “Purpose-Driven,” which gives sole <\/b>control to the Pastor.\u00a0 There is another church that is more nondenominational, but I didn’t want to drive that far.\u00a0 I haven’t tried it yet though but did learn some of their doctrines.\u00a0 Sometimes I think focusing strictly on doctrine is not good, but then again, how can you not when one is seeking.<\/p>\n Your article was a bit of an eye-opener for me though and I have been trying to download their manual (I want to check out that page 33 you mentioned).\u00a0 God is not the author of confusion and me being so confused about being there should be a clue also.\u00a0 Something has been nagging at me and I just couldn’t put my finger on the whole thing.\u00a0 I have been wondering if it’s a “feel good, tickle my ears” church.\u00a0 How can they say they prefer to have you be baptized when you know what you’re doing (believing Jesus is your Savior) but they said they won’t “split hairs” with a parent who wants their infant baptized.<\/p>\n Even though I haven’t agreed with\u00a0everything<\/em>\u00a0in your article, it does help me to search more and\u00a0to help confirm my feelings about the Nazarenes.\u00a0 It\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0a young\u00a0denomination.\u00a0 I wish\u00a0Christians were just Christians and everything wasn’t identified with a denomination.<\/p>\n Just seeking and searching all the time. I am praying continually that my Father will lead me\u00a0to where I belong in\u00a0His\u00a0Truth.\u00a0 I know He will if I don’t give up!<\/p>\n\t There are many passages that speak to the importance of doctrine. Checking such things out should be foremost in evaluating a church that claims to follow Christ. Just look at what Paul told Timothy in one chapter:<\/p>\nAnswer:<\/h2>\n
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