Questions & Answers
Questions 241 (COD Page 935)
Dear Brother Branham, my question is on baptism. When is a person saved? I have hear it was when a person believed. Some say that when you receive the Holy Ghost you are saved, even though you haven’t been baptized in water, as in the case of Cornelius at Acts 10:47. Some say Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, but in Acts 22:16, says that he still had his sins three days later. Can a person be baptized in the Holy Spirit as Cornelius was, and still have his sins, since he has not had water baptism, on–or is a person’s passage to Heaven not until he has had water baptism, even though he has the Holy Spirit?
63 Now, my precious friend...Now, this brother signs his name; I don’t know him, but he signs his name. But I–I won’t call the names, because it’s not necessary; ’cause other people will be getting to them and say, “Well, I–I disagree with you on this and that.” See? And I just won’t call no names. Most of these has their names signed, but I–just for me. See? I’m putting them back in here, so I can keep them. So it’s just a blue handwrite; some of it’s typed and different ways.
64 Now, the question here first was: “When are you saved?” And the next–the follow this, “Can sins be remitted outside of water baptism, for Cornelius had received the Holy Ghost–he and his house–and had not yet been baptized in water.” And Paul had not–after he had met his experience at–on the road to Damascus, he, also, still had his sins on him until he was baptized; because it said (I’ve read all these Scriptures through again to be sure)...And so it was...He said, “Rise and go straightway and be baptized, calling upon the Name of
the Lord–be baptized, having your sins forgiven (remitted), and–and go calling upon the Name of the Lord.”
65 And then, “Is the baptism of the Holy Ghost...person can be baptized with It and still have their sins and not–and not baptized in water.”
66 “Is a person’s passage assured to Heaven when baptized, though they have the Holy Ghost; yet they must be baptized in water, before their passage is assured to Heaven?” Now, I believe...Now, I don’t–I don’t know this brother, and that’s a very good and an intelligent question. And it should be dealt with at length, because it’s important that we know these things. See?
67 Now, I kind of believe that the brother may be saying to menor getting me to say it (or maybe he believes in it, I don’t know)nand–of something that I do think is just a–a little bit contrarynto real, true faith in the Word. I...This sounds like that thenbrother is saying...Now, which is all right, Brother; you maynbe setting here; and that’s fine. I–I think that’s a good...I’m songlad you put it on here. Now, see? But I do not believe in being
baptized in water to regeneration (see?), because when you do, that omits the Blood. See? You are baptized in water to show that regeneration has taken place. See? That’s just an outward–a symbol of regeneration. The whole thing rest solemnly upon predestination. See? But we don’t know who is and who isn’t; therefore, we preach the Gospel. By faith we just go preaching.
68 But on regeneration now, there’s where I differ with the oneness brethren. And you oneness brethren who hear this tape of questions, if it would fall into your office, or your house, or among you people that’s oneness people, don’t misunderstand me, now, that I–I–just ’cause we disagree.
69 Me and my wife disagree; sure we do. I tell her I love her, and she says don’t believe I do. So then–so then we certainly disagree, but I’m telling you, we sure get along all right.
70 Now notice. Maybe I don’t show enough signs to her, that I do. But I’m out preaching, then come in home and get my fishing rod and go fishing. See? But down in my heart I love her; I just have to stay away from her, that’s all.
71 Now, notice in this...Now, if we disagree, it’s all right; but you see, water does not remit sins; it’s an answering towards a good conscience.
72 Now, I believe the reason that Paul had to be baptized there, because it’s officially and it’s essential in the Bible that we are baptized. Because I take right back to this then: when the thief was hanging on the cross...And he died without being baptized at all, and yet with a promise that Jesus would meet him in Paradise that day–in Paradise, not in the regions of the lost, because it was the first time the opportunity was presented to him.
73 And I believe the same conditions was with those hearts at the house of Cornelius when they had received the Word of God with gladness. And the Holy Spirit is that Word quickened, and It had been quickened to them. That’s the reason the Holy Ghost begin to speak out in other tongues and prophesy. It was the receptacle hearts of the people that the Word fell into, seeing all the supernatural.
74 That’s what puzzles me today in this hour that we’re living in. After that bunch of Romans had–and Greeks, as they were, had just seen the manifestation of a vision made sure, the Holy Ghost so alarmed them hearts till while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell upon them. See?
75 Just like...See, Cornelius said, “Go call up...” He was a centurion, and that comes “century” is from a hundred. He was over a hundred man. He’s a Roman centurion; and he’d–he had seen a vision while he was praying, and an Angel come to him. He was a good man. He said, “Go down to Joppa. One Simon, a tanner, and there’s one named Simon Peter. He’s up...You’ll find him there, and he’ll come tell you the Words.”
76 Well, he thought the vision was so real. “I couldn’t have been asleep; I was looking right at the–the Angel.” So he sent some of his faithfullest soldiers down.
77 And while there, God was making the apostle ready at the other end of the line. And He said, “Now, rise.” He said... Seeing he was up on top of the house waiting for the–Mrs. Simon to fix the dinner. And while he was up there...He’d been hungry, probably walking, the apostle had, through the–the deserts. And–and he was laying up there on the house just before dinner, on the housetop, as it was customary. Still do the same thing, lay upon the roof, and they go down a ladder and sometimes steps and things, off the roof–set up there in the cool of the evening.
78 But the apostle fell asleep, and while he was in a sleep, he went beyond a sleep into a trance; and then he seen a sheet coming down with all unclean and things in it, and he heard a Voice saying, “Rise, slay and eat.” He said, “Not so, Lord, nothing’s ever come into my mouth unclean.”
79 Now, see, there’s a vision. Now, watch! That has to be interpreted. Now, that look like Peter’s going to take a hunting trip and was going to find some kind of a animal he’d never eat before and try to eat it. He said, “Not so, Lord, I–I never had anything unclean come into my lips.”
80 He said, “Don’t call that clean what I make–unclean what I make clean.” Said, “Rise, there’s men waiting at the gate for you. Go, don’t doubt nothing.” The same time they was knocking on the door. [Brother Branham knocks on pulpit–Ed.]
81 Now, see? And then when he found this man there, these faithful soldiers, just according to the vision...And here they come back with the very man that God had said in the vision–a unknown person, just a little unknown fisherman. But among that little group, it was so significant that he found this little fisherman. And here he is up here coming into the house now, the very place where he saw the vision. Cornelius drawed all the people together and said, “Why, it’s just exactly the way I saw it.” And then Peter stood up and begin to speak about how they’d received the Holy Ghost, and while he yet spake...! They had seen everything so perfectly in order of one vision. A bunch of people who were Gentiles, that saw one vision manifested, and they heard the Word of the Truth that how they would receive Life; and the Holy Ghost fell on them before they was even baptized.
82 What ought it to do to this tabernacle this morning? Sick, the afflicted, the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the–the sinner, everything...Just think, out of ten thousands of things, not one time has it ever failed one iota! Why, it ought to set our hearts aflame!
83 Now, now, he yet, while he yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell. Then Peter said, “Can we forbid water, seeing that these received the Holy Ghost like we did.” I believe their sins were already gone, for the Holy Spirit would’ve not come in; and He would not have come in ’less it’d been a predestinated vessel. He knew that they would follow. He knew...
84 I believe Paul, the reason that he had to be baptized again is, he had persecuted the Christians. That’s right. And He, God knew, ’cause He said, “I have chosen him,” He said to Ananias, the prophet. When He knowed that Saul was down there in a room, blackened face and darkened eyes, and he’d–he’d prayed so hard and dust all over him, and he was blinded from the Pillar of Fire that appeared to him on the road down; and He said, “I have chosen him a vessel to the Gentiles.” God knew that–that Ananias would be able to baptize him in the Name of Jesus Christ in the Damascus River three days later. But I believe his sins were already remitted, but he had to do this to show to the world. And I believe that that’s the reason that we must be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. And I believe predestinated seed will see it, and only them will see it.
85 Now, brothers of the trinitarian faith, I’m not throwing this off to you, my dear brother, I’m only answering questions. I’m only giving my true thoughts of it. This tape might one time wind up in Africa. I believe that we’re in the shadows of His coming. We all believe that. I’ve got precious friends, the DuPlessis and Schoemans, and all, Yeager, and them fine brothers in–in South Africa. But there’s always somebody that just stands right out in a man’s life. And of all the man that–and I love them just as dear as I love this brother, just as dear, but Brother Jackson and his wife always stood out in my life. I just couldn’t understand it; he–he stood out. Now, there’s Justus duPlessis, bosom friend, and oh, so many of those fine, fine Afrikaans brethren and sisters.
86 Well, why did Brother Jackson and his wife stand out to me? Because he was a hunter? Nope! Because I’ve got many fine hunter friends down there. But why did he stand out? And why? If you only knew the secret behind this all. But I don’t tell people all the secrets that I know. Well, why was it at the same hour that the Lord said, “Contact Sidney Jackson in South Africa,” the Lord spoke to Sidney Jackson to come here? Sunday a week he was baptized, him and his wife, in the Name of Jesus Christ, right here in the shadowing time. See, predestinated to the cause. See?
87 Now, I believe that you are–are–are saved by accepting Jesus Christ. And water baptism is an outward expression to show that something inwardly has happened, because water has no virtue; it’s just a symbol. And I believe that you’re saved when you...
88 Now, there’s many people (let me straighten this for brother)...There’s many people that are–say they’re saved; many are baptized in Jesus’ Name; many speak in tongues, and have all kinds of signs of the Holy Ghost, and still not even saved. That’s right. “Many will come to Me in that day and say, ‘Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name?’ –preacher– ‘Have not I in Your Name cast out devils and done many mighty works.’” He’d say, “Depart from Me, you that work iniquity; I never even knew you.” See? So all those things, yet it–it’s–it’s God; it’s in His hands. But when I see that...
89 You say, “Well then, why do you recall the people to be rebaptized?” Is because I’m following the pattern of the beginning. We can’t lose that blueprint.
90 Now, we take apostle Paul when he found certain disciples that were wonderful people. I believe they were saved, and yet they had not been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, though they had been baptized (Acts 19). Paul passed through the upper coast of Ephesus; he finds certain disciples. And he said unto them, “Have you receive the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” And they said unto him, “We don’t know about the Holy Ghost, whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
He said, “Then unto what were you baptized?”
They said, “We’ve been baptized. John baptized us, the same man that baptized Jesus.” That’s a pretty good baptism.
91 Watch this stern apostle though. He said, “But John only baptized unto repentance,” not for remission of sins, because the Sacrifice had not been killed, baptized unto it...And when they heard this, they were rebaptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost came upon them.
92 Now, what did this do? Showed that these people who were predestinated unto Life, as soon as they saw the Scriptural Truth, they walked in the Truth and received the reward of a believer: the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke in tongues, prophesied, magnified God. You get it now? See? They did that after they’d already had great joy, shouting, and praising God.
93 In the Bible they had a Baptist preacher up there; he was baptized too. But he was, and he was–proved by the–by the Bible that Jesus was the Christ. And the people had great joy, and they was just so happy over it; and still they didn’t have the Holy Ghost! They had to be rebaptized again. And Paul said in Galatians 1:8, “If a Angel from Heaven comes and preaches any other gospel than this I’ve preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Don’t care what it would be.
94 Therefore, knowing these things...Maybe you don’t know them, my brethren; but knowing these things, then I’m constrained and duty bound to God to carry out the plan of the first foundation, ’cause no other man can lay any other foundation than that which already laid; that’s the apostles and the prophets. The prophets foretold it, and the apostles carried it out; and we’re supposed to keep on carrying it till the building’s completed.
95 Now, I believe then, that a man is saved when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ with all of his heart, and from his heart, not from his outside conscience now...
96 See, you–you’re a dual person–three people in one, soul, body, and spirit. Now, I believe your outward senses, your–your soul from the–not your soul, but your outside conscience, your senses...When you’re awake, in other words, you’re–you’re operated by five senses: see, taste, feel, smell, and hear. Them were only given you to contact your earthly home; and they’re–they were not given to you to contact your heavenly home. There’s actually six senses in a human body, because he is number six in the Bible. He was created on the sixth day, and he is number six–a man is. And he’s got see, taste, feel, smell, hear, and faith. His faith sets his destination, where he’s headed for.
97 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things you do not see, taste, feel, smell, or hear. But by faith, when he catches the Word, It sends him into a dimension (see?) that makes It so real to him, till he’s just as good as got it in his hand. He knows it’s going to happen.
98 Now, there is the same thing on this question here on water baptism. See? God knew that these people were going to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. And Paul, he set the statement that no man, even a Angel from Heaven, should not teach any other doctrine than that what he had been taught; so therefore, if I come as a preacher, as a minister, as a prophet, or whatever I might be, or even an Angel coming down, and would teach something contrary to what this apostle did, and I did not command the people to be rebaptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, I’d be found by the Bible a false witness of the thing that I claim to believe.
99 So I believe that the pattern has been laid down. Every person in the Bible was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Never one time was anybody ever baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost. See? Never was anybody ever sprinkled; they were all immersed.
100 So I believe that when you are actually...To your question, precious brother, I believe that when God knows your heart... There’ll be thousands there that’s been baptized in Jesus’ Name. You just go down a dry sinner and come up a wet one. See, see? But as the genuine, true believer, that you must walk in all of the faith and good conscience towards God, when you see it, you are baptized! But I believe that it’s only in an outward expression showing that a inward work of grace has been done.
101 Just same as God built the ark. Said, “Noah, get into it, you and your family and household.” And they got into it. Now, I believe if there had not been an ark there, God would’ve let Noah set on a log or walk on the water. See? But He made an ark for him to get into, and that was the way of doing it; that was God’s provided way. I believe that God saves a man by grace. In the Name of Jesus Christ through an outward expression is God’s provided way to enter into it, for they was all baptized that way.
102 I’m not condemning the other fellow, but that’s just...I think that that’s what it is. Water does not save a man, it only shows that he has been saved; it’s an outward expression. Now, that might not be right, brother. If it isn’t, well, we’ll get it some other time or...All right.