(I had several communications with a Baptist preacher. Baptists believe in Eternal Security, which means once saved, always saved. A little bit about obeying his commands to be baptized, also, since Baptists believe in faith only, so baptism for salvation is optional. I thought this might be interesting for a few people.)

A few notes on Eternal Security:

Hebrews 6:4-6--It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

I took this to say—People who were saved and fall away can’t be brought back to repentence—literally how the verse reads. However, another view would be as a warning to genuine believers to urge them on to Christian growth and maturity. According to this view, falling away is impossible since TRUE believers are eternally secure, so this must be talking about fake believers.

2 Peter 2:17-22—(long, but v.20)—If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

Same as above—could be interpreted that way.

1 Timothy 6:9-10—(v.10)—For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Wandered from the faith—so, obviously they were in the faith, but again, possibly “fake” believers.

1 Timothy 1:19-20—(19 b – 20)—Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

They rejected the faith, so again, possibly “fake” believers. The next one is a bit tougher to explain away as a “fake” believer.

John 15:1-17—I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love... (long enough for the point)

Obviously, Jesus considers obeying his commands important enough to say if you do so, you remain in his love. Point on this one: “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers”, and “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” For a branch to exist, it had to be part of the vine. The only way to be a branch with Jesus, is to be in Jesus (the true vine). A “fake” believer could never have been a branch in the vine with Jesus. So, a believer can fall away after being in Jesus--a "true" Christian can lose his salvation.

Baptism is for the remission of sins:
Acts 2:38--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.”

Baptism washes away sins:
Acts 22:16--“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Baptism puts us into the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:13--For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Baptism puts us into Christ:
Galatians 3:27--For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Baptism puts us into the death of Christ:
Romans 6:3-4--Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Through baptism we obtain the newness of life:
Colossians. 2:12-13--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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Baptism saves us:
1 Peter 3:21--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:

Mark 16:16--He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The first time the gospel was preached, "They then that received his word were baptized," (Ac 2:41)

Consider 1 Corinthians 1:14-17, a passage used by Baptists to "prove" that baptism is non-essential. Paul’s words demonstrate the necessity of baptism. Note carefully Paul’s reasoning. For one to call himself after Paul (or any other man) required two things: (1) Paul would have to be crucified for the person and (2) the person would have to be baptized in the name of Paul. Neither had happened, of course, which is why they should not be calling themselves after men.

So, the obvious conclusion is: To be called after Christ, two things are required: Christ would have to die for the person (which He did) and the person would have to be baptized in the name of Christ! So, if you haven’t been baptized in the name of Christ, then you cannot rightfully be called a Christian.

Following are some comments from Martin Luther—though believing that we are justified by grace through faith (and he would say "by faith alone"), Luther understood that salvation by faith did not preclude the necessity of baptism!

In his commentary on Romans, Martin Luther wrote: "Baptism has been instituted that it should lead us to the blessings (of this death) and through such death to eternal life. Therefore IT IS NECESSARY that we should be baptized into Jesus Christ and His death." (Commentary On Romans, Kregel Publications, p.101).

In his commentary on Ga 3:27, Luther wrote: "This is diligently to be noted, because of the fond and fantastical spirits, who go about to deface the majesty of baptism, and speak wickedly of it. Paul, contrariwise, commendeth it, and setteth it forth with honorable titles, calling it, 'the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost'. And here also he saith, that 'all ye that are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.' Wherefore baptism is a thing of great force and efficacy." (Commentary On Galatians, Kregel Publications, p. 222)

Appreciation to Mark Copeland (www.exeout.com)