Does The Water Save?

Holiness.com received the following correspondence from a young man in the United States in the state of Texas:

Thank you for your reply previously. I am still interested in a reply to being baptized in water in Jesus' name as well. That is apart of salvation also. A person is not saved yet, even with the Holy Ghost, without water baptism in Jesus' name. I'm just asking for the sake of those who come to the site looking for salvation so that they may find it when they seek it.

THE HOLINESS.COM RESPONSE TO THIS VISITOR IS AS FOLLOWS:

Oh Dear One,

Am I to understand that you are saying that every person who accepts Christ is not actually saved until the moment they go into the water and are water baptized?

If you are saying this, please clarify for me what you believe about a few scriptures recounted below:

1) Are you saying that the thief on the cross who turned to Jesus in faith really was not saved from meeting eternal punishment? Are you saying that Jesus was not telling the truth when he told the thief that he would be with him in paradise?

Luke 23:39-43

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.


2) Second question:
Are you saying that when Jesus forgave the man’s sins in Mark, Chapter two, that the man was not actually saved at that point that Christ forgave his sins? If this is what you are saying, you have managed to totally confuse me; how can Christ see the man coming to him in faith and forgive him of his sins, but at the same time say that he is not saved from the wrath of God for the very sins that Jesus forgave? unless you are siding with certain of the scribes who actually felt that Jesus did not have the authority to forgive the man’s sins based on the man coming to Jesus in faith and humility.

3) Third question:
What about the famous sinner woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears; whom Jesus right then and there forgave of her sins and said: “...Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50). Notice that Jesus indicates that the woman is forgiven and says that her faith has saved her even before she has opportunity to submit to the ordinance of water baptism.

In case you think I am making this up or taking scripture out of context, here is the passage at large:

Luke 7:36-50

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.



4) Fourth question:
You say that
“A person is not saved yet, even with the Holy Ghost, without water baptism...”

So, then are you saying that the unsaved can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost? That is the logical conclusion if you say people with the Holy Ghost are not saved if they have not been water baptized. Please show me one instance in the Bible from the Day of Pentecost forward, where the Bible says an unsaved person received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. I doubt that you can because no such verse exists.


5) My last and final question is this:
Are these teachings of yours what your church is actually teaching, or is this something you came up with on your own? Just curious about this. If you would rather not answer this last question that is okay. But, I would like your comment/clarification on the first four questions/scripture passages above.


Sincerely,
Holiness.com ...