It will be acknowledged
by all believers in the New Testament, that the apostles of the Lord received
their authority to proclaim salvation unto men from himself, that the endowment
of the Holy Ghost was necessary to enable them to do it aright, and that under
the influence of the Spirit of God, and the day of Pentecost, they commanded
those who believed in their testimony, to repent and be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and they should receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. Here, on their part, in the exercise of faith and repentance they
were active, but in the ordinance of baptism they were called upon to place
themselves in the hands of the authorized servant of God, and be baptized by
him in the name of the Messiah for the remission of sins. The apostles in
proclaiming this doctrine knew well the teachings of their Lord while in the
flesh, that except a man were born of water and of the spirit, he
would not enter into the kingdom of God.
They knew of the
necessity of man who had become an alien from God being born again, by being
baptized in water into the name of Christ, before he would have a legal claim
to belong to the family of God. (Thomas Ward, “The
Gospel,” in The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 5, no. 2 [July,
1844]:24)
Further Reading on the Salvific Efficacy of Water Baptism
I have written a full-length book addressing water baptism and related topics (e.g., two appendices refuting imputed righteousness):
"Born of Water and of the Spirit": The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal Regeneration
If one wants a free copy (PDF format), you can contact me at:
ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom