"How could water baptism be a saving ordinance," said Robert, "when
we know that water cannot have any effect, one way or another, upon
a soul? And, if water baptism is essential to the obtaining of
salvation, then two other things besides the blood of Jesus are
necessary whenever a soul is saved. One is water, enough to be
immersed in, according to your church doctrine, and the other is a
man, or a preacher to baptize. Then, if one were out somewhere away
from water and a preacher, he could not be saved. This will never do.
It places too much in the hands of men. Peter makes it plain--read 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,'" read
Kate Newby.

"This makes it plain," said Robert. "Water cannot wash away sins
except in a figurative way. It is the blood that cleanses. Read Rev.
1:5 (last sentence), and Col. 1:15."

"'Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood,'" read Mary Davis. "This is Rev. 1:5. Col. 1:14 says, 'In whom
we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.'"

"Robert, what church do you belong to?" asked Jake finally.

"I am not a member of any denomination," said Robert, "but recently
through a study of the Bible, I have become convinced that these
denominations are not right, and that we should get back to the Bible