Do You Know Jesus?

By Larry Elder

The greatest scripture in my opinion in the whole Bible is John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God now imparts that love and grace to all who come to receive His provision for their sin.

You can pray this prayer with us right now to receive Jesus as your Lord and savior dear God in heaven, The word of God says, in the book of Romans 10:13; For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I repent and turn from my sins. I need you, Jesus. I believe that the blood of Jesus has washed me clean and now I am in Christ Jesus I am saved praise the Lord.

If you pray that prayer and believe in your heart – then you are saved!

We want to send you some instructions to help you get started, you can write to us at:

Larry Elder Ministries

P.O. Box 692162

Houston, Texas 77269

or call 832-717-9226 EXT1006

Does Water Baptism Save You?

I've been in ministry a little over 50 years and this is a question that is frequently asked; Get your Bibles and follow me closely in the descriptions as we answer this question and we will answer it always with the Bible.

Let's begin by looking at Romans chapter 10:9-13(NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Pay Attention To Words

Now let's look at what he didn't say to help you to get to what he did say.

He did not say if you would confess all your sins or declare with your mouth, you would be saved. No, my brothers and sisters, he did not.

He said in verse 9 of Romans 10; “If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you would be saved."

If you ask the average Christian if they're saved they will tell you, “Yes, I have been baptized.”

Haven't you heard that before? I have hundreds of times, but Christians do not get baptized in order to be saved, no my friends they get baptized because they are saved.

Now let's look at Romans Chapter 10:9 and 10, in the King James Version of the Bible.

Now I want you to see something here. Listen to what it says again.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Did you notice in these two verses the word baptize or baptism is not there? Do you see, “How can one be saved by getting baptized?” Can you see that's a misnomer, the scripture does not say that.

Now I know you're wondering, does Brother Elder believe in water baptism? Well, certainly I do.

I've been baptized myself and I have baptized many, many others.

Let's go Deeper

Go with me to 1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV)

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21(KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21(KJV)

17 Therefore if any man (woman boy or girl) be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It means you have been *supplanted (see the meaning) below.

*Supplanter: What does supplanter mean in Greek? Substitute, replace(r), supersede(r).

Top of Page

Do You Know Jesus?

By Larry Elder

The greatest scripture in my opinion in the whole Bible is John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God now imparts that love and grace to all who come to receive His provision for their sin.

If you pray that prayer and believe in your heart – then you are saved!

We want to send you some instructions to help you get started, you can write to us at:

Larry Elder Ministries

P.O. Box 692162

Houston, Texas 77269

or call 832-717-9226 EXT1006

Does Water Baptism Save You?

I've been in ministry a little over 50 years and this is a question that is frequently asked; Get your Bibles and follow me closely in the descriptions as we answer this question and we will answer it always with the Bible.

Let's begin by looking at Romans chapter 10:9-13(NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Pay Attention To Words

Now let's look at what he didn't say to help you to get to what he did say.

He did not say if you would confess all your sins or declare with your mouth, you would be saved. No, my brothers and sisters, he did not.

He said in verse 9 of Romans 10; “If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you would be saved."

If you ask the average Christian if they're saved they will tell you, “Yes, I have been baptized.”

Haven't you heard that before? I have hundreds of times, but Christians do not get baptized in order to be saved, no my friends they get baptized because they are saved.

​

Now let's look at Romans Chapter 10:9 and 10, in the King James Version of the Bible.

​

Now I want you to see something here. Listen to what it says again.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Did you notice in these two verses the word baptize or baptism is not there? Do you see, “How can one be saved by getting baptized?” Can you see that's a misnomer, the scripture does not say that.

Now I know you're wondering, does Brother Elder believe in water baptism? Well, certainly I do.

I've been baptized myself and I have baptized many, many others.

Let's go Deeper

Go with me to 1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV)

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21(KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21(KJV)

17 Therefore if any man (woman boy or girl) be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It means you have been *supplanted (see the meaning) below.

*Supplanter: What does supplanter mean in Greek? Substitute, replace(r), supersede(r).

​

© 1999-2025 by Larry Elder Ministries and Strong Faith Bible Church . All Rights Reserved.