ANSWER: You are exactly right! Christ’s blood was shed for many “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28), and it is also said to “wash us from our sins” (Revelation 1:5). These quotations are very easy for us to understand. Well, in Acts 2:38, the Bible also says that baptism is “for the remission of sins.” In Acts 22:16, Saul was told to “be baptized, and wash away thy sins . . .” To be honest and consistent then, one can only conclude that the Bible teaches that what ever Christ’s blood was shed “for,” baptism is “for” the same thing! It would be quite unethical for one to say that it does not mean the same thing in both places! It, therefore, cannot be successfully and honestly denied that both (Christ’s blood & baptism) are “for the same thing, i.e., the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28 & Acts 2:38)! We also see from the above that the Bible says that Christ’s blood washes away sin and, likewise, that baptism washes away sin (Rev.1:5 & Acts 22:16)! How can these things be? If the Bible is true (and it is), there can certainly be no contradictions. The only logical, scriptural answer is that they both must occur at the same time! This is what the Bible teaches! It is in baptism that one contacts the blood of Christ that washes away sin! Baptism saves us because it is in this act of obedience that we are baptized into His death (Romans 6:4) where his cleansing blood was shed. This is why Peter in I Peter 3:20-21 could say that just as “water” saved (vs.20) Noah and his family (by separating them from this sinful world) that baptism in the same way (like figure) “doth also now save us” (by separating or cleansing us from our sins - vs.21)! Some religious folks try to put the blood of Christ (salvation) at the point of belief before and without baptism. Such is a wresting of scripture (II Peter 3:16). The Bible is clear. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” The words “shall be” are clearly future. Therefore, both belief and baptism precede salvation. Jesus said, ‘if you will believe and are baptized, I will promise you salvation.’ The logic in this statement is easily understood in other settings. For example, if I said to you, ‘if you wash my car and mow my lawn, I promise you two-hundred dollars.” What would you have to do to get the twohundred dollars?” Would I owe you two-hundred-dollars if you only washed my car? Of course not!! I didn’t promise you two hundred dollars for washing my car! But this is exactly the logic used by those who claim that Jesus said He promised salvation at the point of belief. It is the same as if they were saying; ‘You promised me two-hundred dollars for washing your car!’ All would normally understand what was required to gain the two hundred dollars. Yet, not all will apply the same logic fairly and honestly in considering the requirements of Mark 16:16? You see, the divine formula given by Christ in this verse is without doubt B+B=S (Belief plus Baptism equals Salvation). Those who would remove baptism from God’s plan of salvation teach a different formula, i.e., B=S+B (Belief equals salvation plus baptism). The question then becomes not “what does the Bible say?” It is obvious! The question now is Will I obey God or man? Will I obey Christ’s divine formula or will I obey man’s formula?