Was Cornelius forgiven BEFORE baptism in water?

Was Cornelius forgiven BEFORE baptism in water?

1. Are tongues/prophecy evidence of salvation?

2. There is one baptism – which is it?

We can only be forgiven of our sins through the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5).
But when does that blood become effective in our lives? Jesus said:
 Mk. 16:15-16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
o These are plain words which are easy to understand!
o i.e., Belief and baptism are essential to salvation.
But many today are saying/teaching that baptism is not essential to salvation!
 e.g., Many claim today that Cornelius and the rest were saved before and without baptism in water.

Was Cornelius forgiven BEFORE his baptism in water?

No! Cornelius (and his) spoke in tongues to change the Jews way of thinking about the Gentiles.
 It wasn’t evidence of salvation any more than it was with Balaam’s donkey!
 Cornelius and his were forgiven when they were baptized in water, as Jesus said (Mk. 16:15,16)!