Results 1 - 10 of 10
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | cwade | 66318 | ||
Romans 6:3-5 is often quoted as proof that baptism is necessary for salvation. "3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection," So, does this mean baptism is NECESSARY for salvation? No, for several reasons: First, we know from other verses in Scripture that salvation is by FAITH, not by faith and anything we do. Rom.3:28-30 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.. Next, we learn from other verses that baptism FOLLOWS faith. For example, in Acts 16:30-33 where the Jailer specifically asks what he must do to be saved and where baptism fits in: "...and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household," (Acts 16:30-33, NASB). If baptism was REQUIRED to achieve salvation, then Paul should have said, "Believe and be baptized and you will be saved." But, he didn't. Also, in Acts 10:44-46 Gentiles were saved, received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues BEFORE they were baptized. So what Romans 6:3-5 means is that: To be baptized "into Christ," is to be publicly identified with Christ. The focus is not the baptism itself, but on what baptism represents. Being baptized into Christ is a public statement of belief in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, AND IT IS THAT BELIEF which saves us. Baptism by immersion is a perfect symbol and public profession of faith but it is not required for salvation. If a person is saved, but not yet baptized, and is killed in a car wreck on his way home from church, that person is still saved. He is still going to Heaven. |
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2 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Teacher | 66321 | ||
Dear CWADE, it is funny you should say this, "If baptism was REQUIRED to achieve salvation, then Paul should have said, "Believe and be baptized and you will be saved." But, he didn't." Didn't Jesus say this exact thing in Mark 16:16, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned"? How is this explained? | ||||||
3 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | cwade | 66323 | ||
Dearest teacher, Mark 16:16 does not say that baptism is a REQUIREMENT for salvation. Here's why: I could say that whoever believes AND goes to church will be saved. That is true. But it is BELIEF that saves, not belief AND going to church. I could also say if you believe AND read your Bible, you'll be saved. But it isn't reading your Bible that saves you. It is belief in Christ, in His sacrifice, that saves us. To say we must add something on to what Christ did on the cross is heresy. There are too many verses that clearly demonstrate that justification is by faith to say baptism is REQUIRED. (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 3:9; etc.). Belief in what Christ has done, not what man can do, is what saves us. As I said: Baptism is just a public demonstration of the inner work of regeneration. This is why the rest of the verse says, "...but he who does not BELIEVE will be condemned." Mark 16:16 focuses on the issue of belief, not baptism. How do you feel about my scenario of someone accepting Christ and dying before being baptized. Are they saved? |
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4 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Teacher | 66329 | ||
CWADE, using this line of reasoning, I would agree. We could put any phrase after "believes" and before "will be saved" and say that this is doctrine. But this is the Lord speaking. How can we take words of the Lord so lightly? | ||||||
5 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | cwade | 66331 | ||
Teacher, I assure you I do not take our Lord's words lightly! But beloved, the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration, is like eating a chittlin’. The more we chew it the bigger it gets! The best way I know to clarify this issue is by simply saying this: BAPTISM WITHOUT FAITH SAVES NO ONE!! I just want to get that said! Baptism does not save the unbeliever. Baptism does not in any way exempt him from Hell. He may be baptized, or he may not be baptized, but if he does not BELIEVE, he will be damned. It doesn’t matter if he is baptized by immersion or sprinkling, in his infancy, or in his adult age, if he is not led to put his trust in Jesus Christ — if he remains an unbeliever, then this terrible doom is pronounced upon him — “He that believeth not shall be damned.” So it is the belief in Christ that saves, period. Furthermore, I respectfully submit to you that people are not saved by baptism, because it would be totally out of character with the spiritual religion which Christ came to teach, if we made salvation depend on mere ceremony! Charles Spurgeon said it best: “The false religions of heathens might require salvation by a physical process, but Jesus Christ claims for his faith that it is purely SPIRITUAL, so how and why would he require regeneration with water? I can’t see how baptism could be a spiritual gospel, but I can see how it would be mechanical. If anyone teaches that regeneration goes with baptism, I say it’s false doctrine, a craftily invented mechanical salvation to deceive ignorant, sensual, and grovelling minds, rather than the teaching of the most profoundly spiritual of all teachers, who rebuked Scribes and Pharisees for regarding outward rites as more important than inward grace.” My brother, if we proclaim that Baptism is a requirement for salvation I fear that we are opening that door to the belief that Baptism saves. Let's not regress to the 15th century and argue that all over again!In Christ's Love,cwade |
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6 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Teacher | 66335 | ||
CWADE, from the tense of your post I understand you feel very strongly about this. I must agree that baptism without belief saves no one hence the phrase "he that believes AND is baptized will be saved". I believe that Mk 16:15 reveals what is to be believed, the gospel. If I don't believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, why would I be baptized? If I do believe in the gospel, then I would, by definition, have to believe in what it says I should do. Baptism does not save us, God's grace saves us. This is the point where people get hung up on baptism being a work. How is baptism a work? If, in order to come into (spiritual) contact with the death of Christ I must be baptized Rom 6:3, if, in order to "appeal to God for a good conscience" 1 Pet 3:21, I must be baptized, if, in order to wash away my sin, I must "arise and be baptized" Acts 22:16, AND, if all of these passages make up, albeit a small portion of, the gospel, why would I not do it? | ||||||
7 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | cwade | 66350 | ||
Sorry if my post seemed tense! It was probably the quote from Spurgeon that made it seem that way. (He spoke out pretty strongly on the issue). And I DO BELIEVE in believer's baptism! I do believe we should be baptized AFTER we are saved. The Bible is clear on that. I was baptized by full immersion after I was saved. But I thought your question was: Is it an (absolute) requirement of salvation? I thought you meant we can not be saved WITHOUT baptism, and that's just not the case! Again, what would happen to the person who is saved, and then dies before being baptized? Does he go to Hell? | ||||||
8 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Teacher | 66511 | ||
CWADE, the feeling I get from some of the other forum members is that baptism and its importance in salvation is an issue that no one seems to agree on. I myself have written papers on the subject and through my research have concluded that, based on ALL the biblical evidence, it IS necessary for salvation, sins are not remitted UNTIL one is baptized, and until sins are remitted a person IS NOT SAVED (emphasis is just to make my point). I do not ask you or anyone else to accept my position on this. I only ask that those who are uncertain or curious about this issue study the bible, all the passages that deal with the subject, and come to an honest conclusion. If that conclusion is the same one they had before, so be it. Ps 119:160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. |
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9 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | cwade | 66520 | ||
Teacher I respect your opinion. I hope I have not seemed argumentative, I did not mean to be. I ask this question not as a challenge, but just for clarification. If you are witnessing to someone, and they accept Christ (praise God) do you then tell them in effect: "You are not saved yet. Your salvation is not complete until you are baptized." Teacher would this mean they are only half-saved, when they repent of their sins and ask Christ to come into their heart? And again I ask this question: What happens if they die before being baptized? In Christ, cwade | ||||||
10 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Teacher | 66527 | ||
CWADE, read Acts 8:26-40. Here we have an example of someone (ethiopian eunuch) reading scripture but not understanding it (vs 30,31). Philip, beginning at the very scripture the eunuch was reading began to teach him Jesus (vs 35). As we read on we notice that they approached some water (vs 36). What then does the eunuch say? "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" Where in this section of scripture does it say Philip taught this man about baptism? It doesn't, but, he knew enough about to know it was necessary for them to stop the chariot and for him to be baptized. What does vs 37 say? Acts 8:37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may (implying, on the other hand if you don't believe you shouldn't). The conclusion here is that if a person believes in Jesus, baptism must be included in this belief because baptism is an integral part of salvation. As many other members of the forum have said, this is a dead issue. Those that believe baptism is an important and necessary part of salvation also believe in what the bible teaches. Those that do not believe baptism is necessary for salvation would do well to re-examine "the whole counsel of God". |
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