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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 | Morant61 | 66396 | ||
Greetings Cyclist! Are you still riding or is it too cold where you live? :-) May I address the issue of why some view baptism as a 'work'? There isn't any question that believers are commanded to be baptized in the New Testament. There also isn't any question that believers in the early Church tended to be baptized as quickly as possible. The question involved in this debate is simply this: 1) Am I to be baptized because I am saved? or 2) Am I saved because I have been baptized? In the first case, baptism is not a 'work'. In the second case, baptism is a 'work'. Something has been added that I must do to 'earn' my salvation. Scripture totally teaches against this concept. In fact, it is the same exact debate that Paul had with the Judaizers in Galatians. Many tried to argue that one must also be circumsized in order to be saved. The arguments which Paul made against them apply also to those who teach baptismal regeneration. We are saved by faith alone! We don't have to do anything. Christ did it all. The moment we begin to add requirements to salvation, we have begun to preach another gospel. It is extremely important that we are clear on this issue. No one on this forum has argued that Christians should not be baptized. We must be because Christ commanded us to be baptized. But, the act of baptism plays no role in our salvation. It is an act of obedience done after one has been saved, not a work done in order to earn salvation. I hope that this post will be helpful to many, because this question keeps getting asked anew every few days. We need to be clear that our salvation was, is, and always will be entirely based upon faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, not upon our obedience and or works. Keep on riding and praising my friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | charis | 66403 | ||
Dear Tim, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Thanks for a (as usual) good post. However, I must comment on one thing you said: "No one on this forum has argued that Christians should not be baptized." It's too late, and I'm too tired to look for them, but I recall a few posts that claimed that we are now baptized in the Spirit, and water baptism is no longer necessary or valid. Also, when you factor in those that practice infant baptism, I think there is a rather large portion of Christianity that does not believe personal faith is necessary for valid water baptism. Their stance is that baptism is not a personal spiritual work, but a proclamation or church ritual. Blessings to you and yours. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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3 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Morant61 | 66406 | ||
Greeting my brother in Japan! It has been too long since we have chatted! :-( I would have to search the archives, but I don't recall anyone saying that baptism was simply optional or no longer valid. I know I have been involved in a good many of these threads! Too many if you ask me! :-) Personally, I believe in and practice believers baptism. However, I do not believe that baptism imparts anything to us. As one of my professors once said, "It is an ourward sign of an inward grace." But, undoubtedly, there are many who do not believe in or practice baptism correctly! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | charis | 66434 | ||
Dear Tim, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Brother, I am very familiar with the phrase 'outward sign of and inward grace.' To a certain extent I agree with the statement, in that Jewish circumcision is an 'outward, physical sign' of the 'inward' covennant relation relationship with God in the Old Testament. Then we are told that God will 'circumcise our hearts' for a better relationship with God. This seems, to me, to be connected in: "...and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:11,12 NASB. But even if ministers and theologians know that this phrase denotes a work of the Spirit, the teaching is often more 'JUST an outward sign of an inward grace,' i.e. unnecessary religious ritual. Worse, many use baptism as a 'membership' show, nothing more. Well, Sunday morning! (Bless the Lord!) I'm off to church. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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5 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Morant61 | 66437 | ||
Greetings Charis! I pray that you had a greet Lord's Day! My question would be this: Is the baptism mentioned in Col. 2:11-12 water baptism, or the work of the Holy Spirit of baptizing us into the body of Christ? If we simply take the position that water baptism is the replacement for circumcision, then aren't we opening ourselves up to Paul's rebuke of the Judaizers in Galatians? For all we have done is replace one 'requirement' for salvation with another. Not believing that water baptism saves us does not make it an 'unnecessary religious ritual'. It is an act of obedience and faith. Christ commanded us to be baptized, so we are obeying Him when we do so. It is also an act of faith in that we stand before the world and boldly proclaim what Christ has done for us. My case is a good example. I was saved when I was six years old. But, I was not raised in a Christian home and did not really receive any instruction about or encouragement about what I should do. So, I was not baptized until I was 14 years old. Was I not a Christian until then? Was I not full of the Holy Spirit? In fact, I experienced the second work of the baptism of the Holy Spirit prior to when I was baptized in water - with speaking in tongues. My concern in these threads is not to tell people that they should not be baptized - they should be! However, we must be careful that we don't add 'requirements' or 'works' to a salvation which is based totally upon grace, through faith. Well, I've got to run to work my friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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6 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | charis | 66445 | ||
Dear Tim, Greetings in the name of Jesus! In the verses from Colossians, the phrase 'buried with Him in baptism' makes it pretty obvious that Paul is speaking of water baptism. Trust, my friend, that anyone really reading any contribution I have made to this thread should be able to tell that I am not adding water baptism as a requirement for salvation. Quite the contrary, I have always been a champion of salvation by grace through faith. But I do believe that obedience to all the commandments in the New Testament pleases our Lord, and it is for this obedience that we hear the words, "Well done!" from God. (Matthew 25:21) We do not hear "Well done" for being saved by grace through faith. As to your personal experience, I can hardly stand judge. God will do that. Brother, I add no 'requirements' to salvation. But sanctification doesn't 'just happen.' We are called to "work out our salvation in fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), and pleasing God takes some effort. We should not become so afraid of the word 'works' that we forget to 'serve' God. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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7 | Is baptism a work? | NT general Archive 1 | Morant61 | 66466 | ||
Greetings Charis! Thanks for the input my friend! I agree that we should not be afraid to 'work'! :-) Unfortunately, about 80 percent of the Church are afraid to work. But, many posters on this topic have made the case that baptism is necessary for salvation. I just wanted to proclaim yet again: Salvation by grace first, then works as a result! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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