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NASB | Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 6:3 Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? |
Subject: Do you have to be baptized to be saved? |
Bible Note: Greetings Country Girl! If I am afraid and must 'do' something in hopes that I will be saved at judgement, would not that 'something' I 'do' be a 'work'? Note also that 1 Peter 3:21 also makes a key statement that is usually ignored in this debate. It says, "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God..." Baptism does nothing to 'clean' us up! Rather, v. 21 describes it as 'pledge of a good conscience toward God'. There is some uncertainty about the word 'pledge'. But, most understand it as some sort of response to what God had already done for us. This is exactly what the previous poster wrote. We are saved by faith, then we are commanded to be baptised, not to get saved, but because we are saved. The debate is not whether or not we should be baptized. The debate is whether or not baptism plays a saving role or not. We don't have to be in doubt about this issue. Let's not look at a passage like 1 Peter 3 where there is a lot of doubt about the meaning to begin with. Rather, let's look at an example where the specific topic of what someone must do to be saved is the question. Acts 16:29 says, "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 31 They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.' 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family." Note the question! "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answers his question under the insipration of the Holy Spirit, and it is codified in Holy Writ. If the answer is less then complete, then the answer is wrong and a lie. What was Paul's answer? Verse 31 gives us the answer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Notice that there is no mention of baptism, no mention of trying to live a good life, and no mention of any doubt. This is not to say that we should not live a good life. This is also not to say that we should not be baptized. But, Scripture, in direct response to a question concerning the requirements of salvation, lists only faith in Christ. Scripture commands us to do many things after we are saved, baptism being one of them. However, none of these things that we are commanded to do contribute in any way to our salvation. The are the RESULT of salvation, not the CAUSE of salvation. The reason I am concerned about this topic is because I have seen over the years I have been involved in ministry, and over the years I have been on this forum, that many people simply do not understand that salvation is by grace through faith. Too many live in doubt about their salvation! If I am good enough, I will be saved. If I obey all the commands perfectly, I will be saved. If I do not die with unconfessed sin, I will be saved. The problem is that Scripture says we 'have been' saved! Christ did it all upon the cross for us. He offers salvation to us as a gift. We have only to accept His precious gift and WE ARE SAVED. There is no 'effort' on our part required or needed. Eph. 2:8-10 makes this relationship quite clear. We are saved, and then we produce good works. It is not the case that we do good things and then we are saved. Let there be doubt in your mind my friend! If you have believed in Christ, you are saved. Then, you should go ahead and do the things that Christ commands of Christians. However, doing them or not will not make you any more or any less saved. Not doing them though, will make you ineffective and inmature as a believer. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |