Subject: Unbaptized children |
Bible Note: Greetings Kin! Let me take your questions in reverse order. 2) What is my opinion on the 2 Kings passage? Honestly, I don't see that it has any relevance to baptism. It was a healing of a non-believer. Nathan wasn't being saved. 1) Where does the Bible teach why we should be baptized? I would say that there are three primary passages. a) Mt. 28:19-20: There is one command in this passage, "make disciples". Every other verb is a participle which describes the process of making a disciple: while going, baptizing, and teaching. Based on this, I would say that baptism is an initiation rite into the church. b) 1 Pet. 3:21: This passage says that baptism is "the pledge of a good conscience toward God". We should be baptized because God commanded it. c) Rom. 6:1-4: Here Paul lays out the case that baptism symbolically identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection. The problem I have with putting too much emphasis upon baptism is that it puts too much emphasis on one phrase in one verse, which may even be misunderstood (as I posted previously). If one assumes that baptism is necessary to salvation, then how does one answer the following questions? 1) Why does Jesus say so little about baptism? In all of the Gospels accounts, Jesus only mentions baptism a handful of times. Usually, He is refering to John's baptism. Sometimes, He is refering to His death. Only a couple of times, does He refer to baptism as we know. And, He never baptized anyone. 2) How could the thief on the cross be saved, since he wasn't baptized? Jesus clearly indicated that he was saved. The only way around this would be to deny that he was saved or to say that Jesus made an exception. 3) Why was Paul thankful that he didn't baptize? 1 Cor. 1:13-17 makes the point that Paul was not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel. If baptism is necessary to salvation, why wouldn't he baptize? Wouldn't baptism be an important part of the gospel? 4) If Acts 2:38 indicates that baptism is necessary for salvation, why does Acts 3:19 not include baptism in it's command? 5) If baptism is essential to salvation, why does Acts 10:47 indicate that those who were already saved and filled with the Holy Spirit should then be baptized? I appreciate your responses, questions, and attitude. My opinion on this is simple. Baptism is important, since it is commanded by Christ Himself. However, it is not essential to salvation. Many, like the thief and those in Acts 10, were clearly saved without being baptized. Jesus did not focus on it much, nor did He baptize anyone. Paul said that he was not sent to baptize and did not baptize many. Scripture clearly teaches that salvation is by grace alone, not works. So, on the whole, I would have to say that there is a strong case that baptism is not essential to salvation. Please let me know what you think! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |