Bible Question:
Is baptism by water a requirement for recieving salvation from Jesus Christ? Why do Apostolics believe that it is and without it you are unsaved? |
Bible Answer: Those who say that baptism is required for salvation refer to 1 Peter 3:21, though taking it out of context when they do so. The comparison of baptism to Noah's flood is only complete when you realize that the water did not save Noah, the water destroyed every other living thing. Noah was saved by faith, as we all are, in that he obeyed God and built a huge boat in the middle of dry ground, crawled inside with family and animals and waited another seven days for the rains to come(Gen 7:10). To say that baptism is required is to make "works" a basis of salvation. Eph 2:8-9 says clearly, agreeing with many other passages, "By grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of youselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,lest anyone should boast." Our salvation is very costly, though the price was paid in full at the cross. Every action that we do for Jesus is an act of obedience done in love and gratitude to the one who loves us. Yes, we should be baptized, because Jesus said we should. It is an outward profession of an inward transformation. We should take communion because Jesus said we should. We should care for the needy, because Jesus said we should. We should lead lives that are holy and pleasing to God, because Jesus said we should. But all these are the works that are caused by our salvation, they are not a cause of our salvation. |