To understand
what exactly baptism is and what it is
for, we should first take a look at what the
Bible says about salvation. Salvation has
always been by grace through faith, and has
always had nothing to do with "works".
Eph. 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast."
According to the above verse we are saved
by the gift of God through faith, and not by
any works that we do.
So, what is faith according to the Bible?
Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen."
According to the Bible, we are saved by
faith, and faith involves things that cannot
be seen. How then could being baptized have
anything to do with salvation? You can see a
baptismal pool.
Also note the word "gift" in Ephesians 2:8.
The Bible states, in multiple passages that
salvation is a gift. Take a second to think
about how you define the word "gift"... You
see "gift" is defined as something given or
received without its being earned. You don't
work for a birthday gift, you simply receive
it. You don't work for salvation by getting
baptized, you simply receive it.
Verses
describing how a person receives salvation:
Gal. 2:26 "Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of
the law shall no flesh be justified."
Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Luke 8:12 "Those by the way side are
they that hear; then cometh the devil, and
taketh away the word out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be saved."
Acts 15:11 "But we believe that
through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ
we shall be saved, even as they."
Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house."
Rom. 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Rom. 3:24 "Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:"
John 3:15-16 "That whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have
eternal life. For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:18 "He that believeth on him
is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God."
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Acts 10:43 "To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins."
John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life."
Acts 10:43 "To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins."
Rom. 5:18 "Therefore as by the
offence of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness
of one the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life."
Rom. 6:23 "For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Bible also teaches us that we should
glory only in Christ and what he did--not in
a baptismal pool.
Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world."
I Cor. 1:17 "For Christ sent me not
to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of none effect."
By one action Jesus Christ paid the
complete sacrifice and perfected the process
by which people are sanctified--people just
have to believe in Jesus and what he did.
Heb. 10:12-14 "But this man [Jesus],
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins
for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies
be made his footstool. For by one offering
he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified."
Baptism comes after
a person already believes and is saved.
All that is needed for salvation is belief,
and belief is always listed before baptism
in the Bible.
Acts 18:8 "And Crispus, the chief
ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord
with all his house; and many of the
Corinthians hearing believed, and were
baptized."
Acts 8:12 "But when they believed
Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women."
Acts 8:13 "Then Simon himself
believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were
done."
Acts 8:36-38 "And as they went
on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all
thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered
and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to
stand still: and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and
he baptized him."
Acts 18:8 "And Crispus, the chief
ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord
with all his house; and many of the
Corinthians hearing believed, and were
baptized."
Ananias, according to this passage in
Acts 9, helped Paul receive sight and the
Holy Ghost, and after Paul arose and was
baptized.
Acts 9:17-18 "And Ananias went his way,
and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord,
even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the
way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou
mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately
there fell from his eyes as it had been
scales: and he received sight forthwith, and
arose, and was baptized."
Salvation and the Holy Ghost (Holy
Spirit) come before
water baptism according to this verse in
Acts:
Acts 10:44-48 "Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be
baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost
as well as we?"
What is baptism
for then?
I Pet. 3:21 "The like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now
save us (not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
If you believe that Jesus Christ died,
was buried, and rose again, and you are
trusting in him for your salvation you
should identify yourself with this belief by
being baptized.
Click
here to read more about the real purpose of
baptism.
Verses used by people to argue that water
baptism saves:
Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
Though this verse in Mark is used to
promote the idea that baptism saves, the
latter part of the verse clarifies that it
is those who do not believe that shall be
damned--not those that do not get baptized.
Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost."
To understand Acts 2:38 you must
understand that the Bible teaches that there
is a baptism by water and there is a baptism
by the Holy Ghost. The baptism of the Holy
Ghost comes at the moment of belief, and is
the baptism for remission of sins. Water
baptism doesn't wash any sins away. Note the
following two verses:
Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you
with water: but he shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost."
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with
water; but ye shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost not many days hence."
The passage below in John is often
misused and misunderstood to mean that Jesus
is telling Nicodemus that he needs to be
baptized by water to enter the kingdom of
God... However, it more than clear by the
context of the passage that Jesus is telling
Nicodemus that he needs to be born twice to
go to heaven--first he had to have the
physical birth from his mother's womb and
secondly he needs to have the spiritual
birth.
John 3:1-7 "There was a man of the
Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and
said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art
a teacher come from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God
be with him. Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother's
womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. That which is
born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again."
The thief on the cross received salvation
simply by believing that he was a sinner
worthy of punishment and that Jesus Christ
was the perfect son of God.
Luke 23:39-43 "And one of the
malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and
us. But the other answering rebuked him,
saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou
art in the same condemnation? And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus
said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today
shalt thou be with me in paradise." |
Baptism
