Is Baptism Required For Salvation?
Questions Of Eternal Consequence • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Over the last several weeks we have been going through a series on “Questions of Eternal Consequences.”
This morning, we are going to embark on a study of the question “Is Baptism Required For Salvation?”
There is no question more scrutinized then this question in the world of Christendom than this question.
And yet there is no question answered more heart-breakingly than this question by those in the denominational world.
Let’s not waist time, but rather dive right in by first looking at…
Defining Baptism
Defining Baptism
Humans Have Redefined It
Humans Have Redefined It
Over the years the definition of what baptism is has changed significantly from it’s first use by the original pens of God’s word to today.
Today baptism is defined as…
“a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church.”
a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian
“a religious ceremony in which water is used as a symbol of cleansing from sin. Churches today baptize by sprinkling or pouring or immersing a person, in water. Baptism is a sign that our sins are washed away and that Jesus has taken us to be his own.”
In the Greek lexicons we find this…
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Baptism, Baptist, Baptize
consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence
Lexham Theological Wordbook βάπτισμα
immersion. Refers to the act of being immersed in liquid, usually water.
a word peculiar to N. T. and eccl. writ., immersion, submersion
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 908 βάπτισμα
immersion, submersion
Bible Defines Itself
Bible Defines Itself
Baptism is by water not the Holy Spirit.
As Romans 6:3-5 points out we are baptized into something and then come out of that something.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
There are those that would suggest we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, not water for salvation, but this cannot be true because whatever we are baptized into we come out of and we must stay in the Holy Spirit if we are to be saved.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
When baptism for the remission of sins was performed with John’s baptism (Mark 1:4) we see it was always in water.
John only baptized where “much water” or “plentiful water” was found.
23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
John baptized Jesus in water.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him
This use of water didn’t change under the New Law or Law of Christ.
The Ethiopian saw water and wanted to be baptized.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Summary
Summary
The word baptism simply put means nothing more or less than “immersion in water.”
So why have so many changed the definition to mean “ceremony” or even “sprinkling or pouring.”
This answer is found in the attempt to change the purpose of baptism.
So, then what is baptism’s purpose?
Baptism & The Bible
Baptism & The Bible
The Reformation Movement
The Reformation Movement
It was during the Reformation Movement that the idea seems to spring up that baptism should not be a required part of God’s Plan of Salvation.
Up to this movement Catholics and even “anti-baptist” as they were sometimes called, all taught baptism as a required act to be saved.
With the Reformation Movement there came a “revolution” of sorts against the act of baptism.
Martin Luther, the so called father of the Reformation, would write this eventually…
“I, Doctor Martin Luther, unworthy herald of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, confess this article, that faith alone without works justifies before God.”
Hints, the “faith only” doctrine gets it’s beginning which would lead Luther and others away from baptism’s necessity.
On the “Stand to Reason: Clear-Thinking Christianity” we can find this stated…
“As far as I know, there is no place in Scripture that actually says that salvation occurs at baptism.”
Baptism In The Scriptures
Baptism In The Scriptures
The reality is one must actually refuse to see clearly the word of God on this subject to “reject” baptism as required by God for salvation.
Before Jesus’ ascension into heaven, wherein he would sit at the right hand of God, he told his disciples this…
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
When the Jewish people asked Peter what was needed for salvation (Acts 2:37), Peter responded with…
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When Paul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus Jesus didn’t say Paul was saved simply by believing in him now and having faith or trust in Jesus.
Notice Jesus told Paul, he needed to hear from one to know what was required for salvation.
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Paul’s obedience to God demonstrates two facts. (1) Paul prayed for three days and three nights without being saved. (2) Paul wasn’t saved until he was baptised.
9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
The apostle Peter in explaining the use of water in immersion for salvation said this…
20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
The purpose of baptism itself cannot deny salvation.
Its purpose is to allow us access “into Christ.”
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We can only get access into Christ because being baptized removes our sins.
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
Summary
Summary
The fact of the matter is, one must strive to ignore the plan teaching’s of the scripture to determine baptism is not essential to salvation.
But because there are so many arguments made against baptism and the doctrine against baptism as “a part of salvation” is so prevalent, let’s take a moment to examine some of these arguments.
Let’s begin by looking at the most plain text on the subject found in 1 Peter 3:21.
Arguments Against Baptism
Arguments Against Baptism
Good Conscience Argument
Good Conscience Argument
There are those that take the clear and undeniable reality of what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:21 and try and muddy it up.
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
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:
The argument goes like this…
“But, water did not save Noah. This is why Peter excludes the issue of water baptism being the thing that saves us because he says, "not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God." Peter says that it is not the application of water that saves us but a pledge of the good conscience.”
In other words, it’s a clear conscience that saves us not immersion in water.
Does this argument hold water?
First, just because someone has a “clear conscience” doesn’t mean they are saved.
Remember what Paul said about himself before he was saved in Acts 23:1.
1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
Secondly, and maybe most importantly, it makes no logical or reasonable sense to say, in essence, “I know the text says baptism saves us but that isn’t what it means.”
If I’ve heard that once I’ve heard it a thousand times concerning any number of biblical texts, such as with the “once saved always saved” group.
The once saved always saved often comment on Galatians 5:4 with, “I know Paul says we can fall from grace in Galatians 5:4 but that isn’t what it means.”
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Thirdly, the word “answer or appeal” in “an appeal to God for a good conscience” in the Greek is ἐπερώτημα.
The word means…
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (ἐπ-ερώτημα)
“As the terms of inquiry and demand often include the idea of desire, the word thus gets the signification of earnest seeking, i. e. a craving, an intense desire (so ἐπερωτᾶν εἴς τι, to long for something”
Because the word answer or appeal means this there have been many statements concerning this verse, notice three of them. The following quotes are by those that say baptism is not necessary for salvation, however look at each of them carefully.
“baptism is an appeal to God for a clear conscience.”
“Baptism does not confer physical cleansing but saves as a request for forgiveness”
“Baptism is the craving for a clear conscience toward God.”
Each of these quotes cannot help but point to the fact that the “clear conscience” comes after the baptism.
Works Argument
Works Argument
Baptism originally was removed, by some, as necessary for salvation because they bought into the idea of “faith only” saving.
The argument goes something like this…
“Because we are not saved by works but by grace baptism cannot be necessary to salvation or a part of one having there sins removed.”
Let’s critic this argument and see if it holds to scrutiny.
First let’s look at Ephesians 2:8 which simply does not eliminate baptism as it is supposed.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God
There is no doubt that personal works i.e., human works of “merit” cannot save us.
There is nothing we can do to “earn our salvation” by way of being “good enough.”
However, we are expected to do “spiritual works” for our salvation which are considered the “works of God.”
This is why God tells us to “work out our own salvation.”
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
This is because all of God’s plan of salvation is a spiritual work.
Remember Jesus even calls believing in him a “work.”
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
That brings me to my second point in this argument which is, baptism is the only aspect of God’s plan of salvation that we literally do nothing but rather have it done to us.
Belief and faith requires us to “do something” i.e., investigate and study God’s word (Romans 10:17).
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Repentance requires us to “do something” i.e., turn away from sin and turn to God (Acts 3:19).
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out
Confession requires us to “do something” i.e., physically communicate to others about our Lord (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32).
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
To be baptized requires someone else “do something” to us.
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
16 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.
Summary
Summary
Neither of these very popular arguments hold up to scrutiny.
As we have seen here, these arguments are against the cause of Christ and as Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia…
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We have by no means exhaustively covered this topic.
We have, however, clearly shown to those that desire the truth that baptism is very much an essential part of salvation.
One cannot be saved “before they were baptized” because “one’s sins are not removed until after words.
I want to also point out that “if one is baptized without salvation in mind” they could not have been baptized as God desired and were not baptized according to the scriptures.
If anyone finds themselves in this case please get with someone here and study the scriptures, find the truth, and then obey it.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Endnotes
Endnotes
Dictionary.com “https://www.dictionary.com/browse/baptism”
