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| Volume 25 Number 11 November 2023 |
Page 11 |
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| Volume 25 Number 11 November 2023 |
Page 11 |
Robert C. Lupo
“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” (KJV).
“Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (ASV).
“There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (NKJV).
“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.” (ESV).
False teachers continue to misrepresent the importance of Bible baptism. Often, they preach or write that baptism is unnecessary for salvation. For example, GotQuestions.org says, “Yes, there are some verses that seem to indicate baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, since the Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture” (“Is Baptism Necessary…”).
Please Note the Following Biblical Facts.
Every single Scripture on water baptism indicates that baptism is for salvation (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:16; John 3:5, 22-25; Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:20-21, et al.). These are just a few of the many, but there are no exceptions. One Scripture, for instance, like 1 Peter 3:21, is enough.
Baptism is commanded (Acts 2:38; 10:48, et al.). There is not even one command of God in the New Testament that is not for our salvation. If one can be omitted, then all commands of God are meaningless, and disobedience to any would bring no punishment. However, the Bible says that God will punish all disobedience. How shall we escape punishment if we neglect His great salvation (Hebrews 2:2-3)?
The Bible nowhere teaches “faith alone” doctrine. The only place in Scripture where the words “faith” and “alone” appear together in the same verse says, “You see that a person is justified [saved] by works and not by faith alone”(James 2:24 ESV). In the same place, the KJV says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” “Alone” and “only” are synonyms of each other (“Alone”). Note that salvation neither comes by works alone nor by faith alone. Both and more are commanded for salvation, such as hearing (John 6:45), repentance (Luke 13:3, 5), confession (Romans 10:9-10), baptism (1 Peter 3:21), godly living and faithfulness (Titus 2:11-15; Revelation 2:10-11), but all are useless without the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and His mercy (Titus 3:5). While no one can earn salvation, God’s grace is conditional on man’s obedience to His Word.
We agree that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. There are, however, no conflicts between Scriptures on the requirement of baptism and the three Scriptures cited in the quotation from GotQuestions.org. There is only a conflict between Scriptures on baptism and the Calvinistic dogma used to explain away biblical teaching.
What About Those Three
Scriptures;
Do They Teach Faith Only?
John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV). This verse does not teach “faith only” and does not refute baptism. It is true that this verse only mentions faith, but what of the rest of the chapter? Baptism is discussed both before (vv. 3-7) and after (vv. 22-36).
Is repentance not needed for salvation because it is not mentioned in this verse or chapter? Certainly not! Why? While baptism is not part of the Calvinistic belief system, repentance is. Another article at GotQuestions.org on repentance quotes Acts 26:20 to prove that repentance is necessary. Repentance is described as deeds (“works” KJV) that men must do. However, the condition of repentance is useless without the grace of God. On Judgment Day, is anyone going to be able to say, “God, I repented, you owe me”? No!
The majority of John 3 Deals
with Authority for Baptism.
Jesus’s Teaching of Nicodemus Regarding Baptism: “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”(v. 5 KJV). The Teacher – Jesus – Who came from God (v. 2) – commanded Nicodemus to be baptized of water and of the Spirit.
Jesus was Baptizing (John 3:22): Why? Didn’t Jesus know that baptism is not necessary for salvation? No, He did know baptism is necessary for salvation! Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16 ESV). That is the Gospel message to be preached to all.
John was also baptizing (John 3:23): It does not say, “John was not baptizing.” John’s baptism was commanded from Heaven (Matthew 21:23-27). Everyone who heard him should have obeyed!
The Lord’s authority to baptize is from Heaven (John 3:25-27): This was confirmed by all the miracles that Jesus performed, as He had the full measure of the Holy Spirit. See Hebrews 2:1-4. John 3:31-35 reads, “He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony” (v. 31)(regarding purification by baptism v. 25). Even today, this is true. Anyone who seeks salvation today should obey the Word of God rather than the word of men.
John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”Jesus, therefore, proved that His command to be baptized is from Heaven. It’s not just believing that Jesus is the Son of God that is important for salvation, but believing and doing what the Son of God says to do to be saved. See John 12:48-50, Luke 6:46 and Matthew 7:21-23. There is no doubt that Jesus commanded baptism for salvation (John 3:23-36; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). How dare some say it is not necessary?
Jesus is the Author (Causer) of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9), but He is not the Author (Causer) of salvation to anyone and everyone who will not obey Him!
Ephesians 2:8-9 does not teach “faith only” and does not refute baptism. Without the grace of God, faith is useless (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is God’s condition for obtaining His grace. Faith and baptism do not contradict each other. Baptism is just another condition for salvation. Doing good works does not contradict faith in God (v. 10), “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”Is doing “good works” a condition of salvation? Is there an eternal negative consequence for not doing God’s good works?
We certainly cannot boast and say we saved ourselves, but we also cannot get to Heaven without doing “good works” (Titus 2:11-15). Paul said in Ephesians 4:4-6, “there is one baptism” (v. 5). The only baptism commanded for all is water baptism. See every case of conversion in the book of Acts. Acts 19 shows that the Ephesian people, who believed the preaching of the Gospel, were baptized. It does not say that they were not baptized. They were actually baptized twice. Their problem was that they believed and obeyed John’s baptism after the Lord’s covenant went into effect (Hebrews 9:15-17). Their first baptism was, therefore, invalid. “And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4-5).
Titus 3:5 does not teach faith only and does not refute the importance of baptism. Verses 4-5 say, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared (v. 5) he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
What is the “washing of regeneration”? It is the spiritual new birth that comes through washing. We were spiritually filthy because of sin. We have to be spiritually washed before we can be saved or renewed by the Holy Spirit. That washing comes through the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5) by obedience to the command of the Holy Spirit to be baptized (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21). The renewal of the Holy Spirit comes through the washing of water with the Word (Ephesians 5:26). See also 1 Peter 1:22-23.
Works of righteousness done by us are here in Titus 3:5, placed in contrast with baptism – the washing of regeneration. The washing of regeneration is, therefore, not a work of righteousness that we do, but one to which we submit. This corresponds with Colossians 2:11-13, which reads:
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.
Faith itself is a work commanded by God that men must do (John 6:27-29)! Verse 29 literally means, “the work that God demands of you is this, to believe in Him whom He has sent” (cf., 1 Thessalonians 1:3).
Stop listening to men who deny God’s Word! Start obeying God! Remember, 1 Peter 3:21 says, “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.”
Works Cited
“Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?” Got Questions.org. 10 Nov 2023. <https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-salvation.html>.
“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.10 Nov 2023. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alone>.
