Weather seems to be the predominate theme in our news
lately. Parts of our nation have been floundering under a veritable
deluge of
rain, while simultaneously a great portion of the US has been
sweltering under
an oppressive heat wave.
Because of the extreme heat and lack of water where I
live, I have neglected to mow the grass in my yard for several weeks.
My
motivation for such disregard has been fueled by a concern that after
cutting
an already parched lawn, in combination with the scorching
temperatures, my
yard would soon die.
Recently, I was walking around my house surveying the
damage that the heat and lack of moisture had wreaked on my flowers and
lawn.
As I turned one corner of my house, I noticed that the grass nearest
the air
conditioner was green, lush and healthy (in contrast to the rest of my
yard,
which was yellow, dry and withered). The difference between the two was
striking. As it turns out, the water dripping from the AC had sustained
a small
two-foot section of grass, while the remainder of the yard minus the
same
moisture was virtually barren.
As I stood there studying the phenomenon, a simple and
yet profound thought occurred to me: “Where there is water,
there is life.”
This is not only true in the physical realm, but it is also true in the
spiritual realm as well. Just as the grass in my yard must have water
in order
to live, a penitent believer must come in contact with the water of
baptism in
order to be saved. The Bible teaches:
“…He
who believes and is baptized [water] will be saved
[life]…” (Mark 16:16).
“…Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized [water] in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
[life]…” (Acts 2:38).
.
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized
[water], and wash away your sins [life]...” (Acts 22:16).
.
“There is also an antitype which now saves [life] us, namely baptized
[water]...” (1 Peter 3:21).
“Or
do you not know that as many of us as were baptized
[water] into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we
were
buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was
raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of
life [life]” (Romans 6:3-4).
Often, my denominational friends will read such statements
and incorrectly accuse me of teaching “water
salvation.” Their assertions are
simply without merit. The Scriptures neither teach nor do I affirm that
it is
water that saves. Certainly, water plays a role in salvation, just as
it did in
the saving of Noah and his family during the Flood (Genesis 7; 1 Peter
3:20-21), and as it did in the saving of the Israelites during their
crossing
of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), but it does not save. Instead, the water of
baptism
is the last act before salvation. It is the borderline to the kingdom
of God.
It is the last step before entrance into Christ. “For as many
of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
Before one is baptized, he is out of Christ. After one
is baptized, he is in Christ. Faith in God moves one to be baptized.
This is
not water salvation. The water in baptism has no power to cleanse from
sin. The
blood of Jesus is the only power to remove sin (Revelation 1:5).
Baptism is the
time that the blood of Jesus washes away our sins. Baptism is the place
God has
appointed where we are saved. It is the point at which we are cleansed
of our
sins. It is when faith saves. There is no inherent good or evil in the
water of
baptism. God used the water of baptism to test our faith. It is merely
an
instrument and not a power in itself.
There
Must Be Water