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The word “and”: It
is important to consider where “and” is used as we consider baptism
and salvation. “And”
is a coordinating
conjunction, which is a word that connects two words or word phrases
of equal value (Merriam-Webster’s dictionary).
I find the cake recipe example to be very helpful when considering
“and”. When baking a
cake, if the recipe says “Add sugar and eggs and water”, if we fail to
add any one of the necessary ingredients the cake will not turn out as we
had hoped. I haven’t found
anyone who disagrees with this statement.
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Baptist doctrine regarding
baptism:
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Proper subject: A Saved Person
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Proper Authority: Church of the Lord
Jesus Christ
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Proper Purpose: To Show salvation, not
procure it
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Proper Mode: Immersion
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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.” What Peter
says:
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Repent
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And
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Be baptized
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Every one of you
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In the name of Jesus Christ
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For
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The remission of sins
Conclusion:
Baptism is for the remission of sins.
This is contrary to Baptist doctrine, which states that baptism is
to show salvation, not to procure it (point 3 above).
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“Repent and be baptized”:
As we’ve seen, Baptists teach that baptism is administered to a
person who is already saved. If
that’s true, baptism is not necessary for salvation.
Peter uses “and” to demonstrate the relationship between
repentance and baptism. Since
“and” connects words of equal value, repentance and baptism are of
equal value. If baptism is
unnecessary for salvation, repentance must also be unnecessary.
If repentance is unnecessary for salvation, I have no reason to
stop sinning. Paul condemns
this position in Romans
6:1-2 when he declares, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue
in sin, that grace may abound? God
forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
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Mark
16:15-16: “And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.” In these two
verses Jesus demonstrates the relationship between belief and baptism.
Again we see the word “and” used.
Jesus tells us that belief and baptism are of equal value in Mark
16:16. If Baptist doctrine is
correct and baptism is unnecessary for salvation, then belief in Jesus as
the Son of God is also unnecessary. Jesus
condemns this doctrine in John
8:24, which states, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your
sins.” The one who does not
believe in Jesus will die in their sins.
Therefore, belief in Him is absolutely essential for one to have
their sins forgiven. Since
Jesus tells us that belief and baptism are of equal value in Mark 16:16,
baptism must also be absolutely essential before one will receive
forgiveness of sin. If belief
is unnecessary for salvation, then forgiveness of sins is also
unnecessary. If forgiveness
is unnecessary, then Jesus’ death was entirely in vain.
There was no need for Him to die so that my sins might be forgiven
if it is unnecessary for my sins to be forgiven in order for me to be
saved. How repulsive!!
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2
Timothy 2:10: “Therefore
I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Here Paul tells us where salvation is found:
In Christ Jesus.
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Galatians
3:27: “For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The NIV says, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have
clothed yourselves with Christ.” I
find the suit of clothes analogy useful here.
When I got out of bed this morning, my uniform was hanging on a
coat hanger. What was the relationship between my body and my uniform at
that time? I was “unto”
my uniform. My body and my
uniform were in close proximity, but my body was not yet “into” my
uniform. What was required for this relationship to change?
I had to put on my uniform. After
I put it on, my body was now “into” my uniform.
Paul uses the same analogy to tell us of our relationship with
Christ. He tells me that, in
order to put on Christ, I must be baptized.
Baptism is the act that moves my spiritual being from a
relationship “unto” Christ to one “into” Christ.
As we read in 2 Timothy 2:10, salvation is found “in” Christ
Jesus. Therefore, one who has
not been baptized has not put on Christ. One who has not put on Christ is not “into” Christ.
Since salvation is only found “in” Christ, one must move
“into” Christ in order to be saved. The only way one moves “into” Christ is by baptism.
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Romans
10:10: “For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.” The
NIV says, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
The NIV mistranslates the Greek word eis in this verse.
The KJV correctly translates it “unto”.
As we learned in Galatians 3:27, one must be baptized before one
gets “into” Christ. Since
salvation is found only “in” Christ, one cannot be saved at the point
of confession since confession does not move one from a relationship
“unto” Christ to one “into” Christ.
Only baptism does this. In
addition, if the NIV is correct in Romans 10:10, there is a contradiction
within the NIV. Jesus tells
us that belief and baptism are necessary for salvation (Mark
16:16, NIV). Paul tells
us that confession is sufficient for salvation (Romans
10:10, NIV). Both cannot
be right. The relationship
between confession and salvation in the KJV is correct.
Confession takes me up to the point of salvation, but not
“into” salvation. Baptism
is necessary for me to clothe myself in Christ and enter “into”
salvation.
I pray this review of baptism has been helpful.
By considering these verses we understand the proper relationship
between belief, repentance, confession, and baptism.
Belief, repentance, confession, and baptism are all of equal value. If I fail to do any of the four, I am not saved.
However, it is only through baptism that I enter into Christ, where
salvation is found. Is
baptism therefore more important than the other three?
No. Baptism alone will
not save me. Baptism has this
power only for the one who believes in Jesus as the Son of God, has
repented of their sins, and has confessed before men their belief in His
status as the Son of God (as we read of the Ethiopian eunuch doing in Acts
8:36-38). A sinner who is
baptized but doesn’t believe, hasn’t repented, or hasn’t confessed
comes out of the water a “wet sinner”.
In addition, Paul tells us that it is by grace that I’m saved (Ephesians
2:5 and 8).
No work will ever save me, since salvation is a gift.
In order for me to earn
something, the work I perform must equal in value the “pay” I receive.
No work I do could ever equal the value of salvation.
Therefore, I will never be able to earn salvation.
However, it is entirely possible for me to fail to do some work
that God has required before He will give me the gift of salvation.
Many people fall into this trap.
By failing to do everything God has commanded me to do in order to
receive the gift of salvation I will find myself standing in condemnation
at the Day of Judgment. By
considering these verses we see the error found in the teachings of the
Baptist church. Please feel
free to ask should any further questions arise. You may reach me at
this e-mail address.
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