|
|
|
A simple yet very difficult saying for many to accept is Peter's reminder to those
Christians in the Dispersion when he wrote: "baptism doth also now save us" (1 Pet.
3:21). We could conclude this article right here and now, having shown that the
Bible teaches that we are saved by baptism. There is no way to misunderstand or
misinterpret this passage except through deliberate denial! However, because of the
vital importance of understanding the context of any and every Bible passage, we press
on to put our series of five articles together and draw the logical and biblical
conclusion regarding how God saves us.
Up to this point we have considered the fact that the Bible teaches that we are saved by nothing alone. The Bible does not teach that we are saved by faith alone, nor grace alone, nor by some sort of works alone. But there is a happy combination of things that must work in concert to bring us to the point where God will forgive, justify, pardon, and cleanse us from past sin, making us His children. One is saved because he has heard the Gospel message (Mk 4:24). The hearers must believe that message (Mk. 1:15; Rom. 10:13-15). Those believers must repent of sin and hearken to the message (Rom. 10:16,17; Lk. 13:3). One who has heard the message, believed it, and has decided to turn from sin is one who will confess his faith in Christ if he would be saved (Rom. 10:9,10). Confession is that last step one takes before submitting to the command of God — even as did Jesus — to fulfill all righteousness. That command is baptism, which comes from the lips of our Lord when "Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15). This refers to His being baptized of John. Luke tells us that this baptism (all baptisms involving men obeying the Lord) are Gods command. He wrote "But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him" (Lk. 7:30). Although some may protest and declare that baptism is a work, and that we are not saved by works, we hasten to agree with the first part, and will add the word "alone" to the second part of that protest. Yes, baptism is a work. But whose work is it? It is usually surprising to those who so protest to learn that even faith is a work. Jesus made this point while answering a question this way: "They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (Jn. 6:28,29). Like faith, or even repentance (also a command of God, Acts 17:30) baptism is a commanded work. Jesus gave the command (Mk. 16:16) Peter repeated it (Acts 2:38), and Paul made clear that baptism was the work of God when he wrote "in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:11,12). So, are we saved by works? Well, yes and no. No, if we understand the work to be that of each ones individual devising. Paul made this point to the Ephesians, saying "for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Eph. 2:8,9). Yet, in the very next verse he made a distinction between the works of verse nine and those God expects us to follow: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." James would draw the proper conclusion for us when he wrote "Ye see that by works a man is justified — and not only by faith" (Jas. 2:24). Yes, we are saved by works — the works of God which He has commanded. So, how do hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and baptism all work together? Let us look at a few passages that link these ingredients. "And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mk. 16:16). "And Peter said unto them, repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). "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 8:36-38). We see hearing linked with baptism, believing linked with it, repentance linked with it, and confession linked with it. Now, when we learn that there is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5), and that baptism is for salvation (1 Pet. 3:21), we would ask the next most logical question which was asked of Saul of Tarsus: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). God bless you in your study of His word. We hope that this series has been informative and helpful for you to become a true child of God. |