STEP 5: Be Baptized
We must be baptized to wash away our sins.
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There is much religious confusion about baptism. Some think
baptism isn't necessary, others believe we are saved before we are baptized.
Note 3 things the Bible says baptism does -
1. Baptism shows our good conscience
to God according to 1 Peter 3:21-
"...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."
2. Baptism washes away our
sins according to Acts 22:16-
"...arise, and be baptized,
and wash away thy sins...."
3. Baptism gives us entry "into"
Christ according to Galatians 3:27-
"For as many of you as
have been baptized into Christ
have put on< Christ."
Since Paul says baptism puts us "into"
Christ, then before we are baptized we are "outside" of
Christ and lost.
BAPTISM & CHRIST'S DEATH
In Romans 6:3-4 the apostle Paul makes this comparison
between Christ's death, burial and resurrection, and our water death, burial
and resurrection-
"Know ye not, that as many
of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore,
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life."
Paul compares Christ's death, burial & resurrection to our death, burial
& resurrection by baptism.
Paul says our "newness" of life starts AFTER baptism, NOT before.
Therefore, baptism is essential to start our new life in Christ.
For people to say they are saved before baptism is the
same as saying that Christ's mission was fulfilled before He was resurrected!
No one can "earn" salvation by good works. In
Ephesians 2:8 Paul says-
"For by grace are ye saved
through faith...it is the gift of God."
But, there are things we MUST do to be saved. For
instance, we must believe in order to be saved. Did you know that Jesus
said belief is a work? Look at John 6:29-
"This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
Baptism, like belief, is a work we MUST do to be saved,
but we should never think our works have saved us. We must believe (which
is a work) to be saved and we must be baptized (which is a work) to be saved.
Both are necessary for salvation and we have not been saved until we do
BOTH. This is exactly what Jesus said in Mark 16:16-
"He that believeth AND
is baptized shall be saved...."
Belief and baptism are both works necessary for salvation.
But they are not works of merit. In other words, God does not owe us salvation
because we have done these works. We are still saved by God's mercy and
grace, but He requires we believe and be baptized to wash away our sins
(Acts 22:16). God does the washing. God does the work of saving.
But we must follow His instructions to believe and be baptized.
THE ARK & BAPTISM
In 1 Peter 3:20-21 the apostle Peter makes this comparison
of Noah's salvation in the ark, and our salvation by baptism-
"...God waited in the days
of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls
were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now
SAVE us."
For people to say they are saved before baptism
is to say that Noah and his family were saved before the flood! Noah's
obedience and work did not earn him salvation, but if he had not worked
to build the ark, he would have been lost! In the same way, baptism does
not earn us salvation but we must be baptized to be saved. Peter says "baptism
doth also now save us."
SOME FINAL WORDS ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism Is Immersion, Not Pouring or Sprinkling
Some people believe baptism can be accomplished by sprinking or pouring.
Baptism, however, is IMMERSION. The Greek word "baptizo" means
"to make fully wet, to overwhelm, to immerse." Paul calls baptism
a "burial" in Romans 6:4-
"...we are buried with
him by baptism into death."
According to John 3:23 John baptized near Aenon-
"...because there was MUCH
water there."
Baptism is for Believers, Not Infants
Every Bible example of baptism involved believers. There is NOT one single
Bible example of an infant being baptized. Nor is there a command to baptize
infants. Infants are "safe" (not accountable) and do not need
baptism until they reach an age when they know what is right and what is
wrong and their responsibility to God. Infants are NOT born in sin. Infants
are too young to believe. Note what Jesus said in Mark 16:16-
"He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved."
Since infants cannot believe, they cannot do as Christ
requires - "believe AND be baptized."
What About the Thief on the Cross?
The important thing to note about the thief is that the New Testament was
NOT yet in effect when he died on the cross. The thief on the cross lived
and died under the Old Law - which did not require baptism. Additionally,
Jesus had the authority to save by His word alone according to Matthew
9:2 as indicated by his forgiving the sins of the man sick of the palsy-
"...be of good cheer; thy
sins be forgiven thee."
But, Jesus declares that we should be baptized to be saved
in Mark 16:16-
"He that believeth AND
is BAPTIZED shall be saved."
But baptism is NOT all that is required for salvation!
Please go to STEP 6 by clicking the Stay Faithful link above.
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