Baptism – whose work is it?
By JOHN A. SMITH
Think on These Things
First of all, lest I be misunderstood and falsely accused of believing in “water salvation,” let me say as plainly and strongly as I can that I am fully persuaded that the Bible teaches that man is saved from the consequences and guilt of his sins through the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7; Romans 5:9). Man is not saved on the basis of his own works or through works of human merit (Eph. 2:8).
A passage that is most helpful in this discussion is Colossians 2:13. “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…”
When man is buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:4-7), he is made alive together with Him having had his sins forgiven. This Paul attributes to the “working of God” (v.12). When a man is baptized God removes the man’s sins that caused him to be spiritually dead. The watery grave of baptism is where God promises to do His work of cutting away the filth of his transgressions. What is significant is not that the man allowed himself to be plunged under the water, but that he agreed to meet God “at the place” where God promised to do His surgery. Thus, man is not saved on the basis of his own work, but rather the work of God.
Jesus taught that repentance was a prerequisite to salvation (Luke 13:3,5 “… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”). Thus, when we meet God on His “operating table” where He cuts away our spiritual filth, we must do so because we are truly sorrowful for our sins and desire to turn our life around. Peter in agreement with Jesus, preached in Acts 3:19 that those who had rejected Jesus needed to, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away …” The New Testament clearly teaches that man must repent of his sins before God will forgive his sins. But, is repentance the only prerequisite to salvation?
Why would we find different statements regarding salvation in the New Testament? For instance, Eph. 2:5 states we are saved by grace. Romans 5:9 states we are saved by the blood of Jesus? On Pentecost people who had shouted for the crucifixion were told to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Again, in Acts 3:19, Peter tells a different crowd, they needed to repent and return to God in order to have their sins wiped away. Paul told the suicidal jailer in Acts 16:31 that if he believed in Jesus he could be saved. Why this difference?
If you were giving directions to someone in Noblesville how to get to Columbus, Ohio where would start? What instructions would you give him? If you were telling someone in Evansville how to get to Columbus, where would you start? What instructions would you give him? Would these two different sets of directions contradict themselves or be confusing? Not at all! You would start where each person was and then direct them to the same goal.
The same thing is true in the New Testament where men received different directions because they were beginning in different places. It was obvious that the people in Acts 2 were not told to believe or confess Jesus, because they had reacted to Peter’s sermon about Jesus as the murdered, resurrected Messiah. Was belief or confession not important or necessary? Of course not. They had evidenced belief and acknowledgment that they wanted to turn from the consequences of their sins. Did the suicidal jailer have faith in Jesus as God’s son? How was Paul going to know, thus he told him to begin his journey to salvation at the point of faith. As with faith so it is with the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9), it forms a portion of the foundation of salvation.
By what right do we eliminate any command of God? By what right do we pick and chose which of His commands we like and chose to obey? I can no more eliminate baptism than I can eliminate faith or repentance.
Would you like more information or a personal study of this issue? I would love to accommodate your request. May we help you come to know your God and Creator more fully? Do you have questions or disagreements? If you do have concerns about your knowledge of the eternal God and salvation, please contact us at the Stony Creek Church of Christ. We will be happy to study God’s Word with you and help you find the “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7).