The Christian Researcher
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Podcast
  • My Book
  • Contact
  • Book Reviews
  • Book Recommendations
  • Preacher's Study Videos
  • Matthew Study Material
  • Gospel Meetings Video/Audio
  • Quotes For Contemplation
  • Free Downloads
    • Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Seventh Day Adventists Renounced
  • Bible Correspondence Course
  • Online Tools
  • Audio Books, Debates, and Sermons
    • The Battey - Kniffen Discussion on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage
    • The Holy Spirit by George Battey
    • Premillennialism
    • Sermon on the Mt. by George Battey
    • Teacher Training Material
    • Open Bible Studies Audio/Video
  • Links
  • The Hutto - Cutter Debate

"Baptism Is Not Necessary For Salvation!" by Nathan Battey

5/5/2014

0 Comments

 
"Baptism is not necessary for salvation!" is the common cry of our religious world, but does it reflect the teaching of Scripture, or does it reflect a disobedient spirit?  Though the Bible has a lot to say about baptism, most are unclear about its purpose and do not see a need for it in their lives.   The goal of this article is to consider some of the Bible’s teaching on the subject of baptism and answer the following questions: 
   
    What is God’s plan of salvation according to the Bible? 
    Is salvation by faith alone and by grace alone? 
    Must one pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” in order to be saved? 
    What is the purpose of baptism? Must one be baptized in order to be saved? 
    If baptism is necessary does one still need grace and faith? 
    Why didn’t the thief on the cross have to be baptized?

Today, the majority of denominations hold to the doctrines of salvation through "faith only", by "grace only", and/or by praying the sinner's prayer.  Unfortunately for denominations, truth is not determined by what is popular; the Word of God determines truth. 

The doctrine of salvation by faith only must be rejected  because it contradicts the Bible.  The Bible uses term "faith only" once and specifically states, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).  It is a sad day   when men read such a simple clear statement, yet willfully teach the exact opposite.  May we heed the warning of Paul in Galatians 1:6-7, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." The terms "grace only" and "grace alone" are not found in the Scriptures and therefore the doctrine of salvation by "grace alone" must also be rejected.  It is undeniable that grace plays a major role in salvation, but it is not by "grace alone" that men are saved.  The term "grace alone" limits salvation to grace and grace only,  thereby negating the need for faith (John 3:16), repentance (Acts 2:38), confession (Matthew 10:32), and baptism (Acts 22:16).  It is a contradiction of terms to teach salvation by "faith only" and "grace only" for "faith only" excludes "grace only" and "grace only" excludes "faith only", yet both doctrines are frequently taught by the same people.  Both faith and grace are necessary in bringing about salvation, but neither one excludes the other or any other requirement placed by God on salvation.

The “grace alone” doctrine teaches that salvation is wholly dependent upon God, while Scripture teach salvation is partially dependent upon man.  In Acts 2:40 Peter urged those present on the day of Pentecost to, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”  Again, in Mark 16:16 Jesus required that men believe and be baptized in order to be saved.  In short, there are things men must do in order to be saved; salvation is not wholly dependent upon God.

As for the “Sinner’s Prayer”, it was invented by Dwight Moody in the late 1800’s, popularized by Billy Graham in the mid 1900’s (this can be confirmed/discovered through Wikipedia and other historical sources), and is also never found in the Bible.  Neither the Lord nor the apostles ever told a sinner to “believe in your heart and pray the Sinner’s Prayer” in order to be saved.  In a poor attempt to justify the Sinner’s Prayer many quote Paul in Romans 10:13, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  The question is not “if” calling on the name of the Lord is necessary, but rather “how” does one call on the name of the Lord?  In the book of Acts Paul clarifies how he called on the Lord by recounting the story of his own conversion.  When Jesus appeared to Paul he told him to, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)  Though Paul had seen Jesus, and prayed and fasted for three days (Acts 9:9/11), he still had sins that needed to be forgiven when Ananias the preacher arrived (Acts 22:16). Finally, Ananias tells Paul what he must do in order to be saved, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)  According to Paul, calling on the name of the Lord took place when he did what he “must do” by being baptized and having his sins washed away.  Paul’s prayers as a sinner did not save him and neither will the prayers of sinner’s today save them. 

Just as “faith only” and “grace only” will not save, “baptism only” will not save either.  Infant baptism has been practiced for centuries under the delusion that “baptism only” will save, yet Jesus taught that belief must precede baptism in Mark 16:16.  Thus to teach “baptism alone” saves is just as much an error as teaching “faith alone” saves.

The question is not whether baptism alone can save (clearly it cannot), but rather “Is baptism necessary for salvation?” In answering this question, please consider the following points:

1-    If baptism is not necessary for salvation, why is it mentioned more times in the New Testament than belief, repentance, confession, or prayer and almost always connected with salvation?  If baptism has nothing to do with salvation, why did the inspired writers have so much to say about it?

2-    Most people who object to baptism do so because of Paul’s statement in Ephesians 2:8-9, “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” 

People define “works” in this passage to mean “anything that takes human effort” and thus reject baptism as necessary for salvation because baptism takes human effort.  However, if “works” always means “anything that takes human effort” how can faith be required for salvation since faith takes effort, and how could Peter command his listeners on the day of Pentecost to “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40) since that also would take effort? 

What people fail to realize is that the Bible speaks of two different kinds of works:  There are works of merit and works of humble obedience.  The Jewish leaders felt they could keep the Law perfectly and thus earn their salvation through their own merit.  They did not view salvation as a gift from God; rather they viewed salvation as what God owed them.  On the other hand, when Jesus healed the paralytic in John 5:8 and commanded him to “pick up your bed and walk”, the healed man rose and did what the Master commanded him to do in faithful obedience.  Ephesians 2:8-9 is teaching that salvation is by grace, through faith, and not through works of merit.  The condemnation of meritorious works does not negate the necessity of humble obedience. 

When quoting Ephesians 2:8-9 as a reason to reject baptism as necessary for salvation, people are attempting to classify baptism as a meritorious work.  If baptism is a meritorious work, then it is wrong for a person to ever get baptized since it is always wrong to perform works of merit.   Why then do denominations encourage or even allow their members to be baptized (regardless of the reason) if baptism is a work of merit?  Denominations are inconsistent in condemning baptism for the remission of sins as (on the grounds that it is meritorious), and yet allow/require it as an expression of one’s “new life”.  If baptism is a work of merit in one case, it is a work of merit in the other case as well.

3-    Mark 16:16 teaches, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”  Jesus statement can be easily expressed in a mathematical formula:  Belief + Baptism = Salvation.  Notice, Jesus’ formula was not Baptism = Salvation nor Belief = Salvation + Baptism  but rather Belief + Baptism = Salvation.

Many object to Jesus formula by arguing: “Jesus did not say, ‘He who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned’; it only says that those who don’t believe will be condemned!  Those who make such an argument miss the point of the Lord’s statement.  What it takes for a person to be lost and what it takes for the same person to be saved are two different issues.  A lack of faith will cause one to be lost, but faith alone cannot save (James 2:24).  Mark says it takes faith and baptism to be saved.  When the Lord places baptism into his formula for salvation, by what authority can man claim it is not necessary?

4-    The Lord’s formula for salvation is brought to life and enacted in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.  In Acts 8, Philip the evangelist was asked to step up into a chariot and preach Jesus from Isaiah 53.  The Bible recounts on this occasion, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”  The question the eunuch asked in response to hearing Jesus preached is more than a little telling: “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”  Here is the point: To preach Jesus means to preach baptism - the two cannot be separated.  Note also that before the eunuch could be baptized he had to confess that Jesus was the Son of God (Acts 8:37) so that the preacher could know he believed (he did not confess that he was a sinner).  The eunuch followed the Lord’s formula for salvation (Believe + Baptism= Salvation ) found in Mark 16:16 and in so doing received salvation.

5-    In Acts 2, Peter preached a sermon to the very Jews who had crucified Christ.  Toward the close of his sermon many were cut to the heart and cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).  If faith alone is necessary for salvation, why did Peter reply, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;"?   Why did he not reassure them that they were already saved since they now believed in the Christ?

Acts 2:38 brings up another point:  Is repentance necessary for salvation?  Can a sinner merely confess Christ and keep on sinning?  Certainly not!  Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).  Do we repent in order that our sins might be forgiven or because they have already been forgiven?  Again, Luke 13:3 demands that repentance must take place before salvation occurs.  In Acts 2:38 repentance was again placed as a condition prior to salvation as was baptism.  Just as repentance is “for the remission of sins” (i.e. unto the remission of sins) so baptism is “for the remission of sins (i.e. unto the remission of sin).

6-    According to Scripture, the blood of Christ is what cleanses us from all sin (Revelation 1:5).  The question is therefor, “How can a person come into contact with the blood of Christ? 

Paul answers, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).  So, by getting in Christ we can have redemption through His blood.  The question now becomes, “How does one get in Christ?”

Paul answers again, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27) and again, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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.” (Romans 6:3-4) 

Thus, the only way to gain access to the blood of Christ is through baptism into Christ.  Is baptism necessary for salvation?  Indeed it is.

 

7-    In John 3:3 Jesus states, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Two verses later Jesus goes on to say, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”   In these two verses Jesus connects the concepts of a new life and entrance into the kingdom; he also has both occurring at the same time.  It is thus impossible to be born again without entering the kingdom, and it is impossible to enter the kingdom without being born again.   How is one born?  Not by faith alone, but by obeying the message of the Spirit to be baptized in water (John 3:5/ Romans 6:3-4).  On the day of Pentecost the Bible says, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41,47)  No one can enter into the kingdom without following God’s plan of salvation that culminates in baptism.

In closing, a final objection needs to be considered:  “How could Christ forgive the sins of people while he was on the earth (such as the thief on the cross or the paralytic) and yet require all others to be baptized for the remission of sins?

I urge you to consider Brother Daniel A. Sommer’s reply:

“Some men say that the Bible teaches that bap­tism is necessary to the remission of the sins of an alien sinner. Others say that this cannot be true, inasmuch as Christ himself forgave people without baptism. Jesus said to the palsied man, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven." He said to the sinful woman, "Thy sins are forgiven." To the thief on the cross he said, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." No doubt these people received the remission of their sins without baptism.  How, then, do we reconcile this with the teaching elsewhere in the Book that baptism is for the remission of sins? (See Acts 2:38; 22:16.) The explanation of these verses is not difficult when we know the time when the kingdom was established. When Jesus was on the earth, he was preparing things for the establishment of his Church. While doing that, he could bestow the blessings of his kingdom just as he saw fit. Even at that time, however, people generally received the remission of their sins by baptism, for John preached the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". (Mark 1:4.) But when the Church was established on the day of Pentecost, the law of pardon was firmly fixed and all alien sinners must conform to that law.

Paul's comparison of a will with the law of Christ is applicable here. "Where a testament is," said he, "there must of necessity be the death of him that made it." While a man is living, he can dispose of his property as he pleases. He can give five dollars to this poor man, a hundred dollars to that destitute widow, and a thou­sand dollars to those orphan children, and no one can stop him, although his other expenditures are according to stipulations. When, however, the man dies, none of his property can be disposed of except according to his will. So Christ, when he was living, could say to the woman, "Thy sins be forgiven thee", and to the thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." But since Jesus has died, the blessings of the kingdom of heaven can be bestowed only according to the terms of the will of Christ as made known this side of his death. At no time after the death of Christ do we find Jesus from heaven or the apostles on earth saying to any one, "Thy sins be forgiven thee"; but rather do we hear them say­ing, "Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins", and, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Daniel A. Sommer, The Church of Christ, p.60-61)

 

A failure to consider the whole tenor of Scripture has lead to mass confusion regarding the topics of salvation and baptism.  By plucking verses out of contexts and holding to one verse to the exclusion of all others, people have arrived at many contrived answers to the simple question, “What must I do to be saved?” 

We urge all readers to do as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 to search the Scriptures daily to see if the things presented herein are true.  May God’s word be upheld and may we always conform our thoughts to the teachings found therein. 



0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    1000 Year Reign
    1 Corinthians 11
    1 Timothy 2:8 15
    1 Timothy 2:8-15
    2016 Reading
    2 Corinthians
    7 Days Of Creation
    Abortion
    Acts 2
    A.D. 70 Theory
    Adam
    Adultery
    Advocacy
    Age Of Accountability
    Alcohol
    Alexander Campbell
    Alleged Discrepancies
    Ananias And Sapphira
    Angels
    Animal Sacrifice
    Annihilation
    "Antis"
    Apologetics
    Apostasy
    Armageddon
    Astros
    Attitudes
    Audio Sermon
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Baalism
    Babel
    Bald Prophet
    Baptism
    Baptism Of Jesus
    Baptsim
    Bearing Arms
    Bears
    Beggars
    Best Books
    Bible And History
    Bible Atrocities
    Bible Authority
    Bible Classes
    Bible Commentaries
    Bible Difficulties
    Bible Interpretation
    Bible Knowledge
    Bible Pattern
    Bible Study Aids
    Bible Talk
    Biblical Theology
    Big Picture
    Billy Orten
    Bitterness
    Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit
    Blood
    Boldness
    Book Of Acts
    Book Of Numbers
    Book Reviews
    Bookstore
    Book Suggestions
    Bruce Roebuck
    Calvary
    Calvinism
    Cannibalism
    Carnal Warfare
    Centurion
    Change
    Charity
    Cheating
    Christ
    Christian Colleges
    Christianity
    Christian Rock Music
    Christian Service
    Christian Virtues
    Christ On Trial
    Church Co-operation
    Church Discipline
    Church Growth
    Church Leadership
    Church Of Christ
    Church Organization
    Church Problems
    Collection
    Communion
    Confession
    Conflict Resolution
    Conquest
    Conscientious Objector
    Contemporary Christian Music
    Contribution
    Controversy
    Cost Of Business
    Covenant
    Coversion
    COVID-19
    Creation
    Critical Issues
    David And Goliath
    Day Of Pentecost
    Deadpool
    Death
    Deathbed Conversion
    Death Of Child
    Death Of Christ
    Debate
    Decisive Cleansing
    Defend Helpless
    Delusion
    Denominations
    Depression
    Destruction Of Jerusalem
    Difficult Passages
    Digression
    Division
    Divorce
    Doctrine
    Drinking
    Drunkenness
    Edification
    Elders
    Election
    Ephesians 2:8-9
    Eternal Life
    Eternal Rest
    Eternal Reward And Punishment
    Evangelism
    Evolution
    Examples Of Conversion
    Exodus
    Expository Preaching
    Ezekiel 18
    Facebook
    Faith
    Faith Alone
    Faithfulness
    False Doctrine
    False Worship
    Family
    Family Problems
    Family Worship
    Favorites
    Fellowship
    Foreknowledge
    Forgiveness
    Forgiveness In The Old Testament
    Foundational Topics
    Free Book
    Free WIll
    Gambling
    G. C. Brewer
    Genealogy
    Genocide
    Gentiles
    George Battey
    Giving
    Glen Osburn
    Gluttony
    Gnosticism
    God
    God-Centered
    God's Special People
    Gospel Meeting Sermons
    Gospel Of Luke
    Government
    Grace
    Great Reads
    Greg Gay
    Grief
    Guy N Woods
    Hair
    Heaven
    Hebrew Parallelism
    Hebrews
    Hell
    Herald Of Truth
    Heresy
    Heretics
    Hermeneutics
    Heroes
    Hiram Christopher
    Historical Perspective
    Historisity Of The Gospels
    History Of The Church
    Holiness
    Holistic Heathenism
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Spirit Baptism
    Holy Wars
    Homosexuality
    Hope
    How Great Is Our God!
    Humility
    Immorality
    Independence
    Infallibility
    Infant Baptism
    Inherited Sin
    Innovations
    Inspiration Of The Bible
    Institutionalism
    Instrumental Music
    Interpretation
    Intertestamental History
    Introduction
    Introduction To Matthew
    Irving Church Of Christ
    Isaiah
    Islam
    Israel
    Israel In The Wilderness
    James 2
    James Cating
    Jeremiah
    Jerry Dickinson
    Jesus
    Jewish Trials
    Jews
    Jihad
    Joe Hisle
    John The Baptist
    Jonathan Edwards
    Joseph And Mary
    J. Ridley Stroop
    Judgment
    Justice
    J. W. McGarvey
    Kevin Presley
    Kingdom Of God
    Language
    Last Days
    Law
    Law Keeping
    Law Making
    Laying On Of Hands
    Lazarus
    Legalism
    Lessons Of Youth
    Lies
    Light To The Gentiles
    Literature
    Living Hell
    Logic
    Lord's Supper
    Love
    Luke-Acts
    Lying
    Marcion
    Mark 16:16
    Mark Twain
    Marriage
    Martin Luther
    Matthew
    Matthew Study
    Maturity
    Mercy
    Messianic Prophecy
    Metonymy
    Microphones
    Military Service
    Miracles
    Missionary Societies
    Mission Of John The Baptist
    Mission Work
    M. Lynwood Smith
    Moral Issues
    Morris Reynolds
    Moses
    Movies
    Multiple Cups
    Murder
    Nadab And Abihu
    Nathan Battey
    Natural Law
    Nature Of God
    Necessary Inference
    New David
    New Exodus
    New Law
    New Moses
    New Testament
    New Testament Church
    New Testament In The Old
    No-Exception Doctrine
    Obedience
    Objections
    Old Testament
    Old Testament Lessons
    Old Testament Studies
    Omnipotence
    Omniscience
    One Cup
    Opa
    Order Of Worship
    Pacifism
    Pandemic
    Papa
    Parables
    Parallelism
    Parents
    Partiality
    Paul
    Persecution
    Personal Offense
    Pharisees
    Placentophagy
    Plague
    Poetry
    Police Service
    Politics
    Pornography
    Positive Law
    Prayer
    Preaching Publicly And Privately
    Premillennialism
    Premillennialsim
    Priest
    Principles
    Priorities
    Prophecies
    Prophets
    Psalm 139
    Psalms
    Questions Of Interest
    Quran
    Racism
    Raising The Dead
    Randy Loftin
    Re-Baptism
    Recoding Equipment
    Re-Marriage
    Reprints
    Restoration Of Israel
    Revelation
    Romans 9
    Ron Courter
    Ronny Wade
    Sacred Name
    Sacrifice
    Sadducees
    Salvation
    Savage Death
    Scandal
    Scribes
    Seld Defense
    Self Defense
    Sermon Notes
    Sermon On The Mt.
    Sermon Preperation
    Sermons
    Service
    Sexual Abuse
    Sin
    Sinai
    Singing
    Slogans
    Social Gospel
    Sodom
    Songs
    Son Of David
    Son Of God
    Son Of Man
    Spiritual Immaturity
    Stephen
    Structure
    Studies In Matthew
    Study In Hebrews
    Suffering
    Tabernacle
    Teachings Of Christ
    Temptation
    Ten Commandments
    Terry Baze
    The Christian Age
    The Church
    The Church
    The Covering
    The Cross
    The Fullness Of Time
    The Last Day
    The Lord's Supper
    The Old Law
    The Resurrection
    The Shema
    Three Days And Three Nights
    Timothy McGrew
    Total Hereditary Depravity
    Training
    Transfiguration
    Trauma
    Trial Of Stephen
    Trilogy
    T-U-L-I-P
    Two Swords
    Type & Anti Type
    Type & Anti-Type
    Typology
    Understanding The Bible
    Unity
    Universal Church
    Unpardonable Sin
    Vain Worship
    Victory
    Video Studies
    Voting
    War
    Wayne Jackson
    Wine
    Wisdom
    Wise Counsel
    Witnesses
    W. L. Oliphant
    Women
    Women's Roles
    Worhip
    Worksheet
    Worship
    Young People

    Nathan Battey

    is an evangelist of the Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas. 

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    April 2023
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013



Picture
"The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own."  
                                                            - C. H. Spurgeon