Recently I had the privilege of baptizing into Christ a young man who is a police officer in a nearby town. He had been baptized in a denominational church at the age of thirteen—a church that does not believe that baptism has anything to do with being saved from past (alien) sins, but nevertheless necessary to being a member of that denomination. A friend on the job had encouraged him to study a number of biblical passages relating to how a right relationship with the Lord is established. At the invitation and encouragement of this friend, about a year ago this young man had begun attending the church where I preach. Over a period of several months he came to seriously question the validity of his denominational baptism, and wanted to make his life right with the Lord. So, on a recent week-day afternoon, upon a confession of his faith in Christ as the Son of God, I immersed him "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), and, like the eunuch of old, "he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts8:39).
I find it difficult to see how people fail to understand New Testament teaching concerning baptism as to whom, how, and why. Not long ago, in a Bible class I had occasion to mention Mark 16:16. Following the reading of it, I asked somewhat rhetorically, "How can anyone misunderstand what Jesus said as to the conditions of salvation as set forth in this verse?" A man whom I had baptized a few years earlier (formerly a member of a denomination that practices sprinkling as a substitute for baptism), spoke up and said, "One has to have expert help." I think he was right. One has to have expert help to misunderstand what the Bible teaches about baptism!
It is passing strange that people think that salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) somehow rules out baptism for the remission of sins. All who believe the Bible know that we are saved by the grace of God (Acts 15:11; Hebrews 2:9). All who believe the Bible understand that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1). The question is, "What does it mean to have faith in Christ?" The Philippian jailer was told to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your house" (Acts16:31). Yet, he is not said to have believed until after he and his household had been baptized (Verses 32-34). Belief requires action; it demands obedience. Christ is "the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:9). This obedience requires that one comply with what Peter told sinners on the day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). If salvation "by grace through faith" does not rule out the necessity of repentance (and it does not), then why does it rule out the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins? The fact is it does not! And "for (eis, Greek) the remission of sins" in Acts 2:38has the same significance that it has in Matthew 26:28, namely, "in order to."
Saul of Tarsus, who became the great apostle Paul, is a sterling example of one saved "by grace through faith." Yet, he was told to "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). And it is in that very same way that every sinner today calls on the name of the Lord and is saved "by grace through faith."
According to the New Testament, baptism stands between the sinner and:
* The remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
* Having sins washed away (Acts 22:16)
* Having access to the benefits of the death of Christ (Romans 6:3-4)
* Being in Christ (Galatians 3:27)
* Being saved (Mark 16:16)
If one can be saved and in a right relationship with God without the above blessings, then one can be saved without baptism. But if the above blessings are essential to salvation, then so is baptism!
Hugh Fulford
September 13, 2011
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