Chapter
1 -
Can water baptism save us?
It has been claimed that we
could have salvation and be born again through baptism, and that we would also
receive the Holy Spirit when baptized.
However, if we look at this in the light of a few examples, we
will see that it cannot be so. Among other things, the next issues speak
against this:
Paul and the Corinthians. One of the
clearest indications of water baptism not saving us are Paul's words in his
letter to the Corinthians.
If we could be saved by being baptized, why then did Paul in his
letter thank God for only having baptized a few persons in Corinth even though
he in other places tells how he wanted to do his best to save even a few
persons? The conflict between these two statements can only be understood by
Paul not seeing water baptism as a means of salvation; otherwise, he would not
have written as he wrote:
- (1 Cor 1:14-17) I thank God that
I baptized none of you, but Crispus and
Gaius;
15 Lest any
should say that I had baptized in my own name.
16 And I baptized
also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any
other.
17 For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
- (1 Cor 9:19-22) For though I be
free from all men, yet have I made myself servant to all, that I might gain
the more.
20 And to the
Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the
law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that
are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law
to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am
made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
The rebirth of the
Corinthians. In the verses above, Paul said that he could not really remember who he
had baptized in Corinth but then again, he did remember that the whole
congregation had been born again through the Gospel he had preached. This
proves that he did not regard water baptism as a means of being born again:
- (1 Cor 4:15) For though you have ten thousand instructors in
Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel.
Water baptism and being born
again are, thus, two quite different things. Paul did not use water baptism to
save people. Instead, people were born again in those times just like today:
simply by receiving the word of God through faith – this was what happened with
the Corinthians. They were born again when they received the word of God into
their hearts:
- (Luke 8:11-12) Now the parable
is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil,
and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be
saved.
- (1 Peter 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which lives and stays for ever.
- (James 1:18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his
creatures.
Examples in the Bible. Another
indication of water baptism not automatically guaranteeing salvation are a few
examples in the Bible, such as the description of Simon the Sorcerer in the
Acts. He was baptized but Peter still
had to say to him that his heart was not right and that he would be damned if
he did not repent. In other words, even though he was baptized, it did not help
him at all because his state of mind was all wrong before God:
- (Acts 8:12,13,18-21) But when they
believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon
himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
18 And when Simon
saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he
offered them money,
19 Saying, Give
me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Ghost.
20 But Peter said
to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God
may be purchased with money.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is
not right in the sight of God.
We can find similar examples in
what Jesus tells about the five foolish virgins and those who performed many
miracles in His name. We can assume that all these people were also baptized
and were members of the congregation, but they still had not been saved. Later,
the Lord said that he had never known them:
- (Matt 25:11-12) Afterward came
also the other virgins, saying, Lord,
Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you
not.
- (Matt 7:22, 23) Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in
your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from
me, you that work iniquity.
Baptism and salvation are
different events. There are some good examples in the Bible about how
water baptism and salvation are different events, and they may also take place
at different times. The clearest examples of this are the thief on the cross,
Cornelius, and the disciples in Ephesus:
The thief. Firstly, the
thief on the cross is a good example of how salvation is not bound to water
baptism. He was saved and went to paradise, even though he had no time to be
baptized. He was saved simply through faith in Jesus and turning to Him:
- (Luke 23:39-43) And one of the
malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save
yourself and us.
40 But the other
answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same
condemnation?
41 And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done
nothing amiss.
42 And he said to
Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, To day shall you be
with me in paradise.
Cornelius with his companions is another example
of how water baptism and salvation are not always simultaneous events. They
were filled with the Holy Spirit already before they were baptized with water,
meaning that they were certainly already saved when baptized. Water baptism was
more like a seal of their rebirth:
- (Acts10:44-48) While Peter yet
spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of
the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard
them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
The disciples in Ephesus are the third
example. These disciples believed already before they were baptized with water
by Paul. ("Disciple" is a word the Bible commonly uses for people
who were reborn; Acts 6:1; 11:26; 13:52) It seems that these people were
born again shortly before when the evangelist Apollos visited the city (see
Acts 18:24-28):
- (Acts 19:1-5) And it came to pass,
that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts
came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said to
them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as
heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said to
them, To what then were you baptized? And they said, To John’s baptism.
4 Then said
Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people,
that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ
Jesus.
5 When they
heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
1 Peter 3:20, 21. One thing that has
been used as an argument supporting baptism as a way of salvation are these
words in a letter by Peter:
- (1 Peter 3:20, 21) Which sometime
were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were
saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even
baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ:
As far as these verses are
concerned, we should note that all of these people had already been reborn.
Firstly, Noah “was a just man and
perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Gen 6:9) already
before the Flood. He also built an ark through faith (Hebr 11:7) showing that
faith was present in everything he did. Also, all of the receivers of the
letter were believers when Peter wrote his letter to them. He said that they
were shielded through faith to salvation:
- (1 Peter 1:4, 5) To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
We must, therefore,
understand that the basis is always one's faith in Christ, everything else will
come after that. In other words, if we do not have faith, water baptism will
not have any meaning for us – it will only remain a ritual among other rituals.
The meaning of faith is expressed also in the verses below. Many of these
verses speak about justification through faith and some of them also connect
faith with water baptism (Gal 3:26,27, Col 2:12, Mark 16:16 – also see Acts
8:36,37):
- (Gal 3:26,27) For you are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.
- (Col 2:12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are
risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised
him from the dead.
- (Mark 16:16) He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believes not shall be damned.
- (John 5:24) Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and
believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death to life.
- (John 15:3) Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken
to you.
- (John 20:31) But these are written, that you might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life
through his name.
- (Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his
name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.
- (Acts 13:38,39) Be it known to
you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the
forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things,
from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
- (Rom 1:15-17) So, as much as in me is,
I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to
every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- (Rom 3:22,25,26,28) Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and on all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
25 Whom God has
set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God;
26 To declare, I
say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believes in Jesus.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
- (1 Cor 1:21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save
them that believe.
- (1 Cor 15:1,2) Moreover, brothers, I
declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have
received, and wherein you stand;
2 By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I
preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.
- (Hebr 4:2) For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
- (Eph 1:13) In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you
believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
- (2 Tim 3:15) And that from a child you have known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
The grace of baptism may be brought up
in connection with water baptism. People have thought that we can always return
to the grace of baptism and that faith which is built upon baptism will take us
beyond the border of Heaven. It has also been said that in the grace of baptism
Christ with all His heavenly treasures is given to us.
When talking about "the grace of baptism", we should
note, however, that this term is not from the Bible. It is not mentioned in the
Bible. There are also some problems with using this term:
Do we concentrate on Christ
or water baptism? The first problem of the grace of baptism is that we
may start to concentrate more on our baptism than on Christ – "This is
when I was baptized!” This was the mistake of the Galatians: they concentrated
on their actions and various ceremonies, trying to comfort themselves with
them. However, Paul tried again to turn their emphasis on Christ alone because
there is no other foundation for our salvation:
- (Gal 3:1,2) O foolish Galatians, who
has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes
Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- (1 Cor 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Those who are not baptized. If receiving the
grace of God were bound to water baptism, it would also mean that those people
who did not have time to be baptized could not be saved, even if they did have
living faith in Christ. For example, the thief on the cross whom Luke tells
about and to whom Jesus promised access to paradise would have been this kind
of a person and would have remained outside paradise. (Luke 23:42,43). However,
he did go there which means that water baptism did not affect his eternal
destiny.
So, we must understand that grace is not bound to water baptism
but to Jesus Christ. It is bound to Him as a person, otherwise it would become
something we had to do first before being able to be saved. In other words, if
we do not put our trust in Jesus, water baptism cannot help us in any way.
Grace came to people already 2,000 years ago through Christ, not now through
water baptism or anything else:
- (John 1:17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.
- (1 Cor 1:4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace
of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
