Water Baptism and Salvation

1. Water Baptism and Salvation • Is water baptism simply an “outward sign of an inward grace”? • Is water baptism indispensable to salvation? • Is water baptism for the alien sinner? • Is water baptism for the kingdom citizen? • Is one saved before or after baptism?

2. Water Baptism and Salvation • The Issue Is NOT: Whether one has been saved “by grace through faith” • Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:2; • Biblical faith is more than mere mental assent, it is an obedient trust in God. • Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21-23; • If the alien sinner is not willing to meet Jesus’ conditions for grace, then do he really trust in Jesus?

3. Water Baptism and Salvation • What Is Water Baptism? • Immersion? • Sprinkling? • Pouring? • What Is the Purpose of Great Commission Baptism? • An expression of one’s faith that God has already saved them? • The prescribed way in Scripture to appeal to God for salvation?

4. What Is Baptism?

5. “In His command to baptize, Christ does not specify any mode of baptism. It may be performed in any one of three ways; namely, by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. One mode of baptism is just as valid as the other.” (An Explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism, 1935, p. 147)

6. “Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.”(Doctrines And Discipline Of The Methodist Church, 1956, p. 545)

7. “Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant.” (Manual: Church Of The Nazarene, 1968, p. 33)

8. “Proper Christian baptism is accomplished by having a devoted servant of God... completely immerse the person in water and then raise him up again.” (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968, p. 184)

9. “In answer to the oft-repeated question, What is Baptism? It may be said, Baptism is the immersion in water, by a proper administrator, of a believer in Christ, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Immersion is so exclusively the baptismal act, that without it there is no baptism….” (Church Manual Designed For The Use Of Baptist Churches, p. 65)

10. “Christian baptism is defined as the immersionof a person in water, on a profession of his faith in Christ…. As used in the New Testament, baptize always implies immersion.” (Edward T. Hiscox, The Hiscox Guide For Baptist Churches, 1964, p. 85)

11. “Baptize”(Baptizo)(Verb) BAGD: “dip, immerse, mid. diponeself, wash (in non-Christian lit. also ‘plunge, sink, drench, overwhelm’; fig. ‘soak’...)....” (A Greek-English Lexicon Of The New Testament And Other Early Christian Literature, p. 131)

12. “Baptize”(Baptizo) Joseph Thayer: “I. 1. prop. to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge.... 2. to cleanse by dippingor submerging, to wash, to make clean with water; in the mid. and the 1 aor. pass. to wash one’s self, bathe....”(A Greek-English Lexicon Of The New Testament, #907, p. 94)

13. “Baptize”(Baptizo) Kenneth Wuest: “[F]or baptizō (βαπτιζω) means, ‘to dip, to immerse.’ It never means ‘to sprinkle.’ The Greeks had a word for ‘sprinkle’ namely, rantizō (ῥαντιζω). The two words, baptizō (βαπτιζω) and rantizō (ῥαντιζω) are used in juxtaposition in Lev. 4:6.” (Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, 75)

14. “Baptism”(Baptisma) Joseph Thayer: “a word peculiar to N.T. and eccl writ., immersion, submersion.... 3. of Christian baptism; this, according to the view of the apostles, is a rite of sacred immersion, commanded by Christ....” (A Greek-English Lexicon Of The New Testament, #908, pp. 94-95)

15. “Baptism”(Baptisma) (Noun) W. E. Vine: “baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip)....” (The Expanded Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, p. 88)

16. The Testimony of the Scholars • John Calvin [Presbyterian]: “…it is evident that the term baptise means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive Church.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV:15:19)

17. The Testimony of the Scholars • Martin Luther: “Baptism is called in the Greek language baptismos, in Latin mersio, which means to plunge something entirely into the water, so that the water closes over it. And although in many places it is the custom no longer to thrust and plunge children into the font of baptism, but only to pour the baptismal water upon them out of the font, nevertheless, the former is what should be done.” (A Compend of Luther’s Theology, Ed. Hugh Thomson Kerr, p. 167, quoted in The Gospel Anchor 9:8:29ff)

18. The Testimony of the Scholars • Philip Schaff: “Finally, as to the outward mode of administering this ordinance [baptism, ksk]; immersion, and not sprinkling, was unquestionably the original, normal form. This is shown by the very meaning of the words βαπτιζω, βαπτισμα and βαπτισμος, used to designate the rite.” (History of the Apostolic Church: With A General Introduction To Church History, 1859, p. 568)

19. Baptism Is A Burial • Rom. 6:4:4 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. • Col. 2:12: 12buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

20. The Language Used in Scripture Indicates Immersion • Acts 8:36-39--As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, “Look! Water! aWhat prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [1And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the 1chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, athe Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 1but went on his way rejoicing.

21. The Language Used in Scripture Indicates Immersion • Matt. 3:16 —After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and 1ahe saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and 2lighting on Him, • Mark 1:9-11 —In those days Jesus bcame from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 1opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “aYou are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

22. The Language Used in Scripture Indicates Immersion • John 3:23— John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—

23. What Is Baptism?

24. “103. There is no saving efficacy in water-baptism, yet it is a duty of all believers to confess Christ in this solemn ordinance.…” (Confession Of Faith And Government Of The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, p. 56)

25. “What, then, does Christian baptism signify? It is not a washing away of one’s sins, because cleansing from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:7) Rather, it is a public demonstration, testifying that one has made a solemn dedication to Jehovah God….” (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968, pp. 183-184)

26. “ARTICLE IX. -- Of the Justification of Man: We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.” (The Book Of Discipline Of The United Methodist Church, 1968, p. 39)

27. “Note 8. -- Baptism is not essential to salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of ‘baptismal regeneration’; but it is essential to obedience, since Christ has commanded it.” (Edward T. Hiscox, Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, pp. 20-21)

28. Mark 16:16—“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

29. Mark 16:16—“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. • Argument: Jesus doesn’t say, “he who does not believe and is not baptized shall be condemned” • Thus baptism is unimportant • Answered: The conditions of belief and baptism stand and fall together. • If one cannot be saved without belief, then one cannot be saved without baptism. • If one can be saved without baptism, then one can be saved without belief.

30. Acts 2:38--Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

31. Acts 2:38--Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. • Argument: “For” actually means “because of” • Answered: (Ref. Matthew 26:28) Jesus used the same expression when He instituted the Lord’s Supper. Did Jesus shed His blood because sins were already forgiven? • Answered: Peter gives two conditions. Are we to repent “because of” forgiveness of sins? (Ref. Luke 13:3)

32. 1 Peter 3:21--Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

33. 1 Peter 3:21-- Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, • Context: Noah and his household were saved through water. (20) • Argument: the ark brought Noah’s household to safety. • Answered: Certainly the ark saved them physically from the flood, but the flood saved them spiritually, in that it took away the wicked people of the world and their evil influence. • Corresponding to that water baptism washes away our sins when we are baptized.

34. Acts 22:16-- ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

35. Acts 22:16-- ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’ • Argument: Saul’s sins were “actually” washed away when he saw the Lord, and “symbolically” washed away at baptism. • Answered: Where does Scripture speak of “actual” and “symbolic” salvation? • Answered: Scripture states that one must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:13). Saul of Tarsus had not yet called upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16; Ref. Matt. 7:21-23).

36. “103. There is no saving efficacy in water-baptism, yet it is a duty of all believers to confess Christ in this solemn ordinance.…” (Confession Of Faith And Government Of The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, p. 56)

37. Mark 16:16—“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

38. “What, then, does Christian baptism signify? It is not a washing away of one’s sins, because cleansing from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:7) Rather, it is a public demonstration, testifying that one has made a solemn dedication to Jehovah God….” (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, 1968, pp. 183-184)

39. Acts 22:16-- ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

40. “ARTICLE IX. -- Of the Justification of Man: We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.” (The Book Of Discipline Of The United Methodist Church, 1968, p. 39)

41. James 2:24--You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

42. “Note 8. -- Baptism is not essential to salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate the dogma of ‘baptismal regeneration’; but it is essential to obedience, since Christ has commanded it.” (Edward T. Hiscox, Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, pp. 20-21)

43. Acts 2:38--Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

44. If When Baptized You: • Saved (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) • Enter the kingdom (Jn. 3:3, 5) • Have remission of sins (Acts 2:38) • Wash away sins (Acts 22:16) • Benefit from Christ’s death (Rom. 6:3-4) • Enter the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) • Put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) • Cleansed and sanctified (Eph. 5:26) • Made alive and forgiven (Col. 2:11-13) What Is Your ConditionWithout Baptism?

45. All Spiritual Blessings In Christ(Ephesians 1:3) Redemption(Eph. 1:7) Eternal Life(Rom. 6:23) Sanctification(1 Cor. 1:2) Reconciliation(Eph. 2:13, 16) Justification(Gal. 2:16) Forgiveness(Eph. 1:7) Grace(2 Tim. 1:9) Salvation(2 Tim. 2:10) Baptized Into Christ (Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:26-27)