Baptism saves!

Most American Evangelicals reject this statement: Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals of all types. A web search will reveal more attacks on the Biblical teaching that baptism saves than supporting it. Why? Many believe that baptism is something that we do for God and for others. Ironically, most of those claiming to be Christians in the rest of the world believe this statement as well as the historic church, apostate or not.

Even the apostate “historic” churches have confessed that baptism provides for the forgiveness of sin. In the third article of the Nicene Creed, many confess “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.” This creed is confessed by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, as well as Reformed churches. They will and do reject the idea of some modern “Baptist” and “Bible” churches that the one baptism is a “Spirit baptism” and not involving water (although these “historic” churches mostly believe that sprinkling or pouring can replace immersion).

Definition of Baptism

The Greek words mean to wash, immerse, or dip. There are two: the noun, usually translated “baptism” is baptisma. The verb is baptizo, translated usually as “baptize.” Both words are used throughout the New Testament for cleaning and washing (see Mark 7:4, Luke 11:38, Hebrews 9:10). These are unrelated to the act of baptism or action of baptizing, but since a Greek word can have multiple meanings, context is critical to understanding what the word means in a particular verse.

Why Baptize?

This starts with Jesus and John the Baptizer. While Jesus did not require baptism, he shows us that baptism is associated with the Holy Spirit as well as an action that God approves of. When John questioned Jesus’ need for baptism, Jesus replied "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness." (Matt 3:15).

When Jesus was baptized, we see the entire Godhead. God the Father approves of what God the Son just had done; and God the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus. This marks the beginning of the Jesus “public” ministry. Fulfilled righteousness was now to be proclaimed.

When He met with Nicodemus, Jesus stated " I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).

At the completion of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he returns to baptism. He makes baptism a part of making disciples. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. “ (Matt. 28:19-20a). Baptism is part – an obviously essential part - of making disciples. Note that it is listed before teaching. If baptism is part of making a disciple, then it is more than just an action we do.

What does Baptism do?

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see baptism play an important role in the growth of the young Church. Baptism has many benefits for the believers, but certainly one is the forgiveness of sin. The first time we hear this is then Peter tells those in Jerusalem that it is baptism that brings the forgiveness of sin (Acts 3:38).

When Paul was recounting his conversion, Paul stated that he was to be baptized which washed away his sins (Acts 22:16). In Acts, we see other benefits of baptism that God gives to the believer such as the gift (indwelling) of the Holy Spirit. In Romans, Paul writes that we receive new life in Christ when we are baptized (Rom. 6:4). We also see that baptism removes our sins (Titus 3:5-6); this may be the same as forgiveness, or a related benefit.

Peter writes about baptism is his first letter. He states that the Great Flood was a symbolic form of baptism for Noah and his family since it saved them. Peter clearly teaches that baptism now saves us. Baptism is the pledge of a good conscience words God. Baptism saves us by Christ’s resurrection. This is consistent with what Paul wrote in Romans 6.

It is wrong to conclude that baptism is the only way of salvation. Baptism is the way of salvation that God has given us. We find examples of those who were saved through baptism and those saved prior to baptism or with no baptism at all: but those were under the Old Covenant; under the New Covenant, we have but the one way that God has given us. Does this limit His power to save? No, of course not – but He is the Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22).

Who is doing the Work?

When you read these verses, who is acting and who is passive? God is active in baptism while we are passive. We can only receive what God gives through baptism. God is acting through the person administering the baptism, so if we were to claim that the person doing the baptism is saved by doing so, we would indeed be preaching “salvation by works,” but that isn’t the case.

In Acts 2:38, Peter states that we receive both forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We are the passive participants in this action: our only action is submission to the Savior.

In both passages from Romans and Titus, it is clear that we are passive in this act. Titus 3:5-6 states that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the active players “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”. In Titus 3:6, the only part we play is passive “. . . so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” An heir does not merit their inheritance, but is given to them by the generosity of another.

Who should be baptized?

Jesus states that we are to baptize all nations – plain and simple. There is no limit to sex, ancestry, nationality, or age in his command: the only limit is that it is necessary to believe (Acts 8:36-37) and repent (Acts 2:38). Likewise, Peter instructed those on Pentecost that baptism and the promises associated with it is for both the adults and their children capable of repentence. In Acts 16:32, the jailer and all of his family were baptized into the faith after Paul and Silas presented the Gospel to the jailer; again, anyone who could believe and repent.

It is clear that this resolves the claims of many that John 3:16 and Mark 16:16 support the idea that belief alone (faith only) is required for salvation. There is no “believe only” loophole any more than there is a “baptism only” exemption. God has established His Way, and we may accept it or reject it, but we are not able to bargain about it.

Anyone who believes that Jesus is Lord, and like those in Jerusalem on that long-ago Pentecost, repent of their sins, may confess His name and put on His name in baptism, submitting to His will and being buried with Him in baptism to rise to a new life. Anyone.