The Church of Christ has almost stood alone in the
religious world concerning its view of baptism as necessary for
salvation. The prominent view in the denominational world is that
baptism is simply a sign or symbol of the salvation which one
has previously received through faith alone. Actually, the view
that baptism is a "sign" or "symbol" is only
about 500 years old. 'The understanding of baptism as the time
when God bestows salvation was the nearly unanimous view in Christendom
for nearly fifteen hundred years. It was the consensus shared
by the early church fathers, Catholic theology in the Middle Ages,
and Martin Luther. The "other" view, the one that now
prevails, was the creation of Huldreich Zwingli in the decade
of the 1520's. It was adopted by his followers, including John
Calvin; and mainly through the latter's influence was spread throughout
the bulk of Protestantism.' (Jack Cottrell, Baptism: A Biblical
Study [Joplin, MO: College Press, 1989], p. 166) In the book,
"Early Christians Speak", Everett Ferguson cites
various quotations from religious documents and religious writers
who lived in the early centuries following the days of the apostles.
Concerning baptism, this is what they had to say: 'We descend
into the water full of sins and uncleanness' (Epistle of Barnabas
11:1,8,11); 'there is no other repentance expect that one when
we descended into the water and received the forgiveness of our
former sins' (Shepherd of Hermas Mandate IV. iii.1); 'For
at that time they obtain for themselves the washing in water in
the name of God the Master of all and Father, and of our Savior
Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. For Christ also said, "Unless
you are regenerated, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven."'
(Justin Martyr Apology I, 61); 'It is the washing through
which we are cleansed of our sins…We who have repented of
our sins, renounced our faults, and are purified by baptism.'
(Clement Of Alexandria Instructor I. vi. 32:1). Such texts
in their entirety moved Ferguson to conclude, 'The reader may
notice the following items in the texts: baptism was customarily
an immersion in water; it was administered to believing penitents;
and it was understood as bringing forgiveness of sins….Only
a few Gnostics on the remote fringes of Christianity denied water
baptism or its necessity for the remission of sins.' (p. 36) Similar
quotations are also cited in 'Christian Baptism' by Alexander
Campbell, pp. 209-217).
We often cite the following Scriptures concerning
baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21),
and rightly so, they are clear and understandable. In this lesson
let us also note passages that might be less cited, but are just
as powerful.
Points To Note: 1.
There is a baptism to which all are accountable and required to
believe and accept. Obviously, every Christian must believe there
is one God, one Lord, one hope, one faith, one Spirit and one
body. 2. Each "one" in this section is essential. How
can we view baptism as unnecessary when Paul places it right next
to "one Lord" and "one faith'? Are we to interpret
this verse as saying, 'one all important Lord, one all important
faith and one optional baptism?' 3. The baptism of this text is
water baptism, for that is the baptism which is commanded of Jews
as well as Gentiles (Acts 10:47-48), a baptism which
is still necessary even after one has been baptized in the Holy
Spirit, a baptism which is connected with salvation (Acts
8:35-38). Therefore the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 must
be the same baptism as that commanded in the Great Commission
(Mark 16:16). 4. Let it be noted that the denominational
world tries to establish a unity between all professed believers
on accepting the basics (death, burial, resurrection of Jesus
Christ, His Deity, Virgin Birth, atonement for sin). But no one
ever mentions "baptism" as one of the basics. In fact,
they also neglect to mention "one body", "one faith",
and "one hope". It is clear that if one rejects baptism
as essential for salvation, that they aren't even accepting one
of the most basic teachings of Christ. 5. Notice that Paul says,
"one" baptism. There is only one essential baptism.
Which means that it must either be Holy Spirit or water baptism,
it cannot be both. But water baptism is the baptism commanded,
it is even commanded following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 10:47-48). It is the baptism commanded even
after one had personally seen the Lord (Acts 22:16).
It is the baptism connected with confessing Christ (Acts
8:35-38). The reader should note that an Anglican clergyman
named E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913), originated the idea that the
passages in the epistles that referred to baptism, referred to
spirit baptism. He alleged that the water baptism of the New Testament
was a Jewish ceremonial ritual which was part of the Mosaic economy.
And that the Mosaic system was not removed until the end of the
book of Acts, when the Law of Moses was terminated. Of course
such contradicts passages such as Ephesians 2:15-16 and Colossians
2:14, which places the end of the Law of Moses at the cross of
Christ. In addition, such a view demonstrates an ignorance of
when the epistles were written. Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:26-27
were not written chronologically after Acts chapter 28, but before!
Ephesians 4:5 and Colossians 2:12-13 were written during the
imprisonment described in Acts 28 and not after it was over!
We hear so much about salvation by faith only or
salvation solely by the grace of God, and the above passages are
often used in the attempt to prove such statements. Points
To Note: 1. Salvation cannot be by faith only and at the
same time be by grace only. Salvation can include both, but the
Bible doesn't teach that only one thing is connected with our
salvation. 2. 'even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up with Him' (Ephesians 2:4-5). Paul
includes in a salvation which is said to be by the grace of God,
the language associated with baptism. The expressions "made
us alive together with Christ" and "raised us
up with Him" are clear references to the act of baptism.
Compare with Colossians 2:12 'having been buried with
Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him …'
2:13 'And when you were dead in your transgressions and
the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together
with Him…' 3. In Ephesians 2:4-9, we also have a
clear reference to faith, 'by grace you have been saved through
faith' (2:8). Please note that the "gift of God"
in 2:8 is grace and not faith. Faith comes from hearing the Word
of God (Romans 10:17), faith is something that man
must chose, exercise and develop (John 20:27; Heb. 3:12).
4. Since baptism is clearly mentioned in this section dealing
with salvation by grace through faith, we must conclude: (a) Baptism
is an essential element in salvation by grace through faith, in
fact remove the baptism, and there is no salvation. (b) Baptism
is not a work of which one could boast (2:9), baptism is not a
work of human merit. Rather, baptism is just like faith, a condition
which God had laid down to obtain eternal life, something that
God invented and not man. I am amazed that those who claim that
baptism is a work, have invented their own conditions for salvation.
The popular response from the faith-only crowd, concerning the
question, 'What Must I Do To Be Saved' is found in many popular
denominational publications. Here is a typical answer: 'You can
receive Christ right now by faith through prayer..The following
is a suggested prayer, "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You
for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life
and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving
my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne
of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does,
pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life,
as He promised.' (Law Four: In The Four Spiritual Laws which
is published in most of the material put out by Campus Crusade
For Christ). Now where is prayer found in Ephesians 2:4-9?
The above prayer is a work of human merit, for God never commanded
such a prayer as a condition for salvation. In addition, they
are substituting this humanly invented prayer for God's condition
of baptism!
Points To Note: 1.
The baptism in the epistles is a burial, an act in which one is
buried and raised. Clearly this is immersion. 2. Baptism is inherently
connected with faith, 'raised up with Him through faith'.
Where did people ever get the idea that baptism wasn't an act
of faith? Not from Jesus (Mark 16:16). 3. Baptism
is an expression of one's faith in the working of God. Being baptized
is simply trusting, having faith in God's way of saving you. God
said to do it, God said it stands between you and the remission
of your sins, and you trust what God says and obey. 4. It is clear
that one isn't spiritually alive until they are baptized. To argue
that we are saved (made alive) prior to baptism, completely destroys
the wonderful parallel with the death, burial and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Baptism is inherently connected with a burial
and a resurrection. If we are spiritually alive prior to baptism,
why do we need to be buried and raised? The Colossians were spiritually
dead (2:13), they were then buried (which must come before being
raised, in 2:12 the burial is placed before the raising up with
Him), then raised up with Him, and the result being, 'having
forgiven us all our transgressions'. Paul makes the same argument
in Romans 6:3-5, where newness of life is not obtained
until after one is buried in baptism.
Paul makes it clear that God accounts a man or woman
righteous on the basis of forgiveness (4:6-9). But baptism is
inherently connected with the forgiveness of sins (Acts
2:38; 22:16). Point To Note: Many try to
argue that baptism in the New Testament is like circumcision of
the Old Testament, that is, simply a sign of one's previous acceptance
with God (Romans 4:11). But the supposed parallel immediately
breaks down: (a) In the Old Testament one was born into the covenant
and then circumcised (Genesis 17:9-14). But baptism is part of
the new birth itself (John 3:5). (b) Only males
were circumcised, but all are commanded to be baptized (Mark
16:15-16). [c] Infants were circumcised, but baptism is
only for those old enough to exercise their own faith, sorrow
for their own sins and confess Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:36-37).
Points To Note: 1.
Once again, baptism is distinguished from works of human merit,
'not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness'.
2. And once more baptism is inherently connected with the
grace or mercy of God, 'but according to His mercy, by the
washing of regeneration'. 3. The phrase, 'washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit', has other parallels: 'unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom
of God' (John 3:5); 'by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body' (1 Corinthians 12:13); 'having cleansed
her by the washing of water with the word' (Ephesians 5:26);
'let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water' (Hebrews 10:22).
3. In these passages we learn that the Spirit's role in conversion
is exercised through the Word. The Spirit doesn't force or mysteriously
move us to be baptized, rather the Spirit's message, the Word
of God instructs us to submit and explains why this command is
so necessary. The Spirit has explained to us the mode, purpose,
design and recipients of baptism. The Spirit's message has also
convicted us of our sins, convinced us that Jesus is the Son of
God, and informed us concerning the destinies which lie ahead
for the righteous and the wicked. Thus it is the Spirit's message,
specifically the New Testament Scriptures which give us the instruction
and motivation to believe, repent, confess Christ and submit to
baptism. All of the above passages are teaching the same truth
as Jesus taught, when He said, "Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and
has been baptized shall be saved…" (Mark 16:15-16).