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Objections To Baptism (2)
John R. Gentry
“Immersion now saves you” (1 Pet. 3.21, GIV). Despite such clear teaching from the New Testament, many object to the Biblical teaching of baptism being necessary to our salvation. Last week we discussed the thief on the cross in Luke 23.39-43 (see website for archives). Let’s examine more objections.
We Are Saved By Faith
Rom. 5.1 clearly teaches we are “justified by faith” (cf. Heb. 11.6). However, nowhere in the Scriptures does it teach that we are saved by faith alone. Did you know that the Scriptures actually connect our salvation with over fifteen different things and that we are not saved by any one of these things alone? Consider that we are saved by God—1 Tim. 2.3-4; Christ—Matt. 1.21; Grace—Eph. 2.8; Blood—1 Jn. 1.7; Words—Acts 11.14; the Gospel—Rom. 1.16; Preaching—1 Cor. 1.21; Self—Php. 2.12; Faith—Rom. 3.28; Works of Obedience—Heb. 5.9; Repentance—Acts 2.38; Confession of Faith—Rom. 10.9-10; Baptism—1 Pet. 3.21; Hope—Rom. 8.23-24; Faithfulness—Rev. 2.10. Do any of the passages that teach that we are saved by faith negate any of the other things that the Bible connects with our salvation? The Bible makes it clear by simply stating, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jas. 2.24).
Mark 16.16 Does Not Say “He That Does Not Believe And Is Not Baptized Shall Be Condemned”
It should be obvious that if one does not believe he will not obey, but to make it even more clear listen to the words of Jesus in John 3.18, “...whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed…” If a person does not first have faith, he will not submit. Therefore it is not necessary to mention subsequent acts of submission to God’s plan for our salvation. It was not necessary for Jesus to mention “and is not baptized,” for a person who does not believe will not submit to submersion into Christ because he does not believe and “is condemned already.”
Furthermore, consider the parallel statement, “He who eats and digests will live, but he who does not eat will die.” It is not necessary to add “and does not digest” for a person who does not eat cannot digest anything.
Conclusion
Next week we will conclude by looking at the word for in Acts 2.38. Feel free to contact me anytime with questions, disagreements, or other objections.
originally published in the Banner-Gazette
2007.11.28