Dozens of verses in the Bible make it very clear that we are
saved by believing the "gospel", with no mention of baptism:
"It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching
to save them that believe" (I Cor 1:21)
See also; John 3:16,18,36, 5:24; Acts 10:43, 13:38, 16:31; Romans
1:16, 3:28, 4:24, 5:1; I Cor 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8; and many, many
more. But not one single verse says that baptism saves. If baptism
is a requirement of being saved, the Bible would make it clear,
but not one verse says so!
The Apostle Paul wrote, "For Christ sent me not
to baptize, but to preach the gospel"
(I Cor 1:17). When the Phillipian jailer asked; "Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?", their answer was; "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts
16:30). Paul told the Corinthian believers that he couldn't remember
who he had baptized and was glad that it was only a few (I Cor.
1:14-16), yet later he stated that; "in Christ Jesus I
have begotten you through the gospel"
(I Cor 4:15) Indeed a strange attitude if baptism is a requirement
of being saved!
It is upon believing the gospel (and thus being saved) that we
are to be baptized. The eunuch asked Philip, "What doth
hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest."
Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved". All who believe are saved, so of course, all who
believe AND are baptized are saved. Look at the second half of the
verse, "but he that believeth not shall be damned".
But notice it doesn't say he that believeth not
AND ARE NOT BAPTIZED shall be damned. It is unbelief that damns.
Baptism symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ in
His death, burial, and resurrection. "Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life." Baptism is a powerful public
testimony to a person's faith in Christ alone as their savior.
The false teaching commonly known as the doctrine of baptismal
regeneration, originated in the Roman Catholic Church in the
Middle Ages. The Council of Trent (1545-63) anathematized (condemned)
those who denied that "the merit of Jesus Christ is applied
... by the sacrament of baptism". Non-Catholic believers taught
from Scripture that baptism was only for believers. They were slain
by the millions for their beliefs, during the Inquisitions. Vatican
II (1962-65) reconfirms all of Trent and reiterates the necessity
of baptism for salvation. "Catechism of the Catholic Church"
was released by the Vatican in 1993 and states;"Baptism is
necessary for salvation ... the Church does not know of any [other]
means ... that assures entry into eternal beatitude ..."
The early Reformers such as Martin Luther were one time Catholics,
and unfortunately retained certain Catholic dogmas, among them,
baptismal regeneration. These errors are still held by some Protestant
denominations today.
This issue is a very serious one, and not to be taken lightly!
If baptism is a condition for salvation, then to reject that gospel
is to be damned. But if salvation is through faith in Christ alone,
then to add baptism as a condition, is to reject the true gospel
and be eternally damned. The Bible teaches that to teach salvation
by faith in Christ plus anything else, such as circumcision, is
wrong. The Apostle Paul anathmatized (condemned) those who taught
this false gospel that damns the soul. (Gal 1:8-9) A gospel of salvation
through faith in Christ plus baptism is equally false.
Links to other articles on baptismal regeneration
SWRC
view of baptismal regeneration
Christian
Answers Net view of baptismal regeneration
[Q&A Home]
|
