Water Baptism Discussion

Dear David,

I have never lived in Ronhert Park, CA. I am, however, originally from the Bay Area (Livermore). I have no vendetta regarding baptism. Baptism seems to be a very misunderstood topic and one that is very minimized, as you have proved by your letter to me. I will go down the letter as you have written it to me and respond accordingly. I printed off your e-mail and it was 8 pages (not really a small letter as you stated). I may refer to page numbers during the course of my letter. I will use quotation marks frequently to show what you stated in your letter. My comments are written with the best intentions in mind. I do not want to appear arrogant or unloving but I feel strongly about the error you are promoting. I will be “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Please consider that this is nothing against you personally but only about your teaching.

You state that you do not “believe or teach that one must do any work to become saved.” Exactly what are the steps for salvation (if any)? What must be done? Is one to just say to himself, “I believe,” and that’s it? Would you believe in a confession or in praying a sinner’s prayer?

“We believe that the gift of eternal life is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:16 & 11:6).” A problem that you have throughout your letter, especially when you cite the book of Romans & Galatians, is that you confuse the purpose of the writer. Paul makes many comparisons between doing the works of the Old Law and having faith through Christ. It is easy to pull a verse here and there out of context to make your point. However, if we are concerned with what God actually intended for us to know, we would do well to consider the context of the passage. Look at Romans 4:14-15 and you will see an example of the comparison I am talking about. The same is true with 11:6, he is talking about works of the Old Law.

I would also encourage you to be a Berean and to carefully read the scriptures. I have and am continuing to consider what you have written, please do the same.

Acts 2:38

You make the argument here that the Greek word “eis” can have a couple different meanings “based on the context”. You then give an example of Jesse James being wanted for robbery. The only evidence you give for the position you take is pure assumption. You simply say, “The later sense is the correct one.” Are we all to just take your word for it? How does this violate the entire tenor of the NT, other than giving you a problem with your position?

According to you ““for”, signifies an action of the past.” By your own reasoning, the people on Pentecost were saved before baptism and repentance! Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” Do you see where your error takes you? I doubt you believe they were saved before repentance, do you? Whatever you do with baptism you must do with repentance because they are forever linked together. Why not accept and obey it?

Consider the construction of Matthew 26:28, “for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for (eis) forgiveness of sins.” Did Christ shed his blood on the cross because our sins were already forgiven? No, it was shed so that we could receive forgiveness of sins. The Jews were to repent and be baptized “to be saved” not because they were saved already.

Acts 22:16

Your point seems rather vague about this verse, other than dismissing what it says. In Acts 2, Peter quotes the prophet Joel in verses 17-21 (Joel 2:28-32). The last verse that he quotes (Acts 2:21) is “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Peter goes on in his sermon to explain how someone calls on the name of the Lord. His conclusion: Repent and be baptized…

Yes, Ananias calls Saul his brother. A brother in Christ? No, a fellow Jew. Where was Saul considered saved before he obeyed the gospel in baptism? He was baptized after the scales fell from his eyes but before he ate anything.

John 3

Once again you go to great lengths to dismiss another passage of scripture. The only time water is mentioned in connection with salvation is in baptism: 1) Commissioned by Christ (Matt. 28:19); 2) Obeyed in response to Jesus being preached (Acts 8:35-39); 3) Commanded (Acts 10:47-48); 4) For salvation (I Peter 3:20). There will be more said about some of these verse later in the letter. The Spirit is involved in this new birth through the medium of the revealed word (John 16:13). One is born again by obedience to the word (I Peter 1:22-23). The word of God is the source of faith (Rom. 10:17), therefore it is the means by which we are “begotten” (James 1:18; I Cor. 4:15) and hence “saved” (James 1:21). In the act of water baptism one is “born again” and rises to walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4; 6:17-18).

I Peter 3:21-22

You conveniently leave out verse 20 when you make your comments on this passage. Later on in your letter you express that “water baptism does not seem to be what Peter has in view.” Really?? Peter just mentioned the days of Noah and that 8 persons were brought safely through the water. Then he says, “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you…” And you believe that he is not talking of water baptism! Peter’s whole point is that just as Noah and his household were saved through the agency of water (the ark stayed afloat by the water) so does baptism save us. Baptism is not just taking a bath (removal of dirt from the flesh) but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are obedient to God when we are baptized into Christ. Do you not want to have a good conscience before God? Do you see the connection between baptism and the resurrection? If not, look again at Romans 6:1-6.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Now we come to one of your favorite passages. You spend considerable time trying to dismiss clear passages, then you find one that appears to say what you want it to say. Tell me, where did Paul say “over and over again that we are saved by grace through faith, plus nothing?” Do you actually believe that Paul is talking about good works in Phil. 3:7-9?? Whatever was gain to Paul in this life was nothing compared to knowing Christ. His righteousness was not from keeping the Old Law but by faith in Christ. Is this one of your “faith alone” passages? Hebrews 11 is a beautiful passage of scripture that tells us much about the kind of faith these heroes of faith had. What made them such heroes of faith? Was it because they just believed and did absolutely nothing? Their faith was always based on action. “By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice….” “By faith Noah…prepared an ark…” “By faith Abraham…obeyed by going out…” Faith and works go hand in hand.

You then mention Gal. 2:21 and compare that with baptism in water. Do you actually see that as a valid comparison? “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Righteousness does not come through keeping the Old Law.

Let’s look again at Eph. 2:8-10. Our salvation is not by works. Does this mean that there is nothing for us to do? Include verse 10 into this passage. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” So the very thing that we were created for is unnecessary? The works that Paul has in mind are meritorious works, works that earn us our salvation. Nothing that we can do “earns” us salvation. God will never owe us salvation. If He did, then we could boast in our righteousness. Salvation is a gift we do not deserve. This does not mean that we are not to do anything. You say a couple times that faith and works are like oil and water. According to your position, you put Paul and James at odds with one another. Are Paul and James like oil and water? You have Paul saying, “Faith only please, there’s no work that you can do.” Then James says, “You see a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). You didn’t even mention James at all in your letter. Faith and works go hand in hand. They do not repel one another. Read James 2:14-26. You claim to respect the beliefs of the Bible entirely and take all of the New Testament commandments to the fullest but you have the Bible contradicting itself. This cannot be! You, in fact, violate the entire tenor of the NT.

Romans 3 & 4

In the last paragraph on page 2 (which you repeated twice in your letter for some reason), you state that Paul concludes “salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.” Once again, where did Paul say this in Rom. 3 & 4? How can our salvation be by grace alone if it is by faith alone? You cannot have two items together if they are by themselves. The whole point of the first several chapters of Romans was in showing the Jew that they were just as guilty of sin as the Gentile. They were in just as much need of Jesus as the Gentile. The Law condemns the Jew because they did not keep it perfectly. But yet, you want to quote Rom. 3:28 and say that this proves your point. A man is justified by faith and not by his works of the Old Law. Taking a verse here and there out of context will not prove your point. The same is true with Rom. 4:16.

I Corinthians 1:14-17

Once again you conveniently leave out the first 13 verses of the context of this passage. Read the first 17 verses. Now ask yourself, why did Paul say that he was glad he did not baptize many? Was it because he finally realized baptism was of no significance? No, it was because there was division in the church at Corinth. Christians were putting an emphasis on the person who baptized them. Paul’s point is that it is not important who did the baptizing. “Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (vs. 13). The purpose of preaching is to show someone his or her need for Christ. It is to show them they cannot save themselves. Our goal should not be in getting the most people wet. Paul was sent to preach the gospel. Baptism (and salvation) follows the preaching of the gospel. Baptism is a natural product of the gospel being preached. Just look at the conversions in the book of Acts. Look again at Rom. 6. Paul was glad that he had only baptized a few people because the Corinthians were putting the baptizer on an equal plain with Christ!!

You bring up the thief on the cross. This is where most want to go because they think they have found a path for “easy salvation.” Which covenant was he under? Had Christ died for his sins at this point? Of course not. He was under the Old Law. Christ forgave people of their sins many times while He was on the earth. To a paralyzed man brought to him for healing he said in Luke 5:20, “…Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” To the sinful woman who had anointed His feet He said in Luke 7:48, “Your sins have been forgiven.” To another sinful woman who was caught in adultery He said in John 8:11, “Go and sin no more.” So it should not be surprising to hear him say to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Again you fail to prove your point.

You have spent a considerable amount of time trying to discount many passages. Now you say that “water baptism is important for a believer to live an obedient Christian life.” Are you saying that there is “work” that must be done? You even state that if one is not baptized then it is a sin. “If the believer does not get baptized, he disobeys Christ, and that is sin.” So will someone make to heaven if he is not baptized? What about John 12:42-43? Here the rulers believed in Christ. Were they saved? Absolutely not! In James 2:19, the demons believe. Do you believe that the demons mentioned by James are saved. According to you, baptism is important but not important. It is necessary but unnecessary. You cannot have it both ways.

You go on to say that baptism is “an outward demonstration of an inward condition that I am “in Christ.”” Could you tell me where that verse is to be found? Look at Galatians 3:27, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves (or put on) Christ.” Had they put on Christ before baptism? No! How do we get into Christ? It is through baptism.

Spirit Baptism

“Spirit baptism is a doctrine that many people misunderstand.” Yes, but I believe you misunderstand it also. The context of I Cor. 12 has to do with spiritual gifts. You say, “Baptism by the Spirit is indeed essential for salvation.” Tell me where the command is? According to Paul in Eph. 4:5, there is only one baptism. There is only one baptism that is essential to us. I have shown that water baptism was commanded. You have to show that Holy Spirit baptism was commanded and that water baptism was not. You have already stated that you believe water baptism must be done. Therefore, you now go against Paul and teach a “two baptism” doctrine. You say that H.S. baptism “happens at the moment of salvation when one places his trust and faith in the Lord Jesus alone for his salvation (Gal. 2:16).” Here you try and prove another point that is not proved with the verse you cite. Again this passage is talking about the works of the Law vs. faith in Jesus. I Cor. 12 has nothing to do with being baptized in the H.S. Paul tells the Corinthians how all the spiritual gifts (12:8-10) come from one Spirit, just as the body is one and yet has many members (1 Spirit – 9 spiritual gifts: 1 physical body – many parts (members): 1 spiritual body – many members). The Corinthians were all led to be baptized into one body under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism and the H.S. joined in this verse should not surprise us. Such is the case in John 3:5, Acts 2:38, and Titus 3:5.

H.S. baptism was something promised to the apostles (See John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 1:4-5, 8). This was not a universal command. Did Peter command Cornelius and his household to be baptized with the H.S.? No, he commanded water baptism. You need to understand the circumstances regarding their conversion. Gentiles had not had the opportunity to become Christians up to this point. Remember how Peter struggled with his vision. The vision was about how he should no longer consider the gentile unholy or unclean. The H.S. comes upon the audience while Peter is preaching to them. Then he orders them to be baptized in water (vs. 47). Were they saved by the H.S.? There’s no indication of that, although you assume so. Look at Peter’s recount of this in Jerusalem (Acts 11). Peter spoke to them words “by which you will be saved, you and all your household.” Did the H.S. do the saving? No, it was what Peter spoke. He preached the gospel, he ordered them to be baptized in water, they obeyed (necessarily inferred from the context), and were therefore saved. Read also Acts 11:17-18. What happened at Cornelius’ house was not the norm. The men in Jerusalem were quite surprised when Peter told them what had happened at Cornelius’ house. Not only because it happened to a Gentile but also because it was similar to what had happened in the beginning (Acts 11:15), indicating that what happened there was out of the ordinary and not the normal events of salvation or conversion. H.S. baptism was not the one baptism (Eph. 4:5) administered by the apostles in fulfillment of the Great Commission; that was water baptism (Acts 8:36). To mention something that was given to an exclusive few rather than to all Christians would destroy the very point being made in this context.

Your conversation with someone who wanted to be safe has no bearing on our conversation. We should be concerned with doing what God has said to do. Romans 11:6 still does not prove your point no matter how carefully I read it.

I reject the notion that Christ’s work is incomplete. If we are to be saved, we must do what Christ told us to do (John 12:48). Who will make it to heaven? Will it be the one who cries out “Lord, lord” in belief? No, it will be “he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21) I do not trust in my water baptism, I trust in my obedience to the plan of God. How can you say that there is no action on your part for salvation? Jesus proved that even faith was considered a work. Look at John 6:29. The people wanted to work the works of God. A work of God that must be obeyed was belief. This one verse is clear proof that works are necessary because belief is a work. You go on to say, “there is nothing I can do to “add to” or secure my salvation any more than what Christ did for me.” Then why do you say that baptism is something that must be done? What happens if you are saved by faith (according to you) but are not baptized? You already said that you believe it is a sin. Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2), now what?

Conversions In Acts

Throughout this letter I have clearly shown just how much baptism is stressed in the scriptures. You think you have found a loophole, however, by going to Acts 3. Interestingly, you ignore all the other conversions in Acts and go to the one place where you think you can prove your point. You even seem to think that Peter goes against himself when comparing Acts 2 & 3. One thing that should be obvious about Acts 3 is that the sermon is interrupted. Peter and John are arrested while they were talking to the people (4:1). You claim that Peter links forgiveness of sin to repentance and therefore baptism is not necessary. This is the reason why we must take “all” of God’s word to find out what is necessary. We can’t “hang our hat” on one verse and try and justify that one verse by twisting other verses. Peter never mentioned believing in Acts 2, should we conclude that this is not necessary. Phillip never told the Eunuch in Acts 8 to repent. Is it unimportant? Of course not, when we look at the big picture, we see all that is necessary (Believing (John 8:24), repenting (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3), confessing faith in Jesus (Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37), & being baptized (all the verses we’ve been discussing). But you want to conclude that we are to do nothing. Then you try hard to prove that believing is not a work and that repentance is not a work. Would it not be easier to just do what God says to do?

All of your examples of non-baptisms fall far short of your expectations. Everything you mention takes place under the Old Law. How could all of these examples have been baptized into the death of Christ (Rom. 6 again) when Christ had not died and put in force the New covenant (Heb. 9)?

You are terribly mistaken when you say, “the general teaching of the Bible is that baptism and other forms of ritual are not necessary for salvation, no individual passage could teach otherwise.” First, baptism is not a ritual. It is a command and is necessary, as I have clearly shown example after example. Second, I have not relied on an individual passage. I have harmonized the Word of God. I have already mentioned that you put Paul against James and even Peter against himself (Acts 2 & 3). You system of belief is based on contradiction and taking passages out of context. Then you accuse me of violating the entire tenor of the N.T.

Repentance

You spend considerable space trying to prove that repentance is not a work. I have already answered much of what you wrote. I would like to point out, however, that in your quoting of Acts 26:15-20, you mention Paul saying that he was to preach that the Gentiles should “repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” Do you not see your error? You say repentance is a gift of God (a non-work in your view) but then you quote a passage that proves my point! John the baptist stated the same principle in Luke 3:8, “Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance…” Sure repentance is a gift of God. After all without God sending Jesus to die for the sins of the world, we could not repent. What a wonderful gift! A gift, however, does not mean there is nothing for me to do. I do not deserve it but God has provided a way for me to be reconciled to Him, Jesus Christ!

Conclusion:

You mention a response that I wrote. What response is that? People in the Old Testament were saved differently than we are today. They were under a different covenant. You quote Romans 4:3, which, as you mention, is a quote from Hab. 2:4. You failed, however, to mention it is also quoted in James 2:22-23. You cannot take bits and pieces from the scriptures and expect it to flow correctly. How was Abraham justified by faith? He didn’t just believe in God, he believed God. His faith was working with his works and perfected his faith (vs. 22). Paul did not teach faith alone!! The point of Romans 4 is that faith in Christ is far superior to keeping the works of the Old Law. That is why Christ came, to establish a better covenant. Read Hebrews 8. He has established a better covenant built on better promises. The first covenant was not perfect. It is now obsolete.

I do hope you will take the time to go through this letter several times as I have your letter. I would like to hear from you again regarding these matters. I urge you to concentrate on the scriptures and forget about the many books man has written. The writings of John Calvin will not get you to heaven, only following the Word of God. Scripture will not contradict itself, only man will.

In Him,

Shane Williams

Dear Shane,

First of all, Did you ever live in Ronhert Park CA? If so I may know you. Second, Upon reading your web-site thoroughly, I found that one of main vendettas was over the doctrine of "baptismal regeneration." You are right in assuming that I do not believe or teach that one must do any work (i.e., to be baptized in water) to become saved. We believe that the gift of eternal life is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ (Romans 4:16 &11:6).   As you stated in your letter, I also respect the beliefs of the Bible entirely and take all of the New Testament commandments to the fullest and that is why I will attempted to demonstrate in this short letter that salvation is all of grace through faith, plus nothing. I will also ask that you be a Berean and carefully read the scriptures in context that I will be citing (Acts 17:11 & 2 Tim. 2:15).

I will deal with a number of the verses that some use to promote the idea that a person is not truly born again until he is baptized in water. Acts 2:38 & Acts 22:16 are often cited as proof that in the early church, the apostles taught that baptism was needed to be saved. We read in Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The word translated for is the Greek word "eis", a preposition which has two or more meanings based on context. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery", "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too in this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works [as I will explain later in the letter]. Therefore, the baptism Peter was proclaiming is on the "basis of' the fact that they have been justified (i.e. legally declared righteous) by faith in Jesus. The other verse is Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Grammatically this phrase "calling on the name of the Lord" precedes "arise, and be baptized." Furthermore, the word washing is connected to the word calling if you were to diagram the sentence in Greek. It also must be noted that Paul in Acts 9:17 & Acts 22:13 was considered saved and brother by Ananias before he obeyed the Lord in water baptism.

In John 3, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. All through the gospels, Jesus speaks in spiritual terms (e.g. John 4:10, 6:35, 8:12, 15:1 to name just a few). The Word of God speaks of itself as "water" and that it purifies (i.e. sanctifies) as water (refer to Eph. 5:26, Titus 3:5). Therefore, one is born again by the Spirit of God in concert with the Word of God.

The other verses that seem to come up in this discussion are 1 Peter 3:21:22. It reads, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." The like figure or an antitype (i.e. an antitype is an earthy expression of a spiritual reality) is symbolic in nature. It provides us with a picture of a spiritual truth. Simply, that truth is that salvation is only found in our union with Christ through "spiritual baptism (further explanations will be forth coming in this letter)." Peter, not wanting his readers to be confused, qualifies it by saying, "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" the design of the baptism in mind was not physical or water baptism, but the true baptism which is spiritual (Eph. 4:5). Peter further clarifies by adding, "but the answer of a good conscience towards God" (See Romans 10:9-13 for further study).

According to Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation is "by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." The apostle Paul over and over again through the writings of the epistles emphasized that we are saved by grace through faith, plus nothing. He even mentioned in Philippians 3:7-9 that his good works were as "dung" compared to the finished work of Christ. If righteousness comes by keeping the law, he says in Galatians 2:21, then Christ died in vain. Therefore, the assertion that one must be baptized in water to become "regenerate" or to be "born again" cannot be the teaching of the New Testament because the work of salvation is ALL of God (also study Titus 3:5, Galatians 2:16 and 2 Timothy 1:9)!!
Eternal life is a (free) gift from God -and cannot be earned or deserved! Salvation is by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Any work that is added nullifies the gospel of grace, for we read in Romans 11: 6, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." So then grace and works are like oil and water, they don't mix; they are mutually exclusive!

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 3 & 4, defines and concludes that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Paul states in Romans 3:23-24, that all are sinners (Rom. 3:10-18) and in need of the Savior, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." We also read in Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified (legally declared righteous) by faith without the deeds of the law." And in Romans 4:16, he concludes, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace..."

In 1 Corinthians 1:14-17, Paul made it very clear that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel. He says in verse 14, "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other for Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel." Obviously, water baptism is not part of the gospel that brings salvation. For example, when Chrst spoke to the thief on the cross he says, "Truly this day you will be with me in Paradise." Did that man believe? Yes, he exercised faith. Was he baptized in water? Absolutely not. Furthermore, only the apostles were baptized by Jesus (John 4:2); Jesus baptized no one else, until Pentacost! They were not re-baptized in the in Acts (chapter 2) with water, they were placed into the Body of Christ by the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit!" (I will discuss Spiritual Baptism a little later in this email!)

The crucial ideology is whether one receives the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ or by being baptized in water. I contend that the Scriptures clearly teach that it's through faith alone in Jesus Christ plus nothing that we do. It is not earned by anything we do (including water baptism)! Even that faith, according to Ephesians 2:8-9 is a gift of God!

Having said all this, I do also affirm that water baptism is important for a believer to live an obedient Christian life. It is commanded by our Lord (Matthew 28:19) and by Peter (Acts 2:38), and disobedience to this command is sin. This is the primary aspect of its importance: if the believer does not get baptized, he disobeys Christ, and that is sin.

Baptism is therefore a significant part of an obedient Christian life, but it is not essential for salvation. Water baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward condition (i.e. identification) that I am "in Christ." Baptism literally means in the Greek "to be placed into", "to submerge or dip into." Therefore one who is "in Adam" has not been born again, but one who is "in Christ" (1 Cor. 15:22, see also 2 Cor. 5:17) has been "born again" and "baptized into" or literally "placed into" the body of Christ (see Col. 1:13) through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Note: read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 and in the place of the word baptize read the words "placed into").

For obvious reasons, Spirit baptism is the doctrine that some people misunderstand. In 1 Corinthians 12, the context is referring to those who are baptized into the body of Christ. It's Spirit baptism! Therefore, it is very important to understand the difference between water baptism and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Baptism by the Spirit is indeed essential for salvation because that is how the Holy Spirit regenerates the believer and places the believer into the body of Christ. That happens at the moment of salvation when one places his trust and faith in the Lord Jesus alone for his salvation (Gal. 2:16).

The book of Galatians is also full of statements that make it very clear that we're saved by grace through faith plus nothing that we can do. The heresy Paul dealt with in Galatia clearly illustrates this. The Judaizers (see Galatians 1:6-10 & 5:1-12), were trying to add a certain portion of the Law which put a yoke on the Galatians' lives by teaching them that one can believe on Jesus and have all those things that Christianity teaches, but he must keep certain aspects of the Law (i.e., must be circumcised) to be truly saved. This is tantamount to one teaching that you must be baptized in water to be saved. Paul was very clear in his teaching in Galatians that the nature of salvation is all of God's grace by the means of faith alone in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He agonized in chapter 1:6-10 where he marvels that they went after a different gospel (i.e. a gospel of works). He went on to say in chapter 3, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth." He continues in verse 3, "Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (i.e. human effort or work, e.g. circumcision in the case of the church in Galatia or in your case baptism) For a further study, Paul deals with this doctrine in depth in Romans 3:28 - 5:2. (Note the number of times Paul says "by faith.")

The crux of the matter is this. Does one receive the Holy Spirit by baptism in the physical water? The Scripture makes it clear that one receives the Holy Spirit upon faith, which is in Christ Jesus. The believer is baptized into the body of Christ through the baptism of the Spirit (note again 1 Cor. 12:12-13).

A person once told me that, "I feel safer to know that I have performed a wonderful act for Christ through my baptism." It is one thing to be obedient to the Lord's commandment to be baptized. But to be "safer" in the sense that you know that you will be going to heaven because you've done a good work or a certain rite or ritual, which is adding works to the gospel of grace (read very carefully -- Romans 11:6). That is not what the Gospel teaches. Do you see the danger of such teaching?

Therefore we don't believe it's Biblical to teach that Christ work is incomplete, and that human efforts in water baptism are needed to completely save that person. The doctrine of "baptismal regeneration" implies that you indeed are trusting in your baptism in water to secure your salvation. The difference between our positions is obvious, because I know for certain that (1 John 5:13) I have eternal life, because it is (free)gift of God. It is not earned or deserved by any action of my own doing, but it is received by grace through faith alone in Christ Jesus and His finished work on the cross (see John 19:30 "It is Finished!"). That means there is nothing I can do to "add to" or secure my salvation any more than what Christ did for me. It is all complete in Christ; therefore I am completely trusting the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus for my souls salvation (Paul defines the gospel again in1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

I do hope this clarifies our position as far as the ministry is concerned in the area of "baptismal regeneration." We believe it represents the work of Christ as incomplete. We believe that Christ finished His work on the cross, and there is nothing we can do to add to it.

It is quite clear from such passages as Acts 15 and Romans 4 that no external act is necessary for salvation. Salvation is by divine grace through faith alone (Romans 3:22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 4:5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9, etc.).

If baptism were necessary for salvation, we would expect to find it stressed whenever the gospel is presented in Scripture. That is not the case, however. Peter mentioned baptism in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). However, in his sermon from Solomon's portico in the Temple (Acts 3:12-26), Peter makes no reference to baptism, but links forgiveness of sin to repentance (3:19). If baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sin, why didn't Peter say so in Acts 3?

Paul never made baptism any part of his gospel presentations. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul gives a concise summary of the gospel message he preached. There is no mention of baptism. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul states that "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel," thus clearly differentiating the gospel from baptism. That is difficult to understand if baptism is necessary for salvation. If baptism were part of the gospel itself, necessary for salvation, what good would it have done Paul to preach the gospel, but not baptize? No one would have been saved. Paul clearly understood baptism to be separate from the gospel, and hence in no way efficacious for salvation.

Perhaps the most convincing refutation of the view that baptism is necessary for salvation are those who were saved apart from baptism. We have no record of the apostles' being baptized, yet Jesus pronounced them clean of their sins (John 15:3--note that the Word of God, not baptism, is what cleansed them). The penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50), the paralytic man (Matthew 9:2), and the publican (Luke 18:13-14) also experienced forgiveness of sins apart from baptism.

The Bible also gives us an example of people who were saved before being baptized. In Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius and those with him were converted through Peter's message. That they were saved before being baptized is evident from their reception of the Holy Spirit (v. 44) and the gifts of the Spirit (v. 46) before their baptism. Indeed, it is the fact that they had received the Holy Spirit (and hence were saved) that led Peter to baptize them (cf. v. 47).

One of the basic principles of biblical interpretation is the analogia scriptura, the analogy of Scripture. In other words, we must compare Scripture with Scripture in order to understand its full and proper sense. And since the Bible doesn't contradict itself, any interpretation of a specific passage that contradicts the general teaching of the Bible is to be rejected. Since the general teaching of the Bible is, as we have seen, that baptism and other forms of ritual are not necessary for salvation, no individual passage could teach otherwise. Thus we must look for interpretations of those passages that will be in harmony with the general teaching of Scripture. With that in mind, let's look briefly at some passages that appear to teach that baptism is required for salvation.

Water baptism does not seem to be what Peter has in view in 1 Peter 3:21. The English word "baptism" is simply a transliteration of the Greek word baptizo, which means "to immerse or place into." Baptizo does not always refer to water baptism in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; 7:4; 10:38-39; Luke 3:16; 11:38; 12:50; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 10:2; 12:13). Peter is not talking about immersion in water, as the phrase "not the removal of dirt from the flesh" indicates. He is referring to immersion in Christ's death and resurrection through "an appeal to God for a good conscience," or repentance (I will cover what the Bible teaches about repentance later in the email).

Because of the nature of salvation, I believe that eternal life is a (free) gift from God -and cannot be earned or deserved! Salvation is by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 2: 8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Any work that is added nullifies the gospel of grace, for we read in Romans 11:6, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." So then grace and works are like oil and water, they don't mix; they are mutually exclusive!

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 3 & 4, defines and concludes that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Paul states in Romans 3:23-24, that all are sinners (Rom. 3:10-18) and in need of the Savior, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." We also read in Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified (legally declared righteous) by faith without the deeds of the law." And in Romans 4:16, he concludes, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace..."

One of your concerns may be over the word "repentance" as a condition for salvation. It does depends on one's working definition of repentance. Please allow me to explain: In Acts 20:21, which reads, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Firstly, the Greek word for repentance is metanoia (met-an'-oy-ah) which literally means a "change of mind" (the two Greek words put together are meta which means to "change," and noia which means your "mind"). Secondly, in the New Testament, the words "faith" and "repentance" are used somewhat interchangeably. For example we read in Acts 26, where Paul is testifying of his conversion before King Agrippa, starting in verse 15, "...and I said, 'Who art thou, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of
those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.' Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

In both of these passages faith and repentance are like opposite sides of the same coin. Paul was commanded by Christ to preach salvation by grace through faith, yet Paul said he was not disobedient to the command and preached repentance! They are different words emphasizing different aspects of the same condition. Faith implies placing your complete trust in Christ, while repentance indicates the changing of one's mind. In other words, a sinner needs to change his mind in order to place his complete trust in the Savior!

I further note that "faith" and "repentance" are both gracious gifts from God. Again we read Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, "and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."   What is the gift of God? It is obviously not just "grace" and "saved" for they are without question from God, but the "faith" as well -for all of salvation is of God! Therefore, boasting in self is silenced. No person in heaven will be able to say he is there because he did something in and of himself. Our boast can only be in God and in the finished work of Christ (1 Cor. 1:29-31).

Repentance is also a gift from God. 2 Timothy 2:24-26, teaches that repentance is granted by God sovereignly and graciously, and it reads, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

In closing, you wrote in your response, that people in the OT were saved differently than in the NT. According to Paul in Romans 4 (and the theme of the book of Galatians), "The Just shall live by faith" a quote from Hab. 2:4. Paul taught the Abraham (Rom. 4:1-5) was saved by faith alone before the Law of Moses, David (Rom. 4:6-12) was saved by faith alone apart from the works of the Law. And likewise so are we! By faith alone, not by works, in order to negate any and all boasting! The point of Romans 4 was everyone who has ever been saved was "saved by grace, through faith!"

I hope that you have some time to re-study the Bible and at least give me some Biblical answers for your trust in your works.

In Him,
Dave

solus Christus, sola fide, sola gratia, sola Scriptura, soli Deo gloria
     "It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never
       be alone." John Calvin