A certain denominational preacher has written entitled "WHAT WE BELIEVE". He states that "we believe this faith to be the 'apostles' doctrine' (Acts 2:42)." Then he continues..."we baptize those who profess to already be children of God. Peter tells us that baptism is a figure, or picture, of the thing that saves us. It does not of itself, wash away sins."
It is not my intent to make a personal attack on this preacher or his denomination, but the apostle John told us to "Believe not every spirit, [person] but try the spirits whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). The proper way to try the spirits is to put what they teach along side of the word of God. That is what we attempt to do.
He made reference to the "apostles' doctrine" in Acts 2:42. But note what the apostle Peter said in v. 38. "Repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins." Then in Acts 22:16 we read where Ananias told Saul to "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins...." Peter said in order for sins to be removed one must be "baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). Ananias says that baptism washes away sins.
Is baptism only a figure? The same apostle Peter that taught baptism is "for remission of sins" in Acts 2:38 continues in the "apostles' doctrine" in I Peter 3:20-21. "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us...." The word "wherein" is literally "into which." That is, eight souls went "into the ark" in order to be saved, and they were "saved by water." They were saved in the ark and by the water. That was the means of their salvation from the old world.
"The like figure": a figure is a likeness. "The like figure [eight souls were saved by water] whereunto even baptism doth also now save us..." That does not say that "baptism is a figure." A figure doesn't save us, "baptism doth also now save us."
Peter said in Acts 2:38 "...baptized for the remission of sins"; Ananias said in Acts 22:16 "...be baptized and wash away thy sins"; then, Peter said in I Peter 3:21 that "baptism doth also now save us...." The question here is: if baptism doesn't save us from our past sins, from what does it save us?
It should be noted that this baptism is water baptism. Baptism being the antetype of the water of deliverance in the flood. "Whereunto" (v. 21) refers to water, the same kind of water in the flood. The baptism that saves, therefore, is water baptism.
The baptism saves and is declared to save us "now." The salvation is not deliverance from persecution, affliction, sickness, or death. Neither is salvation future because baptism is said to save "now." The conclusion is inescapable that the deliverance promised is salvation from past or alien sins. The statement is in exact harmony with Peter's response to the question "Brethren, what shall we do?" He answered, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you...for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38).
When we follow the apostle John's instructions and try the spirit, we find it not to be teaching the "apostles' doctrine"; therefore, it is false.
If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God (I Peter 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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