In teaching the necessity of baptism in order for one to have his sins removed (Acts 2:38; 22:16), some will state: "That is water salvation." A correspondent recently used the term "hydro-gospel).
In the last article, "Is Baptism Only A Figure?," we pointed out that a figure does not save, but Peter said: "baptism...saves" (I Pet. 3:21). "...in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water" (I Pet. 3:20). It should be noted that Peter did not teach that the water saved them but he said they were saved "by water." The water was the means by which God exercised his saving power. Then in verse 21, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us." The ASV reads: "Which also after a true likeness doth now save you even baptism." Does that state that water saves us, or baptism saves us? Is that teaching water salvation or the hydro-gospel? Baptism is the instrument by which God exercises his saving power. The power is not in the water. The water does not save. But, God saves, and he chose baptism as the means of saving one from his past sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16).
In II Kings chapter 5, we read that Naaman was a leper (v.1). And that "Elisha the man of God...sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (vs.8,10). "Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean"(v. 14).Would any say the water cleansed him? The power to save resides only in God. Yet, it was not until Naaman had dipped seven times in Jordan, that he was cleansed. Similarly, when one is properly baptized today, he does not understand that the power of forgiveness resides in the water, but in God; and that the baptism in water is necessary in order to receive salvation from God (Mark 16:15-16).
In I Peter 3:21, Peter goes on to explain that baptism does not put away the "filth of the flesh." Filth refers to that which is dirty. Peter goes on to say that it is "the answer of a good conscience toward God." One submitting to baptism follows the promptings of a good conscience, indicating thereby his desires to do exactly what the Lord commanded.
Baptism derives its benefits "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (v.21), which it symbolizes. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [Christ shed his blood in his death.] 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 should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3-4). "...ye were servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine..." (v. 17). They couldn't obey the death, burial and resurrection, only the form of it which Paul said is baptism. Now, look at verse 18: "Being then made free from sin...." When is "then?" When they obeyed "that form." What was "that form?" When they were "baptized into death." That is when one is "made free from sin."
The power is not in the water. When Peter says "baptism doth also now save us," we know the power resides in God. Those who reject baptism for the remission of sins, reject God's plan for salvation.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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