We continue with the "statement of faith" of a certain denomination, and the "'OFFICIAL' doctrinal statement for the International Bible Conference" that came across the Internet.
In this article we will look at "Sec. I. Salvation:" "The only way man can gain eternal life is by repenting of his sins and asking Christ, in faith, to forgive him of and save him from his sins thus giving him eternal life..." The first passage that is given for proof text is Acts 2:38. That verse simply annihilates their claim of simply repenting and asking for forgiveness. The verse reads: "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." If that verse teaches that repentance is necessary for remission of sins, it just as strongly teaches baptism for the remission of sins. The verse doesn't stop with repent, nor does it say repent and ask, but it does say, "repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins..." That verse teaches that it is not possible to have the remission of sins if one does not "repent and be baptized."
Some erroneously teach that the term "for the remission of sins" means, "because of the remission of sins." But the Greek eis, "for", is nowhere used in the New Testament to mean "because of." The very same term in the Greek is used in Matt. 26:28, where Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." If the Greek eis, "for", means "because of" in this verse, Jesus would be saying that his blood was shed because of the remission of sins. Who could believe? In "P-1. Baptism" we read: "Baptism...is an open testimony of the believer's saving faith..." The Bible nowhere teaches such. We read where Ananias was instructed of the Lord to go to "Saul of Tarsus: for behold he prayeth" (Acts 9:9-10). Paul apparently had been praying for three days but he was still in his sins. His prayers did not remove his sins because we read in Acts 22:16 where Ananias instructed him: "And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins..." It is not possible to wash away something that is already gone. One who is saved does not need his sins washed away any more than one whose hands are clean need the dirt washed away. It is not possible for salvation to come before baptism!
It is not the water that washes away the sins, but the blood of Christ. "Know ye not, that so many as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Rom. 6:3). Christ shed his blood in his death. Baptism is where that blood is contacted. We are baptized into his death where the blood was shed. "Therefore we are buried [not sprinkled or poured] 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 [also what] should walk in newness of life" (v4). That is when the new life begins. It is after baptism that this life begins, not before. The blood of Christ that is contacted at baptism removes ones sins, resulting in the beginning of the new life.
"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it..." (Psa. 127:1). Did the Lord build the house that teaches such error as we have discussed in these articles? If not, they that build it "labour in vain."
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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