The subject of water baptism is mentioned dozens of times in the New Testament. Instructions regarding baptism are very precise, but is grossly misunderstood. Some teach that: "Baptism is a mere symbol of salvation. It is an outward sign of an inward grace." That is just another way of saying that baptism is administered "because of the remission of sins," thus saved at the point of faith. The purpose of this baptism is to "declare to the world that God's saving grace is already dwelling within his heart."
Those proponents of this theory have Peter saying in Acts 2:38: "Repent and be baptized because of remission of sins," but no reputable Greek scholar will translate it that way. They all translate it "for," "unto," "into," "in order to." What Peter said was: "Repent, and be baptized...for the remission of sins...". The people asked a question and Peter replied with two conditions: repentance and baptism. Both conditions precede remission of sins. If repentance precedes remission of sins, so does baptism. Peter did not say "repent for the remission of sins and be baptized after sins are remitted."
We read an identical phrase both in the Greek and English in Matt. 26:28. "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Who is willing to say that Christ shed his blood "because of the remission of sins?"
Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). There are two clauses in this sentence. One tells us that someone shall be saved: the believer who has been baptized. The other tells us someone will be damned: the disbeliever. It is sometimes said: "but that does not say he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned." A person who does not believe would not be baptized. In fact, belief must precede baptism.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Rom. 6:3)? Paul is teaching here the benefits of the death of Christ. Jesus shed his blood in his death for our redemption (I Pet. 1:18-19). When we are baptized into the death of Christ, we contact the cleansing blood which was shed 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 also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). Jesus received newness of life when he arose from his grave. When we "have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (v 5). We obtain newness of life when we arise from the watery grave of baptism. It is not possible to have newness of life before we are buried!
Peter said: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us..." (I Pet. 3:21). He says that baptism saves us and it saves us now. If baptism doesn't save us from our past sins, from what does it save us? If baptism saves us, it is not possible to be saved prior to baptism.
The purpose of baptism is to wash away sins: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins...(Acts 22:16). If one is baptized because he is saved, then he would have no sins to be washed away.
The proper understanding of the purpose of baptism is important. It is the difference between whether one obeys, or disobeys God. One is not saved before he is baptized. If he is baptized believing he is already saved, he has not obeyed God and is still lost in his sins. The purpose of baptism is "for," not "because of" the remission of sins.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God"(I Pet. 4:11).
Don H Noblin
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