Oft times when talking with denominational friends, they will say, "I believe one should be baptized but it is not necessary in order to be saved". Sometimes they will use a hypothetical case such as: "If one was on the way to be baptized, but was killed before he was, surely you don't believe he would be lost." We must understand that what one believes, does not change God's word on the subject.
Baptism is one of the most controversial subjects in the religious world today. Yet, it is one of the most clearly taught subjects in the Bible.
Men need to understand, "that God is not the author of confusion" (I Cor. 14:33). Man causes confusion by adding to and/or subtracting from the word of God.
Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). We can "know the truth" and only that truth can make us free (John 8:31-32). What God has spoken, man cannot change.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Some teach that the term "...for the remission of sins..." should be translated, "because of the remission of sins," thus having the individual saved prior to baptism.
To teach baptism in Acts 2:38 is "because of" remission of sins, is to teach that repentance is "because of" remission of sins. This passage correctly diagrammed, will show that "for the remission of sins" modifies both "repent" and "be baptized." The question "What shall we do?" was asked in Acts 2:37 and Peter responded in v.38 by telling them two things they must do in order to be saved: "repent" and "be baptized." The word "for" (Greek-eis) must connect the remission of sins with both "repent" and "be baptized." Therefore, if one must "repent" in order to receive remission of sins, he must also "be baptized" in order to receive remission of sins. Thus, Peter is teaching that one must "repent" and "be baptized" in order to receive remission of sins.
Jesus teaches in Matt. 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed 'for' (Greek-eis) the remission of sins." It is very clear that the two statements "for the remission of sins" are identical in both the English and in the Greek languages. To say that Acts 2:38 should be translated "because of" the remission of sins, is to say that Jesus shed his blood "because of" the remission of sins. To accept the idea that one is saved before baptism is to accept the idea that one is saved without the blood of Christ.
To teach that one is saved and "should be baptized" is false. "Arise and be baptized and 'wash away' thy sins..." (Acts 22:16).
Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mark 16:16). He could have said: "He that believeth and is saved should be baptized," but he didn't. All who are baptized, will not be saved, but according to the scriptures, all the saved will be those who were baptized "for 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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