Various churches claim Christ show that most members do not agree many times with their party’s beliefs. That is why I find it is so important to ask everyone how they were saved and how they went from lost to saved, because the answer differs between members of the same churches. In the Christian Scriptures, salvation is always the same.
Of these groups, most believe that baptism is essential to be save, because it is a command and example of Jesus Christ. Many of these members also believe that the exact moment of salvation is at some kind of baptism.
What does the Bible have to say? Some profess that they are saved by a spiritual baptism like “accepting Jesus into one’s heart” or saying “the sinner’s prayer.” However, these are not found in the New Testament. There are those of the charismatic groups that believe that salvation is by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and these believe that there are at least two baptisms needed for salvation rather than one. Most Bible-believers find that baptism is essential and the exact point of salvation. What does the Bible show is the exact moment of salvation?
According to the Scriptures, there is “one baptism” (Eph 4:5). Only one baptism is essential though there are more than one baptism in the Bible. The idea of needing Holy Spirit baptism for salvation is not in the Scriptures. The simplest refutation of this misunderstanding is that the church at Rome did not all have the baptism of the Holy Spirit and yet they had the Spirit and they were saved (Rom 1:11; 8:9, 24). This is simply an undeniable fact. However, they had Christ within them. There is only one baptism that is essential to salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not that baptism. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was essential to the establishment of the church, the revelation of Scriptures, and helping Christians to understand the one baptism (Eph 3:3–5).
Which baptism is essential? Ephesians 4:5 specifies that there is one baptism and Christ’s Spirit referred to this one baptism in Ephesians,
Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that He may present the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:25–27)
What is the one baptism in water? In Ephesians, the Spirit revealed through Paul that there is one baptism — “the washing of water with the word.” The one baptism is water baptism. This passage also shows that this is how Christ cleansed, sanctified, and made the Church to not have spot or wrinkle and to be without blemish. Christ washes the believers with water. The work is not of the believer. No one baptizes oneself.
Which water baptism is essential? There are two baptisms in water in the New Testament Scriptures. One baptism is from John for repentance and the other baptism is from Christ. Only one baptism is in water and essential to followers of Christ. In Acts 22:16, Ananias exhorted Paul, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Peter declared, “Baptism now saves you” (1 Pet 3:21). This is the one baptism that washes away sins. In Acts 2:38, Peter commanded, “Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the forgiveness of your sins.” Baptism in the name of the Lord is in water. Peter proclaimed in Acts 10:47–48, “Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Why would no one forbid? Why was this baptism immediate? Because “forgiveness of sins is to be received through His name” (Acts 10:43; cf. 1 Cor 6:11).
This one baptism is the baptism of the Great Commission to all the world. Jesus commanded, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matt 28:19). Clearly, this is the one water baptism unto the remission of sins. According to Mark, Jesus instructed, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16). Lastly, this baptism is always for believers and not infants who are safe being of the kingdom of heaven. This baptism is a burial in water and not a pouring or sprinkling (Acts 8:38–39; Rom 6:4–6; Col 2:12–13). Baptism means immersion or dunking from the New Testament Greek word baptizo as the Greek churches know this well. There is the only baptism that the believer needs be buried with Christ and rise to salvation. Baptism is how believer enter into Christ’s church (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Cor 12:13). Baptism in Jesus’s name is the one baptism.
The Breath of God 
I meant to say, “A church of Christ member CAN boast that it is by their obedience that they are saved, because if you don’t cooperate then Christ’s accomplishments are powerless to save you.”
One can only come to the heretical conclusions of the “Church of Christ” by 1. not reading things in context, and 2. not letting Scripture interpret Scripture, and 3. proof texting and not letting all of Scripture speak.
If you wrote a book I wouldn’t do that to it, so why do you get to do that with Scripture?
This is an assertion. Should I assert that you should stop beating your wife?
Phil uses the Greek word “save” only twice. Neither place are referring to salvation in the sense of being saved from God’s wrath or our sin, but both contexts are clearly referring to sanctification. The Greek root “sozo” for being “saved” can simply mean to “rescue”, but context determines in what sense.
You’ve completely missed my point with Rom. I think your reading too fast and replying too fast instead of looking into it seriously. Rom 3-4 proves that no human can be saved by any possible good deed. Even the Mossaic law encompasses all possible good deeds (Deut 6, Matt 22). It makes no sense for Paul to teach we’re saved apart from all this, yet are saved by a possible good deed! Even if that were his teaching, he never mentions any other good deed which is the one thing that saves us! Paul attributes all to faith. Faith justifies us so that 1. we can’t boast, and 2. God can boast 100%. This is the clear gospel of Scripture and you’ve replaced it with another gospel. Paul says you’re eternally accursed for doing so, Gal 1. Take it up with Scripture, not me.
You’re conceding to my interpretation of James 2 thus never again can use this passage to justify your position that we’re justified by faith and works.
Heb 5:8-9 teaches nothing about Jesus commanding baptism for salvation! You’re just making this stuff up man! The context is Jesus fulfilling the order of Melchizedek. He also forever fulfills the need of a sacrifice which the Aaronic priesthood typified. The priests would be around 30 years old, have a ceremonial washing, and be anointed with oil (Num 4:30, Lev 8, Ex 29). Jesus follows through with these ordinances in baptism, hence he is then anointed by the Holy Spirit unto perform his ministry of reconciliation for us.
Where in Scripture does it say Paul baptized all believers except for those who were converted when they weren’t there?! Now who’s the one reading things into the Scripture!
Romans 3-4, and Gal 2-3 are the most didactic passages in all of Scripture which explain how one is justified. Paul attributes nothing to anything good deed which otherwise would exist within the totality of the civil law, the ceremonial law, the dietary law, or even the moral law. These encompass every possible good deed imaginable (Deut 6, Matt 22). It is apart from all this, yet by faith which only God can grant that a sinner is justified.
Rom 4:5 “However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
1. the man who does NOT work is justified
2. God justifies the wicked or “asabaes” (the one in the state of condemning God)
3. our faith is credited as (eis or “unto”) righteousness. In other words, faith is given so that the righteousness of Christ may then necessarily follow.
Then good works flow out of saving faith and justification. Rom 3:31, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law”.
Eph 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this (“this” is a neuter pronoun) not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The neuter pronoun shows that neither being saved (masc pronoun) is not from us, and that the faith (fem pronoun) is not from us, but BOTH are the gift of God. Not by works, so that no once can boast. A church of Christ member cannot boast that it is by their obedience that they are saved. Otherwise, Christ’s accomplishments are powerless to save you.
The comment before still stands and Christ’s baptism for His disciples is clearly for salvation. Again, no one baptizes oneself. It is faith (and more) that motivates such a submissive action.
Scott,
Hope you’re still there because I’d love to address some of your points.
In your response to Joe you said, “they believe they earn their way especially by the Law of Moses into Heaven”. I’ve heard Roman Catholics use this same argument that Paul was supposedly only distinguishing that works within the law of Moses wont save, but the Roman Catholic works are required. In your case, as member of the Church of Christ, you believe it is the work of baptism which is required.
There’s 2 important things worth pointing out, however. 1. The law of Moses encompasses every possible moral action in though, word, intent, and action (Deut 6, Matt 22). 2. If the context of Rom or Gal were really teaching that there is another kind of law, apart from the Mosaic law, which justifies (whether it be the Roman Catholic law, or simply necessity of baptism) then Paul would have clarified this. He would have mentioned this other “law” or “work” which is needed. But Paul NEVER mentions anything like this! He never mentions any other “law” or “work” which truly brings justification! He attributes all to faith. This is the consistent conclusion when the full context of Romans and Galatians, and most of the NT is considered.
Also, you point to James as an attempt to Biblically prove that works are required for justification. It’s easy to do if you cherry pick verses out of James 2. But let me point out some things about James 2 which will no longer allow you to interpret it the surface level way you have. No offense.
In verse 19, James is referring to a dead faith, NOT justifying faith! There’s a huge difference between those two which you’ve conveniently over looked. Also, verses 17 and 26 say that faith without deeds is dead faith, NOT dead justification. In verse 22, Abraham’s faith was made complete by his actions, NOT his justification was made complete by his actions. Verse 22 and 24 use the Greek words “bleppo” and “horate” which we translate as “you see”. In English “you see” means “therefore”, but the Greek means “to physically see”. James is talking about how men know that other men are justified, since men aren’t God and aren’t the ones justifying the sinner (Rom 4:5). So men demonstrate they justification by that which flows out of justification, namely, works (Rom 3:31, Eph 2:10).
The context of James 2 is painfully clear once these things are considered. James is contrasting dead faith with living faith, and how we can only know it’s living by being backed by works (v. 14,18), NOT how you obtain justification. It’s how men are to detect other men’s faith being real.
Lastly, you said, “Though we cannot earn our salvation and boast of salvation being our work, it is the work of God.”
True, but you CAN boast in your work to make the gospel a success. That still sticks your puny, finite, dirty fingers into part of God’s glory. He should get 100%, but he only gets 99.99% and you now get .01% since you made his gospel a success because of your work.
If baptism were really essential for justification or salvation then the apostle Paul would have soberly made sure he baptized everyone he possibly could have in all situations, yet he didn’t care to both in 1 Cor. What you believe is another gospel according to Gal 1. The warning for believing another gospel is given twice in that passage. I’ll let you read it and let you take it up with Scripture.
I agree with much of what you said. It is clear that we justified not by faith alone. You stand against works of faith with the works of the flesh being sin or self-justifying good deeds and observing law. James 2 and the article above are clear in contrast.
We can’t save ourselves, but we can work out our salvation as God works through us (Phil. 2:12-13). We do not baptize ourselves, yet it is the submission of baptism that shows the living faith, which is a work. Living faith produces good works and it is by this faith that we are justified.
I didn’t command baptism. Jesus did. He is the source of salvation to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9).
Romans 3:27 says that there is a law of faith. By this law of faith, we are justified by faith apart from works including faith, because it is the working of God.
You are reading your Fullerism theology into the Scriptures. Paul and his associates baptized all believers except for those who converted when they were not there.
Where’s the straw-man?
Straw man argmt. i will also address this post on “If Good People Go to Heaven, then Who Needs Jesus and His Church?”
I’ll address Joe further on the post “If Good People Go to Heaven, then Who Needs Jesus and His Church?”
To all:
Apparently, Joe has backed away from looking down one cliff to step off another. Any other words, many people see an extreme position for which they know is wrong and to avoid that extreme, they accept another extreme.
This is the usual case of concerning works and faith (also a work according to John 6:29). Some see that works are necessary for Heaven and forget the cost of Christ and the grace given by His sacrifice. They believe they earn their way especially by the Law of Moses into Heaven believing that God will ignore their debt in sin and Christ’s sacrifice. That’s why Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:4-5, and 11:6 are so important.
Now, Joe’s extreme as well as the extreme of most being saved by faith alone is that the Bible condemns this belief as well. Though we cannot earn our salvation and boast of salvation being our work, it is the work of God. James 2:24, “You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” in fact, faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). In fact, Joe’s extreme false teaching saves demons and the lost on judgment day. Demons believe in God, Christ, and Christ’s resurrection (James 2:19) even unto confessing such. Joe’s extreme would mean that demons are saved. Demons do not love God and obey God’s commands so they will not go to Heaven.
Between these two extremes is the truth. We are not saved by our own doing and our own works but God in Christ while we are not saved by faith alone. The extent of grace is clear. We must still walk in the light so that the blood of Christ washes away our sins (1 John 1:7).
Believing that one must be baptized to be saved is works based salvation. The Bible clearly teaches this is not the way a person is saved.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” EPH 2:8-9
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ” ROM 4:5
With love and concern for every soul, this very question applies to some in my family that I love very much. What I find about this in the Scriptures can be concluded in Acts 19:1-7. Please read Acts 19:1-7 before continuing beyond this sentence.
See that even John’s immersion in water did not carry over to the immersion in the name of Jesus. I can only conclude that any alterations to this baptism need to be corrected immediately. I find in the Scriptures that when one obeys the saving Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rom. 6:4-6, Col. 2:12-13, Gal. 2:20), then they die to their sins, are buried in water, and are resurrected in the new life. Isn’t it clear how important immersion is? I also find in Scripture that that anyone whether intentional or not who has changed the Gospel in sprinkling or pouring is in danger of anathema (Gal. 1:6-12). I cannot find in Scripture that a sprinkling “baptism” is baptism and it is not Christ’s nor God the Father’s baptism. Baptism from “baptizo” means immersion. It is a man’s baptism of invention and tradition that sprinkles or pours. I cannot believe that she was truly baptized in the eyes of God as those 12 men in Acts 19 were not either, but your wife can be easily immersed in minutes. Remember the Philippian jailer and his family believed and were baptized immediately around midnight (Acts 16:33) as were the rest of the believers in Acts. There was no assembled ceremony in Acts 16 but a simple act of faith.
I see in the Scriptures and it is very clear that immersion in water is the one baptism, but as you said the sprinkled water on her “symbolized the baptism”, so I assume you may agree that it was a symbol but not the act of immersion in Christ’s name. Christ said, “Go you therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). As much as you are a follower of Christ, I hope that you will immerse her immediately.
Lastly, please do not take my word for it. I’m not the authority but the Spirit’s revelation in Scripture is (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Grace and peace to you and your wife in Christ Jesus.
My wife and I were baptized earlier this year during a ceremony performed by our church. I was immersed in water, however my wife (and one other) were physically unable to be fully immersed. The pastor sprinkled water on her to symbolize the baptism. Does this mean that she wasn’t truely baptized in the eyes of God?