“?An outward sign of an inward grace” sounds biblical but this wording is not in the Bible. What do many mean by “an outward sign of an inward grace”? This phrase is usually used to console consciences in the definition of baptism as an outward sign of an inward grace meaning that baptism is more about the heart. However, Jesus commanded baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be His disciple (Matt 28:19–20). Furthermore, the apostle Paul noted that there is one baptism (Eph 4:5).
More Than a Sign
Baptism is not just a sign. Baptism is more than the pattern of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ where the old self is buried and rises to a newness of life (Rom 6:4–5). Furthermore, baptism unites repentant believers with Christ (Rom 6:3–6). Baptism partakes of the reality signified in the gospel of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. This is the gospel that saves (1 Cor 15:1–4). Baptism is a command of Christ, “While going, 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). Jesus taught, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Which baptism is the one that Jesus commanded? Baptism in the name of the Lord is water immersion (Acts 10:47–48). The believer washes away sins at baptism (Acts 22:16). God forgives sins at baptism (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the exact moment that the believer goes from self-condemned into God’s forgiveness. Baptism is a passive activity where God saves and not for one to save oneself by any works. This baptism is an act of subordination and the Bible never calls it “a work.”
Baptism in Jesus’s Name
Is there anything special about the water? No. However, those who baptize are leaders of faith. There is something special and vital about Jesus’s name and His command for the believer to be baptized in His name. A person does work for the forgiveness of one’s sin as though baptism is a work. Baptism is passive in that the believer submits to participate. Christ does the saving, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25–27). Paul expressed, “He [Christ] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb 5:9).
Being saved by grace and not by works does not contradict submitting to Christ in baptism (Eph 2:4–9; Col 2:12–13). Baptism is not an individual’s personal work since one does not baptize oneself and baptism is from God. Therefore, these scriptures present that baptism is the point at which Christ cleanses believers of their sins and makes them without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. If what is referred to as “an inward grace” is the forgiveness of sins by Christ and the change of the believer to a new life, Christ is the source of grace at baptism. Some refer to “inward grace” asserting the forgiveness of sins before baptism or others teach that a moving of the Holy Spirit causes repentance and faith before baptism. However, no scriptures teach that salvation is complete without God raising believers from burial in baptism in newness of life (Col 2:12–13).
One Baptism
Some say, “Well, I was already baptized after I was saved” or “I did not feel anything at my baptism like when I was saved.” Both of these baptisms are not the baptism that Christ commanded to be saved. Twelve men who were baptized in John the Baptist’s baptism had to be baptized again into Christ’s baptism (Acts 19:1–7).
How do you know if you were baptized correctly? The Scriptures reveal only one baptism which is immersion within water in the Lord’s name (Eph 4:4; 5:26; Acts 10:43, 47–48). Peter’s preaching in Acts 2:38 provides the instruction to know if you were baptized correctly. Peter proclaimed, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:41 and 47 were necessary for the first converts to Christ. Here are four observations from Acts 2: (1) The first believers repented to be baptized in Jesus’s name (cf. Acts 8:38–39; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12–13). (2) Baptism is in Jesus’s name as Jesus taught (Matt 28:19–20; Acts 2:38). (3) Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). (4) Through baptism, God adds the believers to the church (Acts 2:41, 47).
Considering Baptism
Today, church leaders will add believers to their churches apart from the believer’s salvation. Who authorized them to add people when Acts 2 teaches that the Lord adds to the church? However, God adds to the church and any church that one joins apart from salvation is not the church that Christ built and bought with his blood (Matt 16:18; Acts 20:28). Believers want to follow Christ and obey the baptism that He commanded. No one wants to be baptized apart from what Jesus taught, so repentant believers do not want a manmade baptism with invented teachings about cleansing without the forgiveness of sins. Repentant believers do not want to wait for manmade time to be baptized. Believers in the Bible were baptized immediately (Acts 16:25–34). Paul was commanded, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
Seeing God's Breath 
Carol and Frelon,
Your questions sound as though you believe that someone cannot sin once after becoming a Christian. You sound like you are ignorant of these basic teachings.
Let me remind you that John by the Spirit wrote to Christians! “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Lets not be so high minded to think that after our sins are washed away that we can then justify ourselves by our own perception of perfection. Consider James 3:2, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
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Hi again Scott, no am not thinking a Christian cannot sin, he can sin anytime he wants. God doesn’t prevent him doing so. We are free agents to choose which path we take.
I may be ignorant about a few things Scott but not concerning sin as no Christian is. If I sin, I know I have right away. I believe when one obeys from the heart that form of doctrine they are saved and begins to walk as our Lord walked. Not claimming to err or sin in ignorance, because Christians know how to walk uprightly because they heard, believed confessed, REPENTED of sin and was buried with Him by baptism into death. That death was dying to sin, never to live any longer therein !
This is not to say that it’s now impossible to ever sin again but we know that IF we walk in the light as He is in the light , his blood keeps us cleansed from all sin. Like I said before the blood of Christ doesn’t keep cleansing anyone when they fall to sin again. He made a way to escape the pollution of the world, And like John said …And IF any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
One must understand that IF they do sin they are fallen back and have need to repent and confess their sin or perish. God is no respector of persons and sin is sin , no matter who commits it. James calls a brother a sinner if he errs away and is in need to be converted back to the truth because there are no more sacrafice for sin.
Carol
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I’m not talking about willful sinning. I’ve already presented the Scriptures on ignorant sins. An example would be a new Christian profaning God’s name. Yes, these must repent. On the other hand, someone who commits a sin by unknowingly causing his brother or sister to stumble or hurt them is ignorant of the sin, and did not intend it though careless. The scenarios are endless and could be further expanded upon. You could add someone trying to worship with incense, some OT cultic worship, or unknown pagan tradition.
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First John 1:9 says to confess to the Father, which shows a mind faithful to God.
Walking is a common figurative action throughout the Scriptures, which speaks of living our lives. As long as, we live our lives in Christ being faithfully obedient then we are in the fellowship with God and our sins are cleansed from us (1 John 1:7).
Sin of ignorance is presented in the Old Testament. People were held accountable (Lev. 5:15-17, Num. 15:22ff). Jesus now is that eternal sacrifice overseeing high priest (Heb. 5:1-2, Heb. 9:7). Sins of ignorance would most certainly only include the weak and immature in the faith. These are sins where while we are walking in the light we err and yet we confess our sin, continue walking in the light, and be forgiven. The extent of grace is to cover the sins of those walking in the light and not practicing a sin, walking in darkness (1 John 1:6).
In 1 John 1, we see that we can sin while walking in the light. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
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Hi Scott,
Are you saying that John teaches that sin is inevitable and we will continue to commit acts of sin while walking in the light?
Or are you saying that sin can be avoided, but walking in the light does not eliminate our capability of committing acts of sin?
Frelon
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Frelon,
I am “saying that sin can be avoided, but walking in the light does not eliminate our capability of committing acts of sin”.
The use of the word “commit” in regards to sin is to continue to practice sin (1 John 3:4ff).
Will we sin again? I can’t say inevitable since I am not God. First John 2:1-2 says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” So yes, you can sin while walking in the light.
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You still throw me a little Scott. Would you say that a child of God is walking in the light when he sins? (Or I guess I should say, are they walking in the light when they err from the truth? )
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homologeō
transliteration of confess – to admit or declare one’s self guilty of what one is accused of.
If I am guilty of doing something wrong and I confess it, does that excuse me from the wrong I have done?
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In 1 John 1:7 it teaches us But if we walk in the light as he is in the light….we have fellowship one with another And the blood of Jesus Chridt his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If I err from the truth, am I in fellowship with Christ
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If you err from the truth, then you are lost, but if you err by committing one sin and still walk in the light, then you are forgiven (1 John 1:6-2:4).
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Hi Scott
Then how many sins would one have to commit before he is considered a servant of sin?
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Scott do you mind answering Frelon’s post of “Then how many sins would one have to commit before he is considered a servant of sin?”?
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There no specific scripture to refer to this. Yet, repeating a sin more than twice while neglecting your guilt, then these two or more sins would bear witness that you practice a sin and that you need to change your mind (repent) to change your actions.
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Hi Carol,
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
This is true for all men. Before one can be forgiven of his sins, he must acknowledge (confess) them and forsake them. This is done unto salvation.
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Yes Frelon, one who has sinned needs to forsake sin and be converted back to the truth as James said in James 5. If you notice he said Brethen if ANY of YOU do err from the truth and one converts him let him know that he which converteth the SINNER from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
I’m seeing James call a brother who sins a sinner here……Peter said in Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
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Agree. There is no contradiction here between the Scriptures.
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True to Frelon’s comment.
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Christ forgives Christians being those walking in the light. In this, He excuses death, but one is still guilty and worthy of death outside of Christ.
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Scott, when one is baptized INTO Christ, they put on Christ. In Christ there is no sin or darkness at all (1Jo 1:5). How can one be walking as HE walked is they err from the truth? …….1Jo 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
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Yes.
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Children are safe (Matt. 18:10, 19:14). They can’t know to walk in the light or know sin. Those that cannot know sin cannot be guilty of sin (Rom. 3:20, 5:13). Romans 7:9, “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Romans 2:12, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law”
Sin is what one does and not what one inherits. Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned —“
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Scott, are you saying Christians doesn’t know sin?
Have you read Eph. 4:20-29 ?
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Carol, why are you asking me prejudice questions as though to trap me?
I am speaking of children who are not Christians.
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Scott, I wasn’t asking anything to set a trap for you. I ask qustions to get to know the spirit within you and like I said before I ask because we study on these things every Sunday morning when our congregation meets.
One should humble to the truth when corrcted though and love one another enough to show what we have read and been taught by the scriptures and give scripture to prove what sayeth the Lord. I pray that’s your purpose for being here also .
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Why would you ask, “are you saying Christians doesn’t know sin?” in regards to children being eternally safe? Don’t you see that that is a huge jump?
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Scott, I’d also like saying to you concening you thinking me asking prejudice questions. How can my questions be prejudice when you yourself said a new Christian sins or (errs) through being weak and through ignorance?
What do you mean by (and please give scripture) where any Christian can sin and it’s covered without repentence .
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Hi Scott, thanks for your reply.
Explain what you mean that one can confess and keep walking in the light.
If they haven’t sinned and need not to repent then what isthere to confess?
Also if one has heard and gotten to know Christ as the truth is in Him , how does a sin of ignorance come about? Paul said in 2Cr 2:11 that through the knowledge we aren’t ignorant of Satans devices.
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I have another question…
What should a Christian do “IF” they sin?
Carol
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That’s a good question.
If practicing a sin, then repent and ask God for forgiveness while confessing your sins to Him. If a once stumble in sin, then continue walking in the light and confess your sins to the Father.
First John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Acts 8:22, “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.”
Matthew 6:12, “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”
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Thanks Scott for your reply,
My thoughts on stumbling INTO sin and practicing sin are the same. When one steps out of the light of Christ, they are back in darkness once again. James said in James 5:19&20…Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
We know there isn’t anything good in sin, only evil. James teaches us that ” Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”.
I know one can fall short (stumble) in a second, yet if he don’t repent of sin then he’ll be lost. One can sin and continue it it (practice) and the same goes for them, they must repent of sin or as Jesus said they will perish. (Luke 13:1-5)
Listen to the scriptures…There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
One cannot just confess they have sinned and go on and keep walking in the light. This simply means they acknowledge they have sinned yet if there’s no repentence of sin they’ll continue to fool themself and remain in sin. Sin seperates us from God.
Many like the saying of “WHEN I sin I’ll pray and confess my sin”….. this gives the impression that they know they will sin again and again which is habitually or practicing……. Notice I ask IF we sin, not when we sin.
It’s possible to commt sin at any give time but will we? Or we can continue to walk in the light as He is in the light and his blood keeps us cleansed from all sin. His blood doesn’t keep us cleansed while walking in darkness.
Give me your thoughts on this…
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I’m in agreement mostly. One can confess and just walk in the light, because as long as they walk in the light, they don’t need to repent, change their mind unto their actions (metanoia).
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“once stumble in sin” is not the best wording. Let me revise and say clearly what I meant. “If someone sins once, then continue walking in the light and confess your sins to the Father.” There are sins of ignorance.
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Carol,
I need to fix these comment threads from getting smaller.
Jesus said that he received authority before His ascension (Matt. 28:20). I believe that Christ has a spiritual throne, which is literal and not a physical one of this world. For when Christ returns, we will meet Him in the air to be with Him forever (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
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Good morning Scott,
I agree his throne or his kingdom is not of this world. What I meant by “literal” is he’s not up there sitting on a big white throne but is in all authority in heaven and in earth, which means the Father gave him this authority to be head over all things. When he returns he’ll turn it all back over to the Father and be sunject unto him that put all things under him (1 Cor. 15:27-28)
Thanks for fixing the threads :)
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I don’t understand why so many struggle with the fact that baptism is a necessary part of salvation. And as for Christ sitting on the right hand of God, I wonder if he has ever stood for us as he did Stephen when he was being stoned to death. We need less people who refuse to be baptised and more who Christ stands for.
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Hi “Bible Study” and thank you for your comment.
Actually when one considers what Jesus said concerning “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” Mar 16:16 and what he told the apostles to go preach baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat 28:19 . Plus what Apostle Paul preached in the book of Romans.
It isn’t a struggle unless one doesn’t believe the gospel. On the other hand I don’t see why one would struggle, resisting the fact that baptism puts us into Christ and baptism saves us 1Pe 3:21
. …For as much as ye have been baptized into Christ ye have put on Christ (Gal 3:27)
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Baptism is for standing for and with Christ in his sufferings. 2Ti 2:12, Rom 8:17
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“It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34).
I don’t understand your last statement in your context.
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Scott, my above statement was in reply to ” Bible Study”s comment about standing for Christ. I am simply saying if one would stand for Christ then they should obey the command of baptism.
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Is it your belief that he didn’t begin to sit on his throne until he ascended back to the Father?
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“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places”
Died, raised, and seated.
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Hi Scott, I ask questions to get other opinions from anyone out there because we are doing a study on the subject at hand. Also I ask questions on how people come to believe a certain way when in a discussion. This is how I found you by typing in the search engine” An Outward Sign Of An Inward Grace”.
I know by me asking other questions has gotten me off track of the topic at hand but when reading something of anothers belief I have got to comment and ask how they come to certain conclusions.
Why do you think the apostles didn’t follow Christ into his kingdom until Pentecost since Matt. 19 states they would follow him in WHEN He began to sit on his throne?
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Okay then that is good reason for all the questions.
I don’t believe that the apostles followed Christ into his kingdom until Pentecost, because believing that they did is speculation and conjecture. See Matthew 19:28 stating, “when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones”. Notice the word will is future in contrast to Jesus’ sitting being in the aorist (past tense). The 12 didn’t follow Him into the kingdom, but “followed Me” because the kingdom had not come. Christ had received His authority and was seated in Heaven.
When the Apostles received their power (ability) [from the Greek word dunamis] from on high and the Spirit, then they had the authority and inSpiration of Christ’s Spirit (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8).
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Scott, if the apostles weren’t of the kingdom ( church) before the day of Pentecost, what did Jesus mean in John 17:14-16 ?
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The Apostles are spiritual like He is.
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Hi Scott, if you believe the apostles were already spiritual before Pentecost, then are you agreeing they followed Christ into his kingdom when he arose?
In John 17:14-16 Jesus is praying to the Father saying: And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil….. …They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
From my studies Scott, I find that those who have obeyed Christ are not of the world as Jesus said these weren’t of the world.
Carol
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No disagreement here, but that doesn’t make them already in the Kingdom before Christ received His authority and throne.
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I agree Scott, at this time they weren’t in the kingdom because Jesus hadn’t died and arose yet, he taught them to pray for his kingdom to come. John preached it was at hand and when it did come they followed him into it.
Carol
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Scott, correct me if I’m wrong in think maybe you don’t believe that Jesus came into his authority > to sit on the throne of David….>being in authority). This isn’t talking about a literal throne in heaven but his authority from heaven.
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I’m refering to before he scented back here
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Excuse my typing I meant I am refering to Jesus before he ascended back to the Father in my above reply.
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I agree again Scott. This brings us back to the apostles he chose which followed him into the regeneration >when< he began to sit upon his throne as he said they would in Matt. 19:28. Jesus came into his kingdom after he arose, this was before Pentecost. He was with the 11 for 40 days before ascending back to the Father. They were told then by Christ to go tarry at Jerusalem until they be endued with Power from on high.
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Yes. Why all the questions?
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Scott, I guess what I am asking you is, when do you think they enetered in the kingdom before or after Penecost?
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The Church is the coming kingdom, the eternal kingdom that was prophesied to consist of the Gentiles/Nations. Before Acts 2, the Kingdom was coming and after the Kingdom is here. The Apostles did not reenter the Kingdom because the kingdom had not been established yet as the Apostles thought in Acts 1:6. As Jesus said, “And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power'” (Mark 9:1). Power was to come with the kingdom for the Church came at the time of power in Acts 1:8. Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'”
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Okay, now allow me to ask you if you believe Christ came into his kingdom before Pentecost?
I agree the church hadn’t been established in the truth or had at this time been perfected, This was why God chose the apostles to go out and preach the gospel to every creator. yet we can read in Hebrews 8:6 >But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises…….Now,. who established the church?
Yes we read in Mark 9:1, Matt.16:28 ad Luke 9:27 where Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”
Who saw Christ come into his kingdom and who was Jesus with 40 days before he ascented back to the Father?
In Matt. 19:28 it says : “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Whom was Jesus talking to here? He told these they would follow him in the regeneration. ……I guess now we must ask, when he Christ began to sit on his throne?
I know he chose certain one’s to be witnesses of his coming in his kingdom . Paul explans who these witnesses are in 1 Cor. 15:5-8
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“Okay, now allow me to ask you if you believe Christ came into his kingdom before Pentecost?” Yes. Daniel 7 shows this. “And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”
Jesus took this throne by His death (Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, Eph. 1:20-23, Phil. 2:8-9, Heb. 2:9, 12:2).
“Now,. who established the church?” Christ did (Matt. 16:18, Acts 20:28).
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I agree with your last reply Scott, …..what do you think about the last two paragraphs in my last comment? And do you believe when Christ arose he began to sit upon his throne of his kingdom?
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I am convinced that He received His kingdom from God through His death and began reigning then. I believe Ephesians 1:20ff, “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet”.
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