Many have received the wrong answers from the “Got Questions Ministries.” The site teaches that salvation comes before a believer is raised alive with Christ being saved by grace. This is found throughout their articles including this one, “Does 1 Peter 3:21 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation?” This article asserts that salvation comes before God raises a believer with Christ from baptism. The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This error is in contrast to the Truth presented in the Scriptures: “Why Does 1 Peter 3:21 Say, ‘Baptism Now Saves Us’?” Because of this error, I was compelled to write. Here is my letter to “Got Questions Ministries,”
Dear Mr. Houdmann and all of your volunteers,
Why is it that your website teaches people that they are saved by grace before being raised with Christ? When is a believer made alive and regenerated with Christ?
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:5–9, emp. added).
Are not believers born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Pet 1:3, emp. added).
Why do you not present that the saving Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1–4)? What did Jesus command all people after He was resurrected? Yet, you teach people to be saved like the thief on the cross before Jesus’ died, was buried, and resurrected. The New Testament began at the death of Christ, and you teach people to be saved like someone under the Old Testament. Not only are you rejecting the resurrection by putting salvation by grace before the resurrection, you are putting salvation by grace before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and thus before the whole salvation of the Gospel. Are believers not saved by the Gospel (Rom 1:16)?
When are believers raised with Christ and saved by grace? Please, post your answer to that question.
Who has convinced you to believe these things? What did Jesus command to make disciples after He was resurrected? Was that command from man or from heaven? Why libel what Jesus commanded to reject that element of “water”? Would I be right to reject Christ’s crucifixion and being crucified with Christ because I label it as “just wood and nails salvation”? Can you really have been born again through the resurrection when you oppose being buried with Christ in His death? How can you then by raised with Him? Will you not be overcome by temptations when you have not put to death the works of the flesh?
I write this because you all appear to be sincerely religious. Yet, like Cornelius being devout, God-fearing, praying, and giving alms was not saved until Peter told him “words by which you and all your household will be saved” (Acts 11:14). You know that Cornelius must have been born again of the water and the Spirit (John 3:5; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor 6:11), and you know that Cornelius was taught that “the forgiveness of sins is through His name for whoever believes in Him” (Acts 10:43). What was Cornelius commanded to do in Jesus’ name (Acts 10:47–48)? Who can forbid this instruction in Jesus’ name?
What work of Moses’ Law is there in submitting to Christ’s Law? What in Moses’ Law is of faith and of the Spirit of life? Are Jesus’ commands the works of the Law of Moses?
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Rom 3:27–28).
Christ overcame the curse of the Law, and He did the work. He died, was buried, and was resurrected. Do you not really believe (Gal 2:20; 3:26–27)? His love compels true believers to die with Him (2 Cor 5:14–15). If you truly believe, then answer, “When does the believer begin to ‘walk in the newness of life’ (Rom 6:3–7)?” When are believers freed from sin by being united with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection? When are believers buried with Christ and raised with Him through faith in the working of God (Col 2:12–13)? When are believers made alive with Christ having been forgiven of all trespasses? Are believers not saved “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21)?
My plea is for you to rethink, reconsider, and pray. Consider God’s judgment. How will you stand before God if you have changed the Gospel (Gal 1:6–9)? Be careful, and do not be like those who are as Jesus described, “For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matt 23:13). This will be posted as an open letter. I await your response.
May God bless us through His saving Gospel,
Scott Shifferd, evangelist, GodsBreath.net
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Here is the response from “Got Questions Ministries”:
Scott,
The “biblical answer” is already available on our website in numerous different articles on baptism. You can use the phrases “being raised with Christ,” and “made alive and regenerated with Christ” all you want, but it does not change the fact that you are talking about water baptism. Simply put, we do not believe that water baptism is when a person is spiritually raised with Christ, made alive, or regenerated. Yes, water baptism illustrates those events, but it is not necessarily the time when those events actually occur. The vast majority of Scripture verses you point to can easily be interpreted as referring to Spirit baptism, as water is nowhere mentioned in the contexts.
Sincerely in Christ,
Shea
GotQuestions.org
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Here is my following response:
Hi Shea and all,
Please, forgive my delay. I have been traveling. As previously addressed, I presented to you that a believer is raised and made alive from baptism, and this is when one is saved by grace (Col 2:12-13; Eph 2:4–7; cf. Rom 6:3–7). Any person teaching otherwise is separating faith from the resurrection of Christ that we have with Him.
As you agreed, a believer is saved when baptized, but you have excluded Jesus’ command of water baptism in His name. Why? There is big problem with your belief that “Spirit baptism” excludes Jesus’ instruction for baptism in water (Matt 28:19; cf. Acts 2:38). See, baptism in Jesus’ name is in water (Acts 10:47–48). Does the Holy Spirit have anything to do with this water baptism that Jesus commanded in His resurrection? This baptism is in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit (Matt 28:19). This is the baptism of 1 Corinthians for it is the name of Christ within the proclamation of the Gospel (1 Cor 1:11–13). The Spirit washes, sanctifies, and justifies a believer when washed in His name (1 Cor 6:11). This is the baptism spoken of throughout 1 Corinthians as it is compared to the water baptism of Israel (1 Cor 10:1–2). This baptism in the name of Christ is “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13). Faith in the resurrection is essential to this baptism or one is baptized for the dead (1 Cor 15:29).
The baptism that Jesus commanded is the one baptism (Matt 28:19; Eph 4:5; cf. “water” Eph 5:26). Christ commanded His baptism in His name after His death, burial, and resurrection. Likewise, remember that the Pharisees also rejected John the Baptist’s baptism (Matt 21:25–27; Mark 11:30–33; Luke 20:4–8). I plead with all by the love of Christ to reconsider the baptism that Jesus Christ commanded in His resurrection. Do not have the spirit of the Pharisees who closed their eyes and ignored Christ’s words as the rest of the Scriptures? As proved before, one is raised and made alive from this baptism, and this is when one is saved by grace (Col 2:12–13; cf. Eph 2:4–7). This is really undeniable unless one denies Christ and the Scriptures altogether. Note that I am not saying that the water has any power outside of the commands of Jesus Christ. I am not saying a believer is regenerated and saved when entering the water or under the water, but that believers are regenerated and saved when raised with Christ and this is when God has raised the believer from the burial in water. Therefore, this is God’s work and His grace that raises us. This is taught in Ephesians 2:1–10. Look to Jesus again. He said that salvation does not come before this baptism, but salvation comes after belief and baptism (Mark 16:16). “Can anyone forbid water?” (Acts 10:47). “And now why are you waiting? Arise be baptized, washing away your sins calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Why is it that no one waited to be baptized in Acts? Yet, many wait until a certain time of the season to be immersed now. Is that scriptural? Look to Acts at all those believers who obeyed by faith Christ’s command of baptism to become His disciples (Matt 28:19–20).
I urge you to seriously consider what you are teaching. Read these scriptures and be willing to make a stand for Truth no matter what you have been previous taught. Remember James 3:1 and 2 John 9 among many scriptures that warn us to teach the Truth or be judged strictly. This is why I have sided with Christ in all things concerning His command of baptism.
May God bless you all,
Scott Shifferd, evangelist, GodsBreath.net
The Breath of God 
You’re missing the point. You’re not wrong that Jesus commanded baptism. The question is “why did He command it?” You’re jumping from the idea that He commanded it to the idea that somehow He commanded it as a necessary step in salvation. You’re making a logical jump that is foreign to Scripture.
Read Matthew 28 again SLOWLY. All of it.
CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT
He that believeth and is baptzed shall be saved (Mark 16.16) and; What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (Matthew 19.6)
Dear Brother ,
A person can be saved through grace alone (no need to do any physical work but just receive it as a gift from God ) by faith alone (not on our own Physical works including water baptism) in Christ alone (faith and confession through mouth on finished work of Christ on cross)
I’m not telling water baptism is not needed but it is not needed for salvation. The moment you confess through your mouth that Jesus alone is god and accepted(believe) him as your personal savior in your heart you are born again inside(An old sinful man died buried and resurrected as a new man in Christ and seated on heavenly realms) indeed. – (Romans 10:9)
Water baptism is Just an outward expression/physical declaration of what has already happened to you inside (buried and resurrected in the spirit as a new man) when you are born again inside .
So water baptism is just a public declaration and obedience of Christ and it is not needed for salvation.
For example :
Thief on the cross got saved and reached heaven just by keeping his faith on Christ and not through his physical works or outward expressions including water baptism.. – (Luke 23:42,43)
Kindly consider the above truth and enjoy the new life of grace by faith alone in Christ alone.
Thanks,
Naveen
We can’t dismiss the instruction of Christ for baptism especially when baptism unites believers in the saving gospel of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. Furthermore, the Bible never calls baptism a work.
You are not saved at baptism as your reply reply said. They didn’t say that either.
My name is Diana my fiancee is Wayne Friday night we went to bed as he slept and I layed their I saw black wings over him as he slept I tried prayers asking them to leave but it didn’t. What does it mean. Kept me up all night
That would be very concerning. God knows the meaning. I cannot presume.
Beloved the one gentleman is trying to say something but not brave enough to spit it out. He is saying you have to be baptized in Jesus name only not the baptism formula father son and Holy Ghost. If Jesus wanted us to baptize in his name why didn’t he say so… was he afraid or did not know his name? He told us to cast out demons in his name but be baptized in the name of father son and Holy Ghost… amen and enough of this nonsense
I read somewhere that the Catholic Church changed it to be baptized in the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Really it does not matter if you believe on Jesus bc all three personalities are God the Infinite Creator Intelligence.
You’re a little aggressive in your approach and I couldn’t get very far in the article because of that.
Salvation is clearly presented by faith alone on Jesus. His virgin birth, death to pay sins price and His resurrection. Baptism is an outward display of an inward event of rebirth that has already taken place. No one was baptized before their confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Saying baptism is necessary creates a work that must be done by the person to gain salvation.
What you’re saying does not agree with the Bible. Some church traditions say that baptism is merely a work and an outward display, but the Bible does not say any of this. Baptism is never called a work. Confession of faith comes before baptism. I urge you to look up every Bible verse about baptism and start over without the lies of men.
The only thing enables us to be saved is the atonement of Christ. To have faith in Christ is to follow him; we must do the things he asks of us. We live by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Beloved in Christ
Thus saith the Lord Jesus Christ in John 19 v 30 “IT IS FINISHED” Everything Jesus did in the flesh, he put to death on the Cross.
And returned in newness of Life. For me I have a Word from the Bible which convinces me that Jesus put Water baptism to death. You only get wet,there is no spirit growth or dont get any closer to God with this carnal or worldly ordainance.The Church has made it a tradition which Jesus said Brings the Word of to none effect. Even John the baptist declared “I only baptise with water but there is one mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to tie,He will baptise you with the Holy Ghost. He must increase and I must decrease.John the baptist ministry came to an end.Hence it is written John 4 v 23. Thus saith our Lord Jesus”But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirtit and in truth( WORD Jn. 17 v17) for the Father seeketh such to worship him
v24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth(WORD)”.
And also JOHN 6 V 63..Thus saith our Lord Jesus Christ”It is the Spirit that quickeneth the FLESH profiteh nothing the Words that I speak unto you are Spirit and they are Life”
Jesus is resin indeed
If Jesus’s death did away with baptism, then Jesus would not have commanded baptism after He resurrected (Matt 28:19–20; Mark 16:16). However, Jesus did command baptism after His resurrection. Therefore, Jesus’s death did not do away with the baptism that Jesus commanded. Furthermore, the baptism that Jesus commanded is essential to become a disciple and to be saved.
Baptism of water in no way saves a person’s soul, and is therefore not required for salvation. There is no physical action requirement for salvation. It is however, obedient, a symbol of baptism by the Spirit, a public faith profession, illustrates the death/burial/resurrection of Christ and the Christian’s cleansing/death to sin and new life in Christ.
Baptism transforms us ‘from within’, the Apostle Paul emphasized this in Romans 6:3-4. In Baptism we are buried with Jesus and rise again with him to a new way of life. The punishment of our past sins is no longer an issue because our old sinful self has died with Christ and we’ve risen to a new life of grace with him, the life of the children of God.
In this new life of Grace we are called to be more and more conformed to Jesus as Paul says in Romans 8:29.
“In Adam” all have sinned, “in Christ” all are righteous. Through the first Adam all have died and through the second Adam (Christ) all have life.
Original sin is a reality from which each and every human person needs to be freed. Romans 5:12 and Romans 5:19.
Get Baptized please
Baptism is to show the outside world you are trusting in Jesus Christ. It is not essential to one’s salvation. You are saved by agreeing with God you are a sinner, repentance & believing Jesus paid your penalty for your rebellion, sin.