Luke 7:50, Romans 1:17 / 5:1 / 8:5-11 / 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9 and Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21 Galatians 3:23-29
Some teach that you must be baptized for salvation and some teach contrary to this. This is to help you in studying to have God the Holy Spirit reveal His Truth. Yes, we at Pray5.org, believe that baptism is commanded as an act of obedience, but after salvation. Don’t just accept our belief read for yourself and ask God for the answers in His Word.
Here is a sample of how we here at Pray5.org believe.
Saved by faith
1. Luke 7:50 – Jesus states to the woman with many sins that she was forgiven, an attribute that only God can grant, then he said “Your faith has saved you“. Jesus sends her off saying “go in peace”. Jesus did not say go and get baptized to complete your salvation. Her faith in Jesus was what saved her. If baptism was required, God the Son would have told her, He didn’t.
- (Romans 1:17) – For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith”
2. (Romans 5:1) – “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. (Romans 10:8-12) – 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
4. (Ephesians 2:8-9) – “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”
5. Galatians 3:23-29 – But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Saved by baptism
1. (Acts 2:38) – “And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”2. (Acts 22:16) – “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”3. (1 Peter 3:21) – “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
There is much debate within Christianity as to whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation. I cannot here exhaustively examine this issue. The scriptures teach that justification is by faith (Rom. 5:1). It also teaches that baptism is a necessary result of becoming a disciple of Christ (Matt. 28:18-19). Even 1 Peter 3:21 above says that the baptism mentioned is not one dealing with water, but an appeal to God.
God works covenantally. A covenant is a pact or agreement between two or more parties. The New Testament and Old Testaments are New and Old Covenants. The word “testament” comes from the Latin testamentum, which means covenant. The Bible is a covenant document. If you don’t understand covenant you cannot understand, in totality, the issue of baptism because baptism is a covenant sign. Covenant signs do not save. The things they represent are what save.
Regeneration occurs by faith (Rom. 5:1). Afterwards, baptism is administered as an outward representation of an inward reality. For example, it represents the reality of the inward washing of Christ’s blood upon the soul. That is why it is used in different ways. It is said to represent the death of the person (Rom. 6:3-5), the union of that person with Christ (Gal. 3:27), the cleansing of that person’s sins (Acts 22:16), the identification with the one “baptized into” as when the Israelites were baptized into Moses (1 Cor. 10:2), and being united in one church (1 Cor. 12:13). Also, baptism is one of the signs and seals of the Covenant of Grace that was instituted by Jesus.
Baptism is not a requirement of salvation, but it is so closely tied to it that some people think it is the actual thing that saves. Faith in Christ’s work on the cross, paying for the penalty of sin with His own blood is what saves. Not belonging to a certain church or denomination. Jesus paid the price so that we might have a way of salvation through Him alone. Read: John 3:16 /14:6 Romans 3:23 / 5:8 & 6:23 / 8:5-11 / 10:9-13.
Understand that we will not all agree on everything, but know that we are family, sometimes a dysfunctional one, but still family. Disagree or agree, Love even when we don’t agree. The Bible is the only true authority that never waivers to the culture of people.
Just a thought
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