Articles
Standing up to Baptism Bullies
I can’t stand bullies. They pick on those who are different and treat them as less important. We’re all made in God’s image and deserve equal dignity. It’s time to stand up to theological bullies who shove baptism around and treat it as less important than faith and repentance. God made baptism just as necessary for salvation. “It’s important,” the bullies say, “But not necessary. After all, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.’ Baptism is a work, therefore it’s not necessary for salvation.” Why is baptism treated differently than faith and repentance? Why is baptism a work, but belief and repentance aren’t?
Jesus calls faith a work. Jesus was asked point blank: “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” (John 5:28). His response wasn’t, “Sorry, there are no works you can do, you just have to stand there and do absolutely nothing and God will save you.” Nope. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 5:29). Jesus says, “You want to do something to please God? Believe in Me!” In fact, the work of belief is so important, Jesus later says, “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24). If both baptism and belief are works, why would Ephesians 2:8-9 disqualify baptism, but not belief?
How about repentance? Is that a work we have to do to be saved? Absolutely! Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” In Acts 2:38, Peter said, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” If both baptism and repentance are works, even found together in the same verse, why would Ephesians 2:8-9 disqualify baptism, but not repentance?
How about the “Sinner’s prayer?” Ironically, most who are anti-baptism are pro-“Sinner’s prayer” (Which isn’t even Biblical). How is baptism a work but saying a sinner’s prayer isn’t?
The truth is, everything we do in response to what God has done is a work. Faith, repentance, confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), baptism, and remaining faithful are all things we must do to be saved (Matthew 10:22). If Ephesians 2 disqualifies baptism, everything else we do for salvation is disqualified too. But that’s not the point of Ephesians 2. Those verses explain the source of our salvation, who it’s “of.” It’s not “of yourself.” If it was, we could boast! It’s by grace as the “gift of God.” We can’t boast in our faith, repentance, confession, or baptism because none of those are the source of our salvation. Faith isn’t the source of our salvation; Jesus is. Repentance isn’t the source of our salvation; Jesus is. Baptism isn’t the source; Jesus is. Faith, repentance, and baptism would be pointless and powerless without God’s gracious kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7). However, Ephesians 2 does help us see how to access that grace. Paul says we access it “through faith.” Faith is what we have to do/have to access Jesus’ salvation. The passages we mentioned above say we need repentance, confession, and baptism to access it too. Those all work together with our faith, so that our faith is perfected (James 2:22).
Sometimes bullies just need to be reminded of the importance of their victims. Baptism is so important, you can’t be saved without it. “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16a). “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). “Those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41). “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16). “Baptism now saves you… (1 Peter 3:21a).
Read the rest of this article at blog.psd.church.
