Saved By Baptism

     Thank you and once again a pleasant good morning to each and all
in our audience. This is the fourth lesson in a series we have been
studying the past few weeks on the general theme "The Scheme of Human
Redemption."  We have talked about how "Grace" is involved in man's
salvation; how "Faith" plays its part; and last Sunday that
"Repentance" is an essential part of our forgiveness. Today, I shall
discuss the important subject of "Baptism."
     Baptism, as each one of you knows, is a much controverted
subject in the religious world. There is probably no other Bible
theme over which there has been so much disagreement. However, this
fact should not discourage us from a study of the matter. Rather, it
should encourage us to search the scriptures diligently, and find out
if possible, just what is taught concerning baptism. As in all other
religious matters, the Bible is the standard of authority; and in
this study today we wish to determine just what the Bible says,
nothing more nor nothing less. It matters not what some church has
declared as dogma; what some council has decreed; what some creed
teaches; or what some bishop or preacher may have said. Churches,
councils, creeds, and bishops have no authority in religious
matters; and since they have often proved to be unscriptural,
contradictory, and unreliable in their teaching, it behooves us to
disregard them and seek the Bible answer to all our questions. The
Bible, and the Bible alone, is the only authority in religion. A
thing is right if the Bible commands it; it is wrong if it does not.
Much of the controversy on the subject of baptism is the result of
following tradition, creeds, and human opinions rather than the
authoritative word of God. Let us, then, ask ourselves this question,
"What does the Bible teach on the subject of baptism?" Do you have
your Bibles open, your pencil or pen ready, and something upon which
to write? Please, study along with us . If you do not agree, please
let us know. You will be our friend indeed, if you are able to point
out some point wherein we have erred.
     The Bible teaches that baptism is a command of god which mankind
must obey. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit." So we see that Jesus commanded the apostles
to baptize those whom they taught. In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus said, "Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned." In this familiar passage, Jesus connects the
preaching of the gospel with faith and baptism and no one can preach
the gospel acceptably who does not urge sinners to be baptized. In
Acts chapter 2, Peter, speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). So we learn that the
Holy Spirit commanded penitent believers to be baptized. When Peter
preached the gospel to the house of Cornelius "he commanded them to
be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). To deny, then,
that baptism is a command of God is to deny the plain statement of
the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "If you love me, ye will keep my
commandments" (John 14:15). If we truly love the Lord, we will obey
the command to be baptized as well as all other commands. A refusal
to be baptized, on the part of the sinner, shows that he neither
loves Christ nor believes in Him.
     The Bible also gives an answer to the question, "Who can receive
baptism?" This phase of our subject is much controverted, there being
some who teach infant baptism, yet, friends, there is absolutely no
example of infant baptism in the Bible; nor is there a single verse
that teaches such. History reveals that infant baptism was introduced
long after the Bible was written. The Bible clearly reveals who is an
acceptable candidate of baptism. Before one is baptized, one must be
taught the gospel. "Go teach all nations, baptizing them" said Jesus.
Infants are not subjects of baptism because the gospel cannot be
taught to them. He is an acceptable candidate for baptism who has
believed in Jesus Christ. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved," so states our Lord. Faith always, ALWAYS, precedes baptism.
When the eunuch desired baptism, Philip said, "If thou believest with
all thine heart thou mayest: and he answered and said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Upon this confess of his
faith Philip baptized him. Only believers can be baptized
scripturally because baptism is an act of faith that demonstrates
trust in the crucified Christ. As pointed out last week, one must
repent before being baptized. Of what can an infant repent; having
committed no sin. Who can be scripturally baptized?? One who has
taught, becomes a believer and repents.
     The Bible also gives an answer to the question, "How is baptism
administered?" Some people say sprinkling and/or pouring are
acceptable modes of baptism. While other believe immersion is the
only scriptural act. There is no example of sprinkling or pouring
water over another for baptism in the Bible; nor is there any
scripture which authorizes such a practice. Immersion if the only
scriptural act of baptism. The word "baptize" means "to immerse," "to
submerge," "to plunge," "to dip." It NEVER means sprinkling or
pouring. When Jesus was baptized, he came to the Jordan River, he was
baptized, and he came up out of the water (Matthew 3:13-17). This
plainly shows that Jesus was immersed and that baptism, in Christ's
day, was a burial of the whole body beneath the water. When Philip
baptized the Ethiopian nobleman, they went both went down into the
water, he baptized him and they both came up our of the water (Acts
8:38-39). This proves that preachers, who were guided by the Holy
Spirit, always administered baptism by immersion. In Romans 6:4, Paul
says, "We are buried with him by baptism into death." So, baptism is
a burial, an immersion. He goes on in these verses to show that
baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Only
immersion could do this; sprinkling could never picture a burial and
resurrection. What is the action of baptism? It is a burial. It
requires water; much water (John 3:23); coming to the water (Acts
8:36); going into the water (Acts 8:38); being buried beneath the
water (Colossians 2:12); being raised (Romans 6:4); and coming up out
of the water (Mark 1:10).
     The Bible, furthermore, gives an answer to the question, "Why
should one be baptized?" Some say that baptism is non-essential and
that we can be saved as well without as with it. Others teach that
baptism is nothing more than a religious ritual, an outward sign of
an inward grace. Others say that is is administered to people who are
already saved in order that they might be brought into the church.
What does the Bible say on the design of baptism? My friends, the
Bible teaches that baptism is a condition of salvation. One cannot be
saved with being immersed in water for the remission of sins. In Mark
16:16, Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved." That should settle the matter. He did not say, "He that
believeth and is saved should be baptized." He did not say, "He that
believeth and is not baptized shall be saved." In 1 Peter 3:21, Peter
said, "The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us."
Baptism is always mentioned before salvation; it is never mentioned
after salvation. In Acts 2:38, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized..
for the remission of sins." Not because our sins are already
remitted, but, as one translation states it, "in order to have your
sins forgiven." Surely, the sinner does not receive remission of sins
until he is baptized! When Ananias encountered the believing,
penitent Saul of Tarsus, he said, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). So,
baptism is connected with the washing away of sins and the calling on
the name of the Lord. In Galatians 3:26-27, Paul says, "For ye are
all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you
as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." So baptism,
upon a confession of our faith, puts one into Christ. Salvation and
all spiritual blessings are in Christ, and, since baptism puts one
into Christ, those blessings are not ours until we are baptized.
Listen to Paul again in Romans 6:3-4, "Know ye not, that so many of
us as were baptized in Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
There we are buried with him by baptism into death: That like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life."  This important passage
teaches: First, that we are baptized into Jesus Christ. Second, we
are baptized into the death of Christ. It is the death of Christ
which saves, but baptism relates to that death, and puts us into its
benefits. In other words, baptism, by faith, brings us to the blood
of Christ. When the sinner comes demanding baptism, he is trusting
Christ, not his own works; the blood, and not the water. Baptism,
like faith, saves him because it brings him to that which does save,
the blood of Christ. Third, this passage teaches that when we are
raised from the grave of baptism, we are raised to "walk in newness
of life." The new life begins when we are baptized, not before. Those
who teach that it begins before baptism are surely wrong, if these
scriptures mean anything at all.
     Briefly reviewing, we have learned that baptism is a command of
God. We have learned that it is administered only to believers who
have repented. We have learned that it is administered only by
immersion, and that this baptism is a condition of salvation with
which we must comply if we would have the remission of our sins and
enjoy the newness of life that is found only in Christ Jesus.
     Are you a Christian? Have you put your faith in the Christ of
Calvary? Have you repented of all your past sins? Have you confessed
Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Have you been baptized (immersed) for
the remission of sins? If not, we earnestly plead you do this and be
saved by the blood of Christ. Begin living for Christ and seeking to
lead others to obey Him in like manner. Accept His grace and mercy.
Begin that life that will prepare you to be with Him forever and ever
when this life is over.
     If you have any questions about what has been said these past
four weeks concerning "The scheme of human redemption," please
contact us; Route 1, Box 502, Anahuac, TX 77514. Would you like a
copy of this program, either manuscript or cassette, please let us
know.
     Now, until next Sunday at this same time, I bid you a most
pleasant morning and may the grace of God go with you.

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