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Does Water Baptism Save?
A Biblical Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration |
Baptismal Regeneration is the teaching which says that water baptism is an essential requirement for salvation. According to this teaching, if a person desires to be born again (born into God's family) then he must be baptized in water. Those holding to this doctrine teach that apart from water baptism, a person cannot be saved, cannot be born again, cannot see the kingdom, and cannot enter heaven.
Introduction:
The following was written to some friends in the Church of Christ (a church that believes that water baptism is necessary for salvation):
Dear Friends,
I wanted to write to you concerning some of the things we talked about, especially concerning salvation and baptism. I’m sure that you would agree that there is no more important subject than that of God’s salvation and how a person can obtain this salvation. Our eternal salvation hinges upon whether or not we understand what God has revealed about the terms of salvation. Long ago the question was asked by a man who was in desperate need: “WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?” (Acts 16:30). How we need to see what God’s answer is to that all-important question! The issues at stake are nothing less than life and death, heaven and hell.
I greatly appreciate the desire of you both to follow what the Bible says and what the New Testament teaches, rather than to follow traditionalism and modern day teachings which in most cases have departed from the true teachings found in God’s Word. This is my desire as well. There is a great departure from the faith in these days, and our only hope is to go back to the Bible, which is the very Word of God.
I’m going to share several things from the Bible, and I hope that you will give this letter careful thought and that you might search the Scriptures daily to see whether these things be so (compare Acts 17:11). I’m not asking you to take me at my word. I simply want you to take God at His Word and receive whatever He has said as absolute truth. The only question we must ask is this: “What saith the Scriptures?” (Romans 4:3).
Let us now go to the Scriptures to see what the Bible teaches about salvation, about what a person must do to be saved and about the relationship between salvation and water baptism.
1. The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
In Acts 16:30 the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas this crucial question: “What must I do to be saved?” What answer did these men give to this needy jailer? Did they say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized and thou shalt be saved”? If baptism is necessary for salvation, then why is nothing said about baptism in Acts 16:31? It’s true that this man was baptized (verse 33), and yet this does not change the fact that Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” If water baptism was a condition of salvation, then this would have been the perfect place for Paul to have said so.
2. The Bible teaches throughout the New Testament that FAITH and FAITH ALONE is necessary for salvation.
I would urge you to read carefully and prayerfully the following verses of Scripture:
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John 1:12-13 John 3:15 John 3:16 John 3:18 John 3:36 John 5:24 John 6:35 John 6:40 John 6:47 John 7:38-39 John 11:25-26 John 20:31 Acts 2:21 Acts 10:43 |
Acts 11:17 Acts 13:38-39 Acts 15:11 Acts 16:31 Acts 20:21 Romans 1:16 Romans 3:22 Romans 3:26 Romans 3:28 Romans 3:30 Romans 5:1 Romans 10:9 Romans 10:11 Romans 10:13
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1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Galatians 2:16 Galatians 3:2-9 Galatians 3:14 Galatians 3:24 Galatians 3:26 Ephesians 2:8-9 2 Thessalonians 2:10 2 Thessalonians 2:12 1 Timothy 4:10 2 Timothy 3:15 Titus 3:8 1 John 5:1 1 John 5:11-13
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In all of these passages FAITH is mentioned as being essential for salvation. In none of these passages is water baptism mentioned. If baptism is a necessary part or an essential part of salvation, then why is nothing said about baptism in these passages? If a man must be baptized to be saved, then why do all these verses fail to say so? For example, in Acts 10:43 why didn’t Peter say, “whosoever believeth in Him and is baptized shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sins”?
3. EPHESIANS 2:8-9 is a passage which God has given to answer this key question: HOW IS A PERSON SAVED? This important doctrinal verse says nothing about water baptism.
How is a person saved? “For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Why is there no mention made of baptism? Why didn’t Paul say, “For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH AND BAPTISM . . .”?
4. Water baptism is a WORK (something that man does to please God), and yet the Bible teaches again and again that a person is not saved by works.
Here are some examples:
Titus 3:5—“Not by WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which WE HAVE DONE, but according to His mercy He saved us.”
2 Timothy 1:9—“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS.”
Ephesians 2:8-9—“For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 3:28—“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW.”
Romans 4:5—“But to him that WORKETH NOT, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
In other words, salvation is not DOING something; it is KNOWING someone (John 17:3). Salvation is not based on what we might do; it is based on what Christ has ALREADY DONE (John 19:30). Salvation is not TRYING; it is TRUSTING (John 6:47). If salvation could be earned by anything we do, then Christ’s death was a waste (Galatians 2:21). Salvation is not WORKING; it is RESTING on the WORK of Another (Romans 4:5). Good works are not what a man DOES in order to be SAVED; good works are what a SAVED MAN DOES (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8). God’s holiness utterly condemns the best man (Romans 3:10-23); God’s grace freely justifies the worst (1 Timothy 1:15)!
The Roman Catholic Church also teaches a form of Baptismal Regeneration. The following is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994):
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| Does Water Baptism Save? A Biblical Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration |
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| The Middletown Bible Church 349 East Street Middletown, CT 06457 (860) 346-0907 |
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What, are you nuts??? I'm not going to search your catechism for your proof...
You already posted from your catechism that baptism is not necessary...If you have something to add to that, post it...
It is to them...
Can any one show me where the Apostles who came form John were rebaptized? the only one I read of is Paul, and he was not one of the 12.
No, we’re not told of their rebaptism.
Hey, maybe they weren’t! (/s) Once you show that from the Scriptures, you’ll have made your case.
Until then, what you have to deal with is the Lord’s instructions to you through His apostles.
That is exactly what you are doing...You do not, you can not receive the Holy Spirit by being baptized in water...
Peter says the common element between Noah’s salvation and our salvation is water.
Wrong again...
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Noah was not promised a life in heaven when the rain came down...His human life was saved from drowning...
And then some might notice that this saving of Noah's life was a 'like figure' of the baptism we go thru...
And then Peter is careful and precise to tell you there is no water in this baptism:
not the putting away of the filth of the flesh
No...Our saving baptism is a spiritual baptism:
but the answer of a good conscience toward God
Why would some of John’s disciples, who left to follow Jesus need to be rebaptized, since their sins were remitted by the baptism of John? But was John’s baptism valid if the people in Acts had to be rebaptized?
And we know nothing of Peter or the others. Yet, they received the Holy Spirit.
We also hear nothing of Apollos being re-baptized, just that Priscilla and Aquila ...”26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
If baptism in water for remission of sin was so important it would be mentioned far more than it is.
Again, NOAH and his family did not get wet, the same as the people who crossed the Red Sea under the cloud did not get wet.
In both cases the ones who got “baptized” with water died.
Again, the element God chose to use in saving Noah, in saving the Israelites, and in saving us is water.
Noah died, the Israelites died, and the 3,000 at Pentecost died. Does that mean none were saved?
Noah was saved from the flood. The Israelites were saved from Egypt. The 3,000 were saved from their sins. God used water in each case.
It wasn’t the Christians in Rome who invented the “REAL baptism, RITUAL baptism” nonsense. They already knew what baptism was. They didn’t need Paul to say, “Now let me be clear about WHICH baptism I’m talking about here.”
There aren’t two baptisms, only one.
The bible proves you 300% WRONG...
Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
There are 2 baptisms there...One with water, one without...
There are at least 7 baptisms in the bible...You of course will not find them in your catechism...That's why God gave us a bible...
St Paul mentions that by GRACE you are saved in almost all his letters.
James mentions you are justified by WORKS once.. Everyone throws out all Paul’s life preservers and grasps at James’ strawy epistle.
For the same reason that Paul no where says you are saved by being baptized in water. Baptism is into Christ on on the Cross.
If St Paul had been a Campbellite here is how he would write this. No self respecting CofC preacher would let it pass.
Romans 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved ( when you are baptized by immersion in water).
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation ( And when you go down into the water, baptism washes away the sins).
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him (and is baptized for remission of sins) shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him (and are baptized).
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord and is baptized in water) shall be saved.
But notice Paul did not say anything about it anywhere.
Salvation first, then baptism (following the Lord) later.
So do you believe that meant water baptism and that is what washes away sins?
Nobody puts that on a cake mix box. It’s in the instructions, and that’s sufficient.
But consider this conversation:
“This cake isn’t very good.”
“What do you mean? It’s from a Mom’s Best cake mix!”
“Well it’s just kinda gooey and gummy.”
“I don’t understand what went wrong. I followed the instructions on the box.”
“So you put the mix in a bowl, and added 2 eggs and 1/2 cup water?”
“Yes, did that.”
“And stirred it? Then poured it into a baking pan?”
“Yes, did that.”
“And then baked it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes?”
“Doh! Somebody told me that part wasn’t necessary since it was only in the directions and wasn’t written all over the box!”
You have tried those tactics before and the same answer from scripture is:
Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
The Holy Spirit through Paul says it was the faith, you need to argue with him if you think it was something else.
So water Baptism isn't necessary then...Thankyou...
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