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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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“who started the catholic religion, in what year and name some COC leaders at the time that opposed this new false religion?”
Gal. 1:6-8
6” I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
1 Tim 4:1-5
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Col. 1:18
Christ
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in al things He may have the preeminence.
Heb. 8:1-2
“ We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,[a] the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.”
1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
Jesus Christ gave the command and He is fully God, therefore the command came from God.
the Campbellite’s have a problem since they claim the Church needed to be “restored”, this means Campbell himself had to have been baptized by a non-Christian, which goes against the NT that he claimed to be following.
Their have been Christians since the day of pentecost, all did not fall away and become apostates.
Heb. 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
the other problem Campbell had is the Church could not go apostate according to the Scriptures.
2 Thess. 2:1-3
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Ephesians 3:21
to him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ TO ALL GENERATIONS, for ever and ever. Amen.
the so called COC appeared for the first time on the earth in the 19th century, along with the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses.
Roamns 16:16
Written by Paul in the 1st century.
“16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”
the real Universal Church of Christ has been on earth in every generation for close to 2,000 years now.
On this we agree....!
Where is the requirement that one be baptized only by a Christian?
2 Thessalonians 2:15
the real Universal Church of Christ has been on earth in every generation for close to 2,000 years now.
On this we agree....!
on this we agree, except I can name actual Christians in every century from the 2nd thru today.
the so called COC has a big blank space from 95ad thru the Campbell “restoration”.
you see, Christians were given the task to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. this we have done.
Nope, not there either.
Where is the requirement that one be baptized only by a Christian?
funny, we can trace the so called COC to the early 19th century and Campbell.
but the true Church of Christ was not started by just another man, but by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. unlike what the false prophets Joseph Smith and Campbell taught in the 19th century, the true Church would be present in all generations and Jesus Christ promised to be with His Body all the way up until the end of the world.
in fact Jesus warned us false prophets like Smith and Campbell would arise and deceive many. yet despite that, people still follow the false prophets rather than be added to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
if one refuses to follow the Apostolic Tradition, I can’t help you.
I didn’t think you could find it in the Bible.
I did but since the COC wasn’t around in the 1st century, it can’t follow the Apostolic Tradition.
those who follow Campbell follow his tradition and I can’t find any Scripture that tells us to do that.
on this we agree, except I can name actual Christians in every century from the 2nd thru today.
the so called COC has a big blank space from 95ad thru the Campbell “restoration”.
You only need to know the name of one....!
Acts 4:12
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
BTW could you point me to that list of men in scripture...? Or..must I take your word for it.
Gods’s word is truth...John 17:17
funny, we can trace the so called COC to the early 19th century and Campbell.
First Century the apostle Paul wrote:” Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” The Bible disagrees with you.
but the true Church of Christ was not started by just another man, but by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Finally, you get it....!
unlike what the false prophets Joseph Smith and Campbell taught in the 19th century, the true Church would be present in all generations and Jesus Christ promised to be with His Body all the way up until the end of the world.
That is true but sadly some faiths fell away, only the true Church remains.
in fact Jesus warned us false prophets like Smith and Campbell would arise and deceive many. yet despite that, people still follow the false prophets rather than be added to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Which Church is it that forbids some to marry? Which Church is it the forbids some foods at certain times of the year..?
Which church claims to have a vicar or stand in for Christ...?
Which church bows down and treats a sinful man as their high priest....?
Gal. 1: 6-9
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
The catholic church in a nutshell:
2 Thess.1-12
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He[d] who now restrains will do so until He[e] is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
the so called COC thinks because they call themselves the COC, THAT MAKES THEM THE COC.
lol, by that logic, if I call myself a five star general, I become a five star general.
there are several marks by which we can KNOW where is the true Church of Christ. included among these marks:
1. keeping the Apostolic Faith and Tradition
2. sharing the Eucharist
3. continuous presence on earth from Pentecost thru today
4. possession of the Scriptures
the so called COC FAILS on all four points. Campbell was the worst kind of heretic since he totally violated the will of God as expressed in John 17 and 1 Corinthians 1.
his followers have continued his errors by refusing to be added to the true Church and by following his 19th century tradition of men.
BTW could you point me to that list of men in scripture
you reference “the scriptures”. What does the so called COC consider “scripture” and on what basis?
there are many books claiming to be “scripture”, how did the COC decide which are actually scripture? is there a scripture that gives a list of all the books which are actually scripture?
something tells me the so called COC can’t answer any of these questions.
stay tuned lurkers.
I didn’t think you could.....!
I didn’t think you could.....!
Well, until you disclose what the so called COC considers “scripture”, I don’t know whether I can or not.
since Campbell “restored” the COC in the 19th century, was he told directly by God which books are scripture and which are not?
if not, how does the so called COC decide what books are scripture and which are not?
is the Gospel of Thomas scripture? Gospel of Luke? Shepard of Hermas?
who decides what is scripture for the so called COC? and on what basis? does scripture tell us what the books of scripture are?
once I get these answers, then we will see if I can answer your question.
I have a feeling I will be waiting a long time because the so called COC can’t answer these questions, they expose them for the phonies they are.
surprise me!
the so called COC thinks because they call themselves the COC, THAT MAKES THEM THE COC.
lol, by that logic, if I call myself a five star general, I become a five star general.
there are several marks by which we can KNOW where is the true Church of Christ. included among these marks:
1. keeping the Apostolic Faith and Tradition
2. sharing the Eucharist
3. continuous presence on earth from Pentecost thru today
4. possession of the Scriptures
the so called COC FAILS on all four points. Campbell was the worst kind of heretic since he totally violated the will of God as expressed in John 17 and 1 Corinthians 1.
his followers have continued his errors by refusing to be added to the true Church and by following his 19th century tradition of men.
John 12:48
“ He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Heb. 5:9-10
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”
Heb. 5:12-14
“ For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.’
Luke 16:31
“ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
I didn’t think you could!
I see the book of Hebrews quoted, apparently as scripture.
The Church has declared it as Scripture and has copied over close to 2,000 years. Without the Church doing this, the so called COC would not even possess it.
Who wrote this book? Why does the COC treat it as Scripture?
Crickets chirping.................
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