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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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Why do I keep getting pinged to these anti-Campbell-fixation posts?
I see the book of Hebrews quoted, apparently as scripture.
Apparently? Do you or don’t you consider it as God’s word?
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.
NO...! God declared it as scripture, the catholic church came 600 yrs. later.
This book was written some 600 yrs. before the catholic church came into existence. It was addressed to Hebrew christians and the author is not known for sure. Some say Paul, some say Barnabas. Regardless it was and is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
It is treated as scripture because God said His word would last forever by His will and His will alone.
Crickets chirping.................
The only crickets chirping are coming from you. You never answer questions, you only through around insults, innunendo, and name calling. Could it be because you can’t defend your religion? You are like the Jews Jesus was talking to when He said in Matt 15:8-9 “‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
And again you remind me of the people Jesus was talking about in Mark 12:24 when he said: “Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”
You are like the rich man who died and went to hades you wouldn’t recognize God’s word and be persuaded by it even thought one rose from the dead and preached it to you. Luke 16:31
You are to busy listening to your sinful high priest who sits in Rome on his bogus throne And you listen to and follow the commandments of men.
Mark 7:8”8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
You follow your sinful pope who sits on a bogus throne in Rome, and you listen to his man-made laws and traditions.
I choose Christ whose throne is in heaven at the right hand of the father. (Acts 2:33) I will follow His Holy teaching, His Holy inspired words, and the Holy traditions that were once for all delivered to us 600 yrs before the apostate catholic church was dreamed up by sinful men who called themselves priest and popes.(Jude 1:3 and 2 Tim 3:16)
It is treated as scripture because God said His word would last forever by His will and His will alone
Where does God say the Book of Hebrews is His word?
chapter and verse please.
you appear to be a Campbellite, and I thought you would benefit from what Christians have believed for 2,000 years, not 200 years.
I take it this is not desired, so I won’t ping you any more.
It seems to be a common mistake among man-followers to think that everyone else must be a man-follower too.
As I said, I am of Christ and Him alone.
Thank you for removing me from your ping list.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will have to give an account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.
I wonder when Campbell read this, who did he submit to?
Kind of heady stuff when you are tasked with “restoring” the Church of Christ, don’t you think?
if one acts like a Campbellite, and quakes like a Campbellite, they are a Campbellite.....just saying.
Excuse me, are you making an accusation against me?
accusation? no, this forum does not allow posters to make things “personal”
the reader who knows what the false 19th century prophet Campbell taught can decide if someone who espouses doctrines of his is a Cambellite or not.
I would think that after 1,800 of apostate Christianity, one would be proud to be a Campbellite. after all, “restoring” the true church is something to be proud of, no??
on the other hand, if one can see the false doctrines Campbell taught, I would think a Christian would run as far from Campbell as possible.
by their fruits.........
Just more anti-Campbell-fixation then? Okay, apology accepted.
my fixation is on false prophets who do not bring the Apostolic Faith believed by Christians for 2,000 years.
Campbell is just one of many as Jesus told us in Matthew 24.
Where does God say the Book of Hebrews is His word?
chapter and verse please.
Romans 3:2 tells us that the oracles of God were first given to the Jewish nation. “ Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.”
And God also tells us that this earth will pass away but His word will last forever. This promise was spoken to us by Jesus Himself. Matt 24:35 “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.’
Ps. 12:6-7”The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
7 You shall keep them, O Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.”
What’s the matter...? Don’t your trust God? Do you think he is incapable of preserving His word?
Better run and ask you little, earthly, sinful pope if God is capable of preserving His word and if God can be trusted.
Do you have doubts that Hebrews is the word of God...?
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will have to give an account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Did you know that that verse is referring to elders in the Church.
I wonder when Campbell read this, who did he submit to?
If he were a good christian, I’m sure he submitted to the elders of His congregation.
Kind of heady stuff when you are tasked with “restoring” the Church of Christ, don’t you think?
Not really, actually its quite simple, you just have to read and understand God’s word.
BTW I bow to your superior knowledge when it comes to Campbell and Joseph Smith. I can honestly say that I have never read an article or a book written by either of these men.
You seem to know quite a bit about them, so I assume you have studied them intently. After all, you frequently call them false prophets.
Let me ask you this. How many men, women, and children did Campbell murder, torture, and burn at the stake?
We know the apostate catholic church did this. It killed untold hundreds and thousands because innocent men, women, and children refused to follow the corrupt catholic religion and edicts of sinful popes, cardinals, and bishops...! Were the corrupt catholic popes and catholic priests who murdered innocent people also false prophets...? Or do you consider these “holy men” of God?
The apostate catholic church has quite and history of murder, corruption, and burning people at the stake. Are these the traditions that you so proudly speak of..?
Or, are you more proud of the traditions of murdering, torturing, and burning men at the stake when those individuals tried to get copies of the Bible into the hands of the ordinary citizens? Or would you consider those corrupt popes, priest, cardinals, and bishops false prophets...?
Just curious....! Just trying to figure out which of these corrupt traditions of the apostate catholic church you are most proud of....!
let’s recap:
I asked for chapter and verse where God says Hebrews is his word?
no verses were provided.
so we have a letter written to the Hebrews by an unknown author and no where does the letter claim it is scripture.
the so called COC doesn’t have an answer as to why they believe this letter is scripture. ( at least none they are willing to admit )
the answer they won’t admit is the Catholic Church has declared it is scripture and they accept the Catholic Tradition of the 27 book NT.
you see the Catholic Church not only believes God is capable of preserving his word, He also is capable in preserving his people for 2,000 years.
What about those traditions....?
What about those traditions....?
care to elaborate, not sure what that question means.
care to elaborate, not sure what that question means.”
Ignorance is NO Excuse....!
Ignorance is NO Excuse....!
correct. ignorance of where we got the Scriptures from and who determined what is Scripture and what is not, is no excuse.
I would think someone who claims to follow something would know more about what they are following. oh well, ignorance may be no excuse, but apparently it is bliss.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
so then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions, which were taught to you by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
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