One of the hottest debates in Christianity is whether or not being Baptized is a requirement for salvation. Some will say that it is merely an act of obedience and not necessary while others will say it is necessary for our salvation. Some will claim that baptism is a "Work" and therefore is not part of salvation. Others will claim it is not a work of righteousness but part of our faith and how we respond to the Gospel. If being baptized does not matter then it is no big deal. But if Baptism is a requirement, then have we watered down the Gospel and the message of Salvation and put at risk people who have no pressing need to get baptized? Let's see what the scriptures actually teach.
BAPTISM
What did Jesus say?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother�s womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of... WATER... AND the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. NKJV
Jesus made in clear that there are two elements involved in this process for becoming "born AGAIN". I emphasize "AGAIN" because it is something that is done a second time. Some try to use the argument that Jesus is referring to an individuals first birth, hence the water is of the womb. The problem with that argument is that Jesus is talking about a man who has already been born and now saying that he has to be born a second time and in that second birth, there are TWO elements, water and the Spirit. Water is then obviously implying water Baptism. Because Jesus said this is a second birth precludes any possibility of any elements of the first birth being included in the SECOND birth.
Additional support for water baptism being a necessary element for salvation and that Jesus meant water baptism when speaking to Nicodemus is found in Mark 16:16 when He gave His marching orders for the Great Commission commanding water Baptism to be done for every believer.
Mark 16: 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe[disbelieves] will be condemned. NKJV
Jesus made a positive statement by giving us assurance of our salvation in that we are saved if we first.....believe, which means have faith and second, that we are BAPTIZED. Again we see TWO elements listed and one of them is water Baptism. By Jesus using the conjunctive word "AND" (kai in Greek) clearly links baptism and faith as two necessary elements.
Now there are a few who will try and use the second part of the verse to override the first part. "but he who does not believe will be condemned.
They will say that since Jesus did not say he who is not baptized will be condemned or some similar wording implies that baptism is not necessary. That argument is simply not logical and is a violation of Hermeneutics. Who would want to get baptized if they didn't believe to begin with? The words Jesus used ..."does not believe" means "Disbelieved...someone who heard the Gospel and then rejected it. Who would go and line up to be baptized after they rejected the Gospel? No one.
Now let's look at what I believe is one of the most important passages in the New Testament whereby we see a perfect example of the model for preaching the Gospel and giving the elements for salvation.
Peter while recently being filled with the Holy Spirit as well as the other Apostles, preached the very first sermon with the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit was speaking through him. He was preaching to a few thousand Jews who were the ones who previously were responsible for crucifying Jesus Christ. Look carefully on how Peter accused them of their sinful deed and then their response and then Peter's.
Acts 2: 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
At this point Peter had nailed them hard and after they were convicted of their sin they asked Peter and the Apostles what they needed to do. It is obvious that at this point they had faith and believed that Jesus was the Christ whom they crucified but as we can see even with their true faith in Christ, they were still NOT saved as yet. Peter then responds.
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ UNTO (for) the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 � And they continued steadfastly in the apostles� doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. NKJV
Now notice that Peter told them what they needed to do in order to be purged from their guilt of their sin and to receive forgiveness of their sin and receive the Holy Spirit.
First they needed to "Repent". Then he said the needed to be baptized in Jesus name and that is FOR the remission of sins. To be baptized in Jesus name means to be baptized in His authority. It is the same when we Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Next in the passage we see what happens AFTER being baptized and that is to receive the Holy Spirit.
The Greek text conclusively demonstrates that the word "FOR" in this passage only has one meaning. The word "FOR" is better translated "UNTO". Both carry the same meaning. The word "FOR" or "eis" is a Greek "transitive preposition" and is used 1774 times in the New Testament and in every instance it means FOR or UNTO and NEVER does it mean "because of". If the word meant "because of", it would imply that remission of sins is due to a PRIOR act and that baptism played no part. Unfortunately for those who try to make that argument, the Greek does not support that conclusion or definition. A transitive preposition means that it has a forward progress to an object to a desired result. Baptism is FOR/UNTO the remission of sins.
The text of Peter's sermon states plainly that baptism is �for the remission of sins.� The Greek word translated �for� is the preposition, �eis.� It is extremely common in the New Testament, appearing some 1774 times.
�Eis� is a transitive preposition, meaning that progress is inherent in the meaning. It is most often translated �into� or �unto� in the KJV. The general sense is progression to a point reached. The inherent forward progress is always present when used with a transitive verb � a verb that implies motion, progression, or transition. The transitive force of �eis�is sometimes even apparent when used with intransitive verbs (state of being verbs) � which normally do not themselves imply progress, yet the transitive nature of "eis" overpowers the intransitive power of the verb (cf. Rom. 1:16)
Furthermore even Paul's own testimony concerning his own conversion makes it clear that baptism is an essential element for his salvation.
Acts 22: 12 "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
13 "came to me; and he stood and said to me, �Brother Saul, receive your sight.� And at that same hour I looked up at him.
14 "Then he said, �The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15 �For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 �And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.� NKJV
Now let me make something perfectly clear. When a person gets baptized in water, it is not the water that saves you. Water just gets you wet. God is the one who saves us! Baptism is the occasion where God supernaturally "circumcises your heart" and this is when the Holy Spirit comes into you.
Furthermore Baptism is not a work.
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through..... the washing of regeneration..... and renewing of the Holy Spirit, NKJV
What is the "washing of Regenration? Water Baptism. Notice that it is God who saves us according to HIS mercy,..."THROUGH the washing of regeneration ...AND the renewing of the Holy Spirit". Notice these two main elements as before have been listed by Jesus in Mark 16:16 and John 3:3-5. "the washing of regeneration" is not the Holy Spirit as some try to claim. Paul separates Washing of Regeneration from the "renewing of the Holy spirt" but using the conjunctive word "and" or "kai" in Greek. This demonstrates that there are two separate events, but simulteanously. Let me make one point that is important concerning "washing of regeneration" or Baptismal Generation. Different Christian denominations have different meanings for this term. So you must be very careful and not broad stroke everyone the same way.
Col 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
How can we be buried with Christ in Baptism unless we are Baptized?
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV
(Of course verse 14 is demonstrating that the Mosaic Laws were completely done away with, but that is for another discussion.)
So I hope that it can be seen that Baptism is not just a mere act of obedience without having any affect towards salvation but that it is an essential element as the scriptures clearly indicate.
You said: I agree we are to be baptized because Jesus commanded it, but not for the remission of sin, that comes from the blood of Jesus."
WALTER: I have to disagree with you on this because the text disagrees with you.
Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.... UNTO (for) the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.NKJV
Notice the grammar here. Baptism is ..."for" the remission of sins.
The Greek text conclusively demonstrates that the word "FOR" in this passage only has one meaning. The word "FOR" is better translated "UNTO". Both carry the same meaning. The word "FOR" or "eis" is a Greek "transitive preposition" and is used 1774 times in the New Testament and in every instance it means FOR or UNTO and NEVER does it mean "because of" as A.T. Robertson the Baptist Greek Grammaritan tried to redefine. If the word meant "because of", it would imply that remission of sins is due to a PRIOR act and that baptism played no part. Unfortunately for those who try to make that argument, the Greek does not support that conclusion or definition. A transitive preposition means that it has a forward progress to an object to a desired result. Baptism is FOR/UNTO the remission of sins.
Does the blood of Jesus wash away our sins? Yes but at what moment in time is this normally accomplished?
During water Baptism.
How are we "Baptized into Christ" if not through the water?
"In general, the more common a preposition is, the more varied are its uses" (Wallace, p. 357). Thus, we should not be surprised at discovering significant semantic range with respect to a preposition such as eis, and should not suppose it would convey exactly the same nuance of meaning in each of its 1767 occurrences."
Walter wasn't kidding when he said this is one of the hottest debates in Christianity. Lol (And especially with this topic, I would know - my mom is Lutheran. Ha Ha)
I simply look at the nature of God for the answer. He is a loving God who wants us to be with Him eternally.
John 3:16-18 does NOT read: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him and is baptized shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him and baptism. Whoever believes in him and is baptized is not condemned, but whoever does not believe and is not baptized stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son. Oh, and he hasn't been baptized.
We all know how these verses actually read. I think God said what He meant and meant what He said.
baptism means immersion... when we accept Jesus as our savior. we immerse ourselves in him.
a verse only means baptism in water, when it says "baptism in water"
if it says baptism in holy spirit, or Jesus... Jesus baptises with the holy spirit and with fire... thats what John said... his words... he didnt say Jesus baptizes with water... water is no more needed to be saved as circumsision was needed to be saved in the old covenent.
forget what verse, but it says Abraham was saved before he was circumsized just as we are saved before we are baptized in water.
circumsision was symbolic of "the removal of our flesh, and being renewed through the spirit..."
just as water baptism is "Symbolic" of the washing away of sins...
its a joke to believe that water actually washes away our sins... now that i think of it, its so funny... are you kidding me? God uses water to wash away our sins? so what happened to the forgiveness part? the forgiveness is what "washes" away our sins! not physical water... you take the bible way to litteral.
so, yes if we are saved we will baptized, with a spiritual water... all that water washes away, is dirt... not sin... sin isnt something physical that we have on us. not something we can wash away with soap and water.
so be baptized for the exact same reason as the people in abrahams time were circumsized.
otherwise... if water baptism isnt symbolic for the "washing away" of sin... then whats the point of it? you really believe water litterally washes away our sin?
also yes the word eis is not translated into the word "because" at all in the bible... but it is translated into the word "for"
"For God so loved the world"
the word "for" is translated from the greek word eis.
you can easily replace the word "for" with the word "because"
because God so loved the world...
there are many verses where the word "because" can replace the word "for"
iif eis can be translated "for", and "for" can mean "because" then eis can be translated "because"
just because those who translated greek into english never translated eis into the word "because" it doesnt mean they are right in doing so... sorry but the translaters are not inspired by God.
as you can see with that example, eis can clearly be translated into the word "because"... there are many more examples where the word "for" should be "because"
i didnt make this up by the way.... there are a few people who have explained this....
