Part 2 of Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #095. |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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More About Baptism (Part 2)
An exchange with a Christian brother Rex S. Clayton.From: "Belmont Baptist Church" <belmont@apex2000.net>
To: <outreach@sofnet.com> -- Subject: Re: Your reply on baptismDate sent: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 10:29:35 -0500
Brother Ray Downen, -- Thank you for your response to my reply. I have set aside time to give some more information. I want to reply to one statement that was made which was not theological in nature. It concerns the imagined doctrines of Baptists. I give no Baptist doctrines. I give those which are Biblical in nature and I depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead as I am willing to allow Him. Your comment states that you have assumed a point that is not true. I always and will always give a defense of what I believe based upon Scripture.
Scripture tells me to do so. I have refrained from any desparaging remarks as to your theological background because it is unseemly to strike at the body of Christ. Lets converse on this level. We will use Scripture for teaching, for correcting, for rebuking, and for training in righteousness. Thanks, I am so glad to be able to hear from you directly. I always welcome good-hearted apologetics in matters of Biblical teaching. Having conversations concerning the Bible among Christain Brothers is so very exciting and stimulating.
So many people cannot seem to be able to dialogue in this fashion as they question their basic faith and their church affiliation. Thank you for allowing me to do so with you. I can tell that you are well grounded in you walk with Jesus Christ and so these conversations should lead us to dig further and glean from the Bible the truths that The Holy Spirit reveals to us.
In the first part of your letter to me you render Acts 2:38 as the focal point upon which remission of sins is attained. (Please forgive me if I have misinterpreted your meaning.) If this is so, then I need to take you to the Greek word which "for" is interpreted from. "Eis," is the Greek word which has many meanings. It means for, unto, into, because of, on the basis of, with respect to, with reference to, or as the result of. It depends on the context of the sentence structure, which meaning is applied. In this case other New Testament Scripture must be used to mirror this one.
Matt 12:41 -- The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. (NIV)
Luke 11:32 -- The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. (NIV)
The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. They repented not that Jonah might preach, but as the result of his preaching. Here it definitely is result, not purpose. Even the English word "for" carries this meaning. It makes good Biblical reading to render the passage, "Repent and be baptized (as the result of or on the basis of) the remission of sins. This rendering corresponds to the broad teachings of the New Testament concerning baptism. It is important to remember the Jesus did all that was necessary for man's salvation. Yet he baptized no one (John 4:2). Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, and he stated that he was sent to preach the gospel, not to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:14-17).
In John 3:3-6 we read, "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
In this context, Jesus gives water the interpretation the same as the flesh. That means that people must be born into a worldly existence and then come by faith to be born a second time (born again) into the Kingdom of God.
We agree whole heartedly that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer. Believers do not walk and live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Their minds are set on the Spirit. Christians are in the Spirit and the Spirit dwells in them. This is made clear in Romans 8:4-11. The question then arises, at what point does the Holy Spirit come to indwell. I assume by your mail to me that you believe that He is given as a gift by God at the time of baptism. I will try to make the case that the instance of baptism is not the conferring of God the Holy Spirit but it is the time when the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to both the one being baptized but also to the people who are witnessing the baptism. Here I use gift not as the giving of the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit giving a gift to those who have followed His leading in obedience through the waters of Baptism.
I want to give some instances of when sins are forgiven in order that one can be saved.
Rom 10:9,10 -- That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Matt 26:27,28 -- Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
John 8:34-36 -- Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Acts 3:19,20 -- Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-- even Jesus.
I know that there are so many Scriptures that point to Jesus as being the one who gave His life as an atonement for sins that I could list them page after page. In fact, it is impossible to receive salvation through Jeus Christ without your sins being forgiven. Sins are dealt with when you come by faith to Jesus Christ. There is no act done by human beings that can warrant forgiveness of sin. Only the act done by the perfect Jesus Christ will wash sins away. The gift then given at baptism is the identification with Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit has led you to do. In that way you have marked time and place in order to not only remember but to be held accountable to others for doing so.
If baptism confers remission of sin, then it supercedes the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I do an act that warrants God to confer upon me, the Holy Spirit.
John 14:23-26 -- Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
Jesus comes to make His home with those who obey His teaching. His dwelling is the heart of the believer. If baptism is necessary unto salvation then it is not by faith that you are saved. Salvation assumes that you must be saved from something. That something is your sins. No man or woman can enter into God's promise through Jesus Christ unless they first repent. Sin is washed by the blood of Jesus and not by the waters of baptism. Remission of sin is God's mercy and not dependent upon action of men.
Thank you for reading this script. I am greatly interested in hearing from you again. I pray God's blessing upon you and your household.
Your brother in Christ, -- Rex S. Clayton --
What do YOU think?
And a response from Ray to Rex --
Date sent: Wednesday, 11 Mar 1998 20:40Brother Rex, -- How kind you are to take time to share with me your gracious comments. I'm sorry if my identifying your view as that of historic Baptists (which you freely admit to being) seemed less than kind. I'm 68 years of age now, and have discussed the scriptures with many men and some women over the course of the years. I was young when I decided I wanted to live for God and understand His Word as best I could.
I do not intend to disparage you or any brother by naming the source of your or my teachings.
But it is not from the Bible itself that you derive the idea that we are saved prior to baptism, that we think our way into Christ. I'm pleased indeed that you want to teach Bible truth! I note your suggestion that the word Peter used can mean more than the "unto" or "for" by which it is usually translated in Acts 2:38. If Peter had used it in that way, would that have contradicted his later statement that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21)? Would it have been in opposition to Paul's clear statement that we are baptized INTO Christ and thereby put on Christ? Would it place Peter in opposition to Paul's teaching that it's when we are raised out of the waters of baptism that we then walk in new life?
It WOULD harmonize with a misunderstanding of the new birth which would have Jesus saying that the new birth consists of two elements (just as natural birth does), which are water AND spirit, or as Acts 2:38 puts it, repentance AND being baptized. But that would be misunderstanding the Word rather than correctly handling it, in my opinion.
You refer me to Romans 10:9,10 in asking me to believe that Paul was mistaken in thinking that we are baptized into Christ. But the new birth leads to new life. Surely every disciple will gladly and eagerly confess to all that Jesus is Lord. Jesus promises that those who DO confess Him before men will have their names confessed before the Father in Heaven. Are they then saved? There are those who are confident that yes, once a person's name has been confessed before the Father, that person will be saved regardless. Regardless of anything. The Bible, however, does not teach that doctrine, but instead warns of our need to be faithful and to remain faithful throughout our lives. Since the Word will NOT contradict another inspired Word, I think we had best not understand that only faith and confession of faith is required for salvation. Instead, we will see in this passage a strong affirmation of the fact that JESUS saves.
But many other passages make clear that He does not save merely because of a person's confession of faith. James in particular clarifies the need of continued obedience rather than mere lip service, affirming that even demons do believe, yet will be lost.
I surely agree "If baptism (alone) confers remission of sin, then it supercedes the sacrifice of Jesus Christ." But that's not what Peter said. That's not what Paul teaches. They're merely saying that when a repentant believer in Jesus is immersed, that's the point at which salvation is seen to come to a sinner. You do well to realize that the act of baptism is not by itself (without faith in Jesus and repentance) of any moral value to any person. Yet that IS taught by those who think it appropriate to perform what they call baptism (we recognize that it is sprinkling which is NOT baptism) upon helpless infants who have not sinned and have no voice in whether or not the ceremony is performed.
So of course neither of us would teach that baptism alone confers salvation upon any person. For that's not what Paul says, or Peter says, or what Jesus said.
When Jesus commanded that every new believer (a disciple who had heard and believed the gospel of Christ) was to be baptized and THEN taught about the opportunities and obligations of followers of the Way, Jesus was making clear that baptism is not just a sideshow to be performed when it's convenient some time after a person has been saved.
In the book of Acts (not just in chapter 2) as we read of people hearing the gospel and responding, we note that they always were baptized -- immediately. Those who believe baptism is not necessary for salvation are in no hurry to perform the act which to them is not really very important at all. Bible students will realize its importance, and will not avoid speaking the truth that Peter so clearly spoke on Pentecost. When sinners are pricked in their hearts by your delivery of gospel truth, do you join Peter in telling them what they should do? Or do you have a different and unscriptural response and appeal?
In many visits to Baptist churches, I've never heard one single Baptist preacher quote Acts 2:38 or ever tell sinners in the same way that Peter did what they could do to be saved. In Minneapolis one year I did hear Billy Graham quote PART of Acts 2:38, but he wasn't able to get out the words AND BE BAPTIZED, for that wouldn't have agreed with what he was calling "converts" to do to be saved. So he just left out the "and be baptized" and went right on with the quotation. If you had been there, I wonder if you would have felt that this fine preacher had "handled aright" the Word of God. I certainly didn't.
How much we DO need to preach about the need of repentance from sin, and few do so as powerfully as Billy Graham. But as I read the Bible it does not teach that unrepentant sinners ARE saved, but instead insists that they still NEED salvation. And you ask me to believe that Peter taught that believers who already were saved should repent and be baptized because they HAD BEEN saved and HAD received the gift of the Holy Spirit. I really don't see it that way at all.
I hear Peter thundering that those who seek salvation need to repent of their sin and be baptized IN ORDER TO receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. I see Paul very clearly agreeing in several passages, but particularly in Galatians 3:27 where he points out that those who HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED were baptized INTO Christ and have thus "put on" Christ.
So even while I agree with you that in some cases EIS can mean "because of," I see no way that Peter could possibly have been inspired to use it so in Acts 2:38.
I hope you've taken a look at my Viewpoint Studies #95 and (written today) #96. I'll appreciate any further comments you may feel led to share, and appreciate very much your comments written earlier today!
How much Christians do need to LOVE one another. It's obvious that you do love and are concerned that I not misunderstand God's Word. I thank you!
By the way, I must say this -- some Bible students whose study comes after they have learned particular ways of looking at things find it very difficult to see anything in the Bible except things which agree with what we were first taught. If you were told, prior to deep study of the Word, that it taught salvation prior to baptism, it would be very difficult for you to realize that Galatians 3:27 means what it clearly says, and you'd try to find some explanation other than the obvious for what Paul says in Romans 6. Just as you have for John 3:3-5 and Acts 2:38. But truth does not ever conflict with truth. The Bible never ever says we are saved by faith alone. It says we are NOT saved by faith alone. Why then do many who want to be faithful Christian teachers today claim that we are saved by faith ALONE?
Yes, it's reaction against those who teach that the church saves through its meritorious acts and penances. But does that make it right? I think it's an unjustified overreaction.
Responding to the question of convicted sinners who asked, "What must we do?" Peter told them they did need to repent and did need to be baptized. That day 3,000 were immersed in water in the name of the risen Lord. I don't think they would have been saved if they had chosen to not repent and be baptized. "Faith only salvation" says they WERE saved without repentance and without baptism. Evangelists who believe in salvation by faith alone answer the question, "There's nothing you CAN do. Jesus did it all." But nobody told Peter that!
I think Peter was right in telling seekers that they needed to repent and be baptized in order to be saved, and I believe that any Bible student or preacher who doesn't agree with Peter is flat out wrong. And you are entirely right that baptism alone will NOT save! You do well to remind us (me) of that fact.
