I contend that baptism comes before salvation. Some claim salvation comes before baptism.
Which does the Holy Spirit place first?
A. Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;”
(1) Belief, (2) Baptism, (3) Salvation.
B. Acts 2:38 “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
(1) Repent, (2) Baptized, (3) Remission of sins.
C. Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
(1) Arise, (2) Baptized, (3) Wash away sins.
D. Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(1) Baptized, (2) Into Christ, (3) Put on Christ.
E. 1Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”
(1) Baptism, (2) Saves.
If they’re correct that salvation comes before baptism, is it not strange that the Holy Spirit never one time had these in the right order?
People often ask questions about what happens if a person is not water baptized. “What if you’re on the way to the baptistry and you’re killed on the way?”
For the answer we appeal solely to the word of God. We can know nothing about it except that it was revealed by God.
Without water BAPTISM.
Was not BURIED with Him, Col 2:11-12
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Not ADDED to the church. Acts 2:38-47
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Did not PUT on Christ. Gal 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
TRANSGRESSED the command of Christ, (& Apostles) Luke 6:46; Mark 16:16; 1Cor 14:37; 2Thess 1:7-9
Mr 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Did not follow Christ INTO the likeness of His death. Rom 6:3-6
Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Did not wash away SINS. Acts 22:16; Is not SAVED. 1Pet 3:21
Ac 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
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:
We MUST be baptized into Christ to be saved by Grace. Acts 19:1-5; Eph 2:8-10
Ac 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, 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. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ in Borger Texas
Most of you understand the expression, “THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER” because you lived it. Back in the days of old, before the days of indoor plumbing, the family would take their baths in a large metal wash tub. After everyone was done, the last usually being the youngest, the bathwater was tossed out into the yard.
The idiom reminds us not to discard the precious as we attempt to rid ourselves of the despised.
I bring this to your attention because there is a movement among many to “toss out the bathwater” of baptism.
They’re TOSSING out the TRUTH of salvation as they seek to rid themselves of the baptismal waters. In their zeal to remove the ‘bathwater’ they have missed the simple truth about the Gospel.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [Mat 23:24]
Those who are now working to rid the church of the ‘bathwater’ are repeating the mistakes of those in the past and tossing out the precious truth about salvation & baptism.
One fellow said that the baptism spoken of in Acts 2:38 is ‘spiritual immersion.’ What he’s done is thrown out SALVATION with the baptism water. Look at 1Peter 3:21; what is being taught?
“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:” [1Peter 3:21]
The Apostle Peter makes a specific reference to water when he says, “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh.” Why would he bring up ‘the filth of the flesh’ unless saving baptism involves water? If salvation was ‘faith only’ then this addition is completely pointless. He brought it up because he was talking about WATER BAPTISM. He was teaching us not to confuse the water baptism obeyed through faith with a physical cleansing. WATER BAPTISM, submitted through faith, provides a SPIRITUAL CLEANSING.
Paul was told, “arise, and be baptized, and WASH AWAY THY SINS, calling on the name of the Lord.” [Acts 22:16] Upon hearing the preaching of Jesus by Phillip, the Ethiopian Eunuch asked, “See, here is WATER; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” [Acts 8:36] (emphasis mine, seb) These verses harmonize BECAUSE they are teaching WATER BAPTISM. They make no sense if salvation occurs BEFORE water baptism.
No one is teaching a ‘works’ salvation, for no one, submitting to the simple command of God in Christ, is able to do anything of themselves while under the water. Christ is doing the spiritual cleansing [Rev 1:5]. Christ is doing the saving [Matt 1:21]. Christ is adding to the church those that are being saved [Acts 2:47].
If you believe…
You were saved before you were water baptized,
That baptism is not immersion in water,
That baptism doesn’t save you,
Were baptized in or into a denomination,
You were saved by being baptized as a baby,
Then you are guilty of ‘THROWING OUT THE TRUTH WITH THE BATHWATER’ and remain in your sin.
Saving Baptism in the bible is…
Commanded by Christ, Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16
For the remission of sins, Acts 2:38; Mat 26:28
What washes away sin, Acts 22:16
Death to sin, Romans 6:1-4
A Burial, Colossians 2:12
Immersion in water, 1Peter 3:21; Acts 8:36
What saves you, by faith, 1Peter 3:21; Heb 11:7
Taught by Peter, Paul, & others Acts 2:38; 19:5; 22:16;
The Putting on of Christ, Galatians 3:27
AFTER Hearing, Believing, Repenting & Confessing, Mark 16:15, 16
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 