What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 10/24/04 Radio Program

Question:

I disagree with your teaching that you also have to be baptized to be saved. Baptism is a symbol that you have buried your old self and have been raised to new life in Christ. It also shows obedience to God, as does the Lord's Supper. The water cannot save you. Salvation comes only through the blood of Christ. The thief that was crucified with Jesus became a believer while on the cross so he obviously wasn't baptized. But Jesus said that he would be with Him in paradise. Also, all the people in the Old Testament weren't baptized. Their faith was credited to them as righteousness. The first mention of baptism in the Bible was with John the Baptist.  I would like you to look into these things and see that the only way to be saved is to admit that you are a sinner, believe that God sent His only Son to die for us, and to confess openly that Jesus is Lord.

Answer:

            You certainly gave us a lot to think about! I appreciate you taking the time to write and ask these questions about baptism.

            To  begin, please understand, that this teaching is not “mine.” You may disagree with it, but this teaching comes from the Bible. My responsibility is to teach what the Bible says and only what the Bible says (I Peter 4:11). I hope you can appreciate this as you observe that throughout this response, I will give you book, chapter, and verse for what I teach.

            You made the comment that baptism is a symbol of burying your old self and being raised to new life in Christ. This is a fine description, but in saying this, you have illustrated how baptism is necessary for salvation! If, as you claim, baptism is done by one already saved, then there would be no burying of an “old self,” for this person already has “new life in Christ” before he was ever baptized! So, your illustration declares what I have believed and taught for years (the old man is buried and the new man arises). Your own illustration shows that baptism is necessary for salvation.

            Furthermore, please understand that the Bible says baptism follows the “pattern of teaching” aligning itself with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Read Romans 6:3-6, 17-18 and you will see that this is true. Just as Christ died on the cross, was buried and arose the third day, so men and women today must crucify that old man, be buried in the water of baptism, and then rise to walk in newness of life!

            As your comments continue, you said that water cannot save. AMEN! I have never said that water saves a man, nor do I know anyone who has so claimed. Water does not save us, but Christ’s blood does. Jesus said this in Matthew 26:28. When we read such passages as I Peter 1:18-19 and Revelation 1:5, we see how important Christ’s blood is. (If you wish, go to our “Publications” page, and in March 2003, I wrote an article exclusively on Christ’s blood.) There is no question as to the fact that Christ’s blood saves. The question is: “When does Christ’s blood save?” The answer is found in Acts 2:38. When folks repent and are baptized “for the remission of sins,” they come in contact with the cleansing effects of the blood of Christ. Pay careful attention to the fact that just as Christ’s blood was shed “for the remission of sins,” so also must folks repent and be baptized “for the remission of sins.” Therefore, we see that whatever Christ’s blood is “for,” this is what baptism is “for.”

            In this letter, your attention turned to the thief on the cross implying that since he was not baptized, we need not be. While one could not definitely prove that he was or was not baptized, may I remind you that we are certain that this thief did not confess Christ as the Savior! Yet, you claim that this is necessary for salvation at the end of your letter. The thief never did this. Read Luke 23:39-43 and see if this is not the case. In addition to this, it is to be noted that the thief lived on earth before Christ’s New Testament came into effect. Christ was still alive on the cross when He talked to the thief. While alive, Christ could save folks in whatever manner He wished, and did so (Hebrews 9:15-16). However, after His death, the plan of salvation was uniform in that all people who were saved were saved through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. (For more information, click on: “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” at the left side of the web page screen.)

            Finally, you said that the first mention of baptism took place in John’s day. This is not true, for Paul mentioned the baptism of Moses (I Corinthians 10:1-2). This baptism (immersion) took place as the Israelites crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 14). The walls of water surrounded the people on both sides, while the cloud covered them. This is called a baptism, for they were immersed, or covered over at this time. Such a baptism saved these folks (physically) from the nation of Egypt. They were saved, not because they were greater in number, nor because of their alliances, but because they obeyed God and went through the Red Sea on dry ground. Similarly, when folks today will obey the command of God to believe, repent of sins, confess their faith in Christ, and be baptized, they can be saved from their sins (Acts 2:38, 8:35-39, 16:30-34, 22:16; Colossians 2:11-13; I Peter 3:21).

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