This is why I have tried to show all sides of the "salvation through baptism" question. And, I have not arrived at any new understanding; but, have confirmed the belief that I have long had and confirmed the theology taught in our church.
I pray this dialogue is edifying for you and that you will choose to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with all the world -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled, "What Happens When A Believer Dies?" I wrote, "Until that last breath, a person can repent, ask Jesus Christ into his/her heart, and receive salvation through Jesus Christ. However, once a person has breathed his/her last breath in this mortal body -- his/her eternal fate is set in concrete."
And, my Forum Friend, TheMax, wrote, "Whatever happened to make you forget the words of Peter when he was asked "men and brethren what shall we do?" He didn't say let Christ come into your heart. He replied "Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (salvation).
I responded, "Hi Max, Jesus Himself tells us, "He who believes HAS eternal life" (John 6:47). I will take His promise as valid."
To be more complete, I should have added, "You will notice that Peter tells the people in Jerusalem to 'Repent' -- which means turn from following the world and turn to follow Jesus Christ. When a person 'repents and believes' he is saved, he is a Christian believer. Then, Peter continues, '. . .be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Some may see this as Peter saying that repenting and baptism are the requirements for salvation, for receiving the Holy Spirit -- and I can see how one could interpret this Scripture verse in that way. However, when we stands this verse beside other Scripture passages, which we must do to have a complete theology, such as John 6:47, John 3:16, etc., which tell us that "he" and "whoever" believes HAS eternal life -- we must conclude that Peter meant that repenting and believing is the criterion for salvation, for receiving the Holy Spirit. And, then, one, in an act of obedience, follows Jesus Christ in baptism as a declaration to the world that this person HAS become a Christian believer.
Renowned Bible scholar and commentator, Matthew Henry, writes in his commentary on Acts 2:
"(1). . .Repent, repent; change your mind, change your way; admit an after-thought.'' (2.) Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ; that is, "firmly believe the doctrine of Christ, and submit to his grace and government; and make an open solemn profession of this, and come under an engagement to abide by it, by submitting to the ordinance of baptism;. . ."
And, in the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Acts 2, David Brown writes:
"Acts 2:38. Repent -- The word denotes change of mind, and here includes the reception of the Gospel as the proper issue of that revolution of mind which they were then undergoing. (Be) baptized . . . for the remission of sins -- as the visible seal of that remission."
Max, you tells me, "If you believe, then keep his commandments. All of them, not just the ones that seem right to you."
And, I respond, "Hi Max, We do not live under the Law, for the Law could not save anyone (Romans 2:20). We have passed from the Law and, since the Day of Pentecost, have lived in the Dispensation of Grace. 'For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast' (Ephesians 2:8-9)."
You reply, "Bill, I didn't say anything about keeping the old Law. When Christ died on the cross, the veil of the temple was split, meaning we no longer have to go through a high priest to speak with the Lord."
I respond, "Then, it is not clear what you did mean -- if not the Law? There is no Old Law and New Law. There was the Law given to Moses in the Old Testament for the people of Israel. And, there is the Dispensation of Grace brought to us through Jesus Christ. And, that is what I was addressing. If you had something else in mind; please tell me."
You answer, "I said commandments. Is not baptism a commandment? Or are you going to pick and choose the ones that suit you?
Okay, now I see the misunderstanding. You are relating baptism to the Ten Commandments. No, baptism is not a commandment; it is an ordinance. Jesus Christ left us two ordinances, i.e., instructions, that we should do in remembrance of Him until He returns: baptism and communion.
After we have believed, been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30), and have become saved, born again Christians by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- we are then instructed to follow Him in baptism showing to the world that we are His disciples and that we are Christ Followers.
And, we are instructed to remember Him spiritually through communion, in Luke 22:19-20, "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."
The full Ten Commandments are spelled out by God in Exodus 20:
Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Exodus 20:4, "You shall not make for yourself an idol. . ."
Exodus 20:7, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. . ."
Exodus 20:8, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Exodus 20:12, "Honor your father and your mother. . ."
Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder."
Exodus 20:14, "You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:15, "You shall not steal."
Exodus 20:16, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
Exodus 20:17, "You shall not covet. . ."
Then, in Matthew 22, Jesus Christ addressed the Pharisees and condensed the Ten Commandments into two:
The first four of the Ten Commandments, our responsibility toward God, are found in Mat 22:37-38, ". . .You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment."
And, the last six of the Ten Commandments, our responsibility toward our fellow man, are found in Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Then, Jesus summarized in Matthew 22:40, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
These commandments all Christians are to honor and to follow; yet, we are not and cannot be saved through the Ten Commandments (Romans 3:20), nor through the ordinances of baptism and communion.
So, how are we saved? Good question. We are told in Romans 4:3-5, "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness."
Hebrews, chapter 11, also tells us of Abraham and many other Old Testament saints who were counted as righteous, i.e., attributed the righteousness of Jesus Christ -- through believing God.
You see, if we rely upon our own righteousness, our own works -- we are doomed to hell; for our righteousness is like filthy rags in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6). Yet, when we have the righteousness of Jesus Christ attributed, i.e., imputed, to us -- God does not see us, but, instead sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are told in Isaiah 1:18-19 that, although our sins are as scarlet -- once we repent and believe, we are "as white as snow, like pure white wool."
The Old Testament saints had this righteousness because they believed God and believed in their promised Messiah.
And, under the Dispensation of Grace, i.e., the New Testament, given us by Jesus Christ -- we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
So, Max, you see that all people, Old Testament saints and New Testament saints, have salvation ONLY through Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He is the only WAY to God the Father (John 14:6) -- for all mankind. In Him we have eternal life, and His promise of eternal life in the presence of God. Without Him, there is only the promise of eternal destruction, eternal condemnation in the presence of Satan.
This is why I urge ALL of our Forum Friends to choose wisely; for the "free will" choice we make in this mortal life, before that last breath -- WILL determine our eternal destination: heaven or hell. There are no other choices.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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