Salvation…water included?

Recently, I went to a church for a couple of bible studies. Being a Christian and working nights, I have a difficult time gathering with other believers for a wholesome study and discussion. The first study was great. We had a great discussion about a few things, and nothing was very controversial.

The second time I went, the facilitator opened up on their “faith + baptism = salvation” doctrine as well as “loss of salvation” potential.

I had to bite my tongue. I didn’t want to cause a stronger discussion than was necessary. At the end of the study, one of the elders came to me and asked for my testimony. I shared it humbly and gladly. He asked me when I was baptized. I told him a few months later. He then shared that no one was saved in the new testament without baptism.

This is where I had to disagree, but I also had to leave. I would like to sometime sit down with the elders and try to see why they believe so strongly in baptism (for salvation) and that you can lose your salvation.

So I decided, without pointing fingers anywhere, to just write about how I see that salvation, first of all, doesn't come from men, and if it doesn’t come from men, it’s from God. And if it’s from God, how does a man made work (baptism) doesn’t apply for salvation. I’ll also explain later, what baptism is really about.

First, let’s look at a few verses for salvation.

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 of works, lest anyone should boast.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Acts 16:30-31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 9:6-8 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”

Romans 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.”

Matthew 19: 25-26 “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

2 Timothy 1:9 “He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

Romans 10:10 “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved”

John 3:15-16 “so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”

We could go through a ton more verses. I counted well over 150 that talk about salvation through faith alone. The big thing is, if salvation is of God, I also believe He must give you the faith to believe. I believe we are so endowed in sin, that while we can do good deeds and works towards our fellow man (think of the great charities, food drives, and other things that we men think of to try to help each other out), we want nothing to do with God, if we were left on our own.

Very often, talking to people about God, they will shut you out, and terminate the conversation. This, while not the “ultimate” proof that no one wants anything to do with God…is evidence of it.

And we are all guilty of sin. I’m not going to list any here, since we have all broken God’s law. No sense identifying anyone / anything.

Back to salvation. Jesus, while on earth, preached both faith unto salvation, and baptism unto salvation. Which one is it? Well, they go hand in hand, sort of.

Salvation starts and ends with faith in Christ. Point final. Once you realize that you were going to face God, in your sin and you cry out to him for forgiveness. Repent of your sin (whatever that maybe) and you see the cross for the first time, and what it accomplished, that is salvation.

Now, about baptism. Baptism, mentioned as a commandment as well, following salvation. It has nothing to do with salvation per say. However, it’s a visual testimony of what happened between you and God. No one can see the salvation transaction you just had with God. But the baptism…here in North America, while exciting and fantastic, it’s a bigger deal in some countries overseas that have banned Christianity.

Baptism is a public acknowledgement that you are now following Christ, even unto death. Baptism to salvation is something like a wedding ring to a marriage.

The ring means nothing on its own. Even on your finger, it doesn’t keep the marriage sacred. It’s ONLY a symbol of your marriage. A reminder to others, and to yourself that you are married.

The actual marriage happened when the minister said “by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband, and wife, you may kiss your bride”.

The marriage certificate and the ring are only visual testimonies of the acknowledgement you both had in your vows.

Same with baptism to salvation. God declared you saved once you believed. But the visual testimony is then acknowledged by others around you. But the baptism didn’t save you.

Then the part about losing your salvation. I believe 2 things are possible. 1, you were never saved and it took time to manifest itself and 2, you are saved, and are falling into sin. God will then do 1 of 2 things. Bring you back to the cross for repentance, or bring you home to heaven via death. I have witnessed both.

People don’t realize that for you to lose your salvation, it’s a HUGE transaction with God. Because the transaction of salvation was HUGE with God. First, he would have to disown you. But that’s going against some verses.