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Baptism Which Saves You - 1 Peter 3:21
The Fallacy: 1 Pet 3:21 states "there is an 'antitype' which
now saves us, namely baptism" (NKJV) or "this water symbolizes baptism
that now saves you also" (NIV). Therefore, baptism is necessary for salvation.
Christians who have not been baptized, or have not been baptized 'correctly',
may be in danger of hell.
The Argument: The verse is quite explicit: "baptism ... saves
you", or "there is [something] which now saves us, namely baptism". So
baptism saves us. Isn't that clear enough? Our first priority as believers
should be baptism, so as to ensure our salvation. Or would we rather risk
the wrath of God??
The Problem: This argument has completely failed to properly
understand the verse. Clear minded Biblical Christians will know immediately
the problem, even if they don't know how to correct it. Simply, it misrepresents
the Biblical doctrine of salvation. The clear teaching throughout the New
testament (and indeed throughout the Old) is "Sole Fides, Sole Gratis"
- that our salvation is through Faith alone, by Grace alone. For scriptures
showing this, refer to Ephesians 2:8,9 "We are saved by grace, through
faith... not by works", or Romans 3:24 "[we] are justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus", or John 3:16,
or Acts 15:7-9, or any of dozens of similar scriptures. The overall teaching
of scripture is that we escape from God's wrath because of the death of
Jesus Christ, and we can receive this "salvation" only as an unearned
and undeserved gift, through faith [trust] in Jesus Christ. The
argument has distorted the Bible's teaching on "salvation", in particular,
it is misrepresenting the meaning of the word "saved" as used in the verse
in question. It does so by ignoring two statements given in the very verse
itself.
Firstly: Peter did write "baptism... now saves us", but
immediately after these words, he clarifies his meaning, and shoots down
the argument. he says that this 'salvation' is "not the removal of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God". That
is, he explicitly says that he is not talking about the removal of our
sins! The act of Christian baptism is not performed by desperate
unclean sinners hoping to escape God's anger! Rather, it is "the answer
of a good conscience towards God" - an act performed by joyful redeemed
saints responding to the wonderful love of their Savior and Lord.
Secondly: The verse states that when baptism "saves" us, it does
so through (or by) the resurrection of the Lord, rather than, say, through
His death. this is an important point, because Christ's resurrection is
never associated in scripture with forgiveness of sins. In the sense of
escaping from hell, Christ's resurrection does not "save" us. Instead,
because Christ lives, so can we, in "newness of life" - in a new character,
new joy, new peace, love and power. because Christ is alive, we too are
"alive to God", that is, responsive and sensitive to Him. All this is taught
in Romans 6:3-13, and it is in this sense that baptism "saves" us. Many
Christians report that after their baptism, they experience a new power
to live according to the character of God. Other passages also teach that
because Christ has been raised, we can be sure that we also will be when
Christ returns.
So What? What's The Big Problem?: The doctrine of salvation is
extremely important to clearly understand, and the fallacy under examination
severely muddies the waters. Of its many negative effects, the worst is
that it encourages the preaching of a false gospel, a gospel of works:
"You must be baptized to be saved". Galatians 1:8-9 shows that this is
an extremely dangerous thing to do. In the epistles (Romans to Jude in
the New testament), false teachers receive sharper criticism and condemnation
than any other group. More than one entire letter is devoted to warning
the saints to beware of such people!
Somewhat Less Seriously but still very serious, the fallacy will
blur people's understanding of salvation. Forgiveness of sins is merely
the first and foundational aspect of "salvation" - but it is not at all
the whole! "Salvation" in its fullness encompasses freedom from sin, power
for holy living, a renewed mind and even physical healing, in addition
to forgiveness of sins and eventual reception into a heavenly home.
Final Notes: Let us by all means be baptized - but as a celebration
of the fact that Christ has already made us a child of God. Let us also
strive to grasp every aspect salvation, especially that of forgiveness
of sins through faith in the blood of Christ. Let us pray that God will
reveal to us more and more what Christ accomplished during the first Easter,
and let us search the scripture, that He may use it to enlighten our hearts.
And may we always be earnest contenders for the truth of the only gospel!
I Have A Comment: I'd love to hear it! Please send me some mail.
I'm Not Sure If I've Believed The Gospel: Why not have another
look at it here? Or mail
me if you have a question?
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