Baptism and Faith Only Doctrine

As an adherent to the principles of the Restoration movement, I believe that the scripture teaches that the act of baptism is infused with spiritual consequences consistent with the granting of salvation. Today, there are two schools of thought regarding baptism. The first is that baptism is a work, and therefore it is not a part of the process by which a person is saved. Those who hold to the Faith only doctrine teach that at the point that a person develops faith in the person of Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savior of mankind, that person is saved. This group believes that baptism is, the outward sign of an inner change, ie., a physical nod of recognition that a person has already become a Christian. Some churches view baptism as the formal expression by which a person joins a specific church group. The other school of thought suggests that it is the act of baptism undertaken by a person who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and whom has vowed to repent of sin, is the point in time that a person becomes saved. Rather than seeing baptism as an act done after salvation, it is viewed as the event at which the grace of God is applied to the believer. We want to examine the various scriptures which are relevant to this topic, specifically the scriptures that deal with baptism and the analogies in scripture that describe the results of baptism. We believe that it is possible to harmonize scripture and come to a sound biblical view regarding this topic. It is important to note that whenever we discuss baptism, we are referring not solely to the physical act, but rather to the spiritual realities of a person who has faith and who has repented being involved in this act. Without the faith and repentance, the act of baptism is nothing more than getting wet. The English word baptism is a transliteration. That means it is a word taken from one language (greek) and used in a different language (English). The greek word baptizo is literally translated to dip, plunge, or immerse. There is no disagreement regarding this translation among biblical

scholars. Whether Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist or Christian Church, all greek scholars agree that this is the only translation of baptizo. Before delving into the scriptures, we should also note that it is important to harmonize scriptures. For instance, Romans 5:1 says, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This verse indicates that we are saved and justified through our faith. Therefore, we might conclude that we are saved by faith alone if we focus solely on this verse. However, Jesus said in Luke 13:3, I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Are we saved through faith or are we saved through repentance? Is the scripture contradictory? Does it give multiple means by which we are saved? And how do we harmonize Romans 5:1 with James 2:4, You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.? We understand that faith is more than just belief. James 2:19 says, You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. Faith involves more than just belief. We can conclude that genuine or saving faith must also include the intention and decision to repent from sin. (Lk 13:3) If we attempt to assign salvation to the point at which a person believes, we must of necessity come up with a view which also allows the scripture which says that we must repent. How then do we define faith which saves? We need to examine all of the scripture to understand how we are to respond to Gods offer of grace. We will not be studying the whole process of salvation. Rather, we will examine the scripture which deal specifically with baptism to see what, if any, part baptism might play in a persons salvation. To reiterate, if a person is saved at the point at which they have faith that Jesus is Gods son and our savior, then baptism is an act after the fact and has no impact upon a persons salvation. While it might be considered something we need to do because of obedience, our salvation is not dependent upon it. However, if scripture teaches that baptism saves us as a part of the process of coming to God in faith, then we need to incorporate our understanding of the process by which faith and repentance work together in the act of baptism to appropriate the grace of God.

Acts 2:38
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. As with all important scriptures, we need to understand the context, that is, the surrounding verses, which can assist us in correctly understanding the text. In this case, Peter had been preaching the gospel message, that Jesus was the Messiah and that the Jewish people had put him to death. Peter is speaking to Jews. Note that verse 37 says that the people listening were cut to the heart and they asked Peter, What shall we do?. The context suggests that the people were convicted regarding what they heard, and that they indeed believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that they bore a collective guilt for killing him, for they responded by asking the question, What shall we do? They were not asking how they could undo putting Jesus to death. Having been cut to the heart, they wanted to know how they could absolve themselves of this guilt. They were asking what they could do to be reconciled with God. Lets stop and examine where they are at this point. They had heard the gospel preached. The fact that they were cut to the heart meant that they believed what they heard and that they were sorrowful. They asked what they could do. According to our first school of thought (that salvation is given at the point of faith), they were at that point Christians, for they had heard about Jesus being Gods son and accepted and believed it. If faith is the sole ingredient in salvation, then they were saved. Yet, Peter did not congratulate them on their salvation. Rather, he responded to their question and told them that they had to repent and to be baptized. The result of that action, done in faith, was the forgiveness of sins. Note that the forgiveness of sins is described as a consequent result after repentance and baptism. In addition, the grammar suggests that the giving of the gift, or person, of the Holy Spirit was an additional consequence for the one who repented and was baptized. How can we reconcile the belief that a person is saved solely by faith with a verse that ties forgiveness of sin to the act of baptism? How can we harmonize this verse with the doctrine of faith alone?

In answering these question, some have pointed out that the greek word eis, which is translated for the forgiveness of sins is also translated because in other scriptures. While it is a secondary translation, there are those who say that the proper translation is because (of) the forgiveness of sin, thereby making repentance and baptism post salvation acts. To harmonize with faith only doctrine, this verse needs to say that the purpose of repentance and baptism should be done because a person is already saved. This straining of the normal interpretation of the greek language is the only means by which one can harmonize the doctrine of faith only with this scripture. It is interesting to note that Dr. Mike Licona of Credo House, a Calvinist theologian, admits that attempting to translate eis as because rather than for is problematic. For those who believe that baptism is the point in time at which Gods grace is given, Acts 2:38 is clear. Note that Peter doesnt tell the people to believe and have faith. From their response and their question, it is clear that they already had faith, that they believed the gospel message about Christ. Therefore, Peter instructs them to repent and be baptized, which are clear actions of faith and which would be logical steps one would take who had faith. He identifies the forgiveness of sin with the culmination of their faith and repentance in the act of baptism, and then makes it clear that those who obey receive the Holy Spirit. An examination of the book of Acts suggests that whenever a person made a commitment to Christ, they were baptized immediately. The time between a person confessing their faith in Christ and their baptism would be minimal. Note that in this section of scripture, that 3,000 people responded to Peters preaching and that they were baptized.

Romans 6:1-6
Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:3,4 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin

Verse 3 and 4 are in response to a question in verse 2, shall we continue to sin so that grace might increase? The immediate answer was no, and these verses are in support of that answer. Paul says that we died to sin, and then in verse 3 he reminds the Roman believers how they had died to sin. It is in the act of uniting with Christs death through baptism that we die to sin. The analogy of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is applied to our sin. In a spiritual sense, we are united with what Christ did, receiving the forgiveness of our sin, and just as he was raised from the dead, we also have been granted eternal life. The view that we are saved by faith alone of necessity divorces baptism from any spiritual consequence which relates to our salvation. If we are saved prior to baptism, then we can only conclude from this section of scripture that we are saved without sharing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We must conclude that it is not required of us to unite with Christ like this in his death. More than that, if the forgiveness of sins is tied to being united with Christ in baptism, the only way to continue holding a faith only doctrine is to claim a salvation that saves us while we still live in our sins without the benefit of being united with Christ. However, if we understand baptism to be an event that results in the forgiveness of our sin, these verses make sense. The visual picture of a person being baptized reflects the process of dying, (closing ones eyes, holding breath, being lowered) of being buried, (put under the water (see baptizo) and rising to live a new life. (Emerging from the water, opening eyes and breathing) Being united with Christ through baptism is a means of assuring that we will be united with Christ through his resurrection.

1 Peter 3:21
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 1 Peter 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Verses 18-20 have been a problem passage for theologians for centuries. Who were these spirits that Christ went and preached to? When did he preach to them? Could they respond and be saved from his preaching? For our purposes, an exposition of these verses is not necessary. We can safely say that the context refers to the ark and the water of the flood. That sufficiently introduces our highlighted text. There are no ways to twist the linguistics or allegorize the statement this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also. In order to harmonize this verse with the doctrine of faith alone, we have to find an interpretation that identifies this saving as something other than salvation from sin. How and in what sense can being baptized save a person? Some point out that identifying baptism as a pledge of a good conscience toward God, as being evidence that it is something that is done following a person making a pledge or commitment to Christ. Therefore, it must be post salvation. The text clearly states that it is a pledge of a good conscience toward God. But that does not mean that it is a post salvation event. An indication of the spiritual power in baptism is found in the statement that it (baptism) saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Is not His resurrection the basis of our salvation? If the power of baptism is that which led to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, would we hold that such power is not required for our salvation? Is there, then, a salvation that saves us apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Not at all! So what are we saved from? If baptism saves us, what does it save us from? If it doesnt save us from sin, then what does it save us from? Attempting to harmonize faith only doctrine with this verse is quite problematical. It is difficult to attempt to refute the clear statement that baptism now saves you also. Those who see baptism as the event by which God has identified the application of Gods grace for the forgiveness of our sin have no problems harmonizing this verse with their theology.

Galatians 3:27
Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Verse 26 indicates that we are sons of God by faith. This is a potential proof text for those who being we are saved entirely via our faith. However, the next verse indicates that the reason that we are sons of God is that we were baptized into Christ and have clothed ourselves with Christ. The analogy of putting on Christ suggests that we unite with him in an intimate way, in the same way that we put on clothes. Verses 26,27 demonstrate the problem inherent in faith only doctrine. In order to hold to that belief, it is essential to ignore and attempt to explain away verses that would define faith as anything other than believing. In this case, faith only doctrine is consistent with verse 26, but the addition of verse 27 causes immediate problems, for it suggests that separating faith and baptism is not consistent with biblical precedent. The antithesis of verse 27 is that all of those who have not been baptized into Christ have not clothed themselves with Christ. Can we be saved without being clothed with Christ? It is difficult to accept that being the case.

Colossians 2:12
Col 2:11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, To understand this verse, we need to realize that under the Mosaic Law, circumcision was the physical sign of a man belonging to God. Note that male babies were circumcised seven days after their birth. Prosylytes who converted to Judaism were required to be circumcised. Circumcision was the initiatory rite that granted a man acceptance with God.

In verse 11, Paul indicates that in a spiritual sense, Christ has circumcised our sinful nature. Circumcision was a cutting away of the male foreskin, the removal of that flesh. In a spiritual sense, Paul relates that our sinful nature, like the foreskin, was removed. He indicates that this was done by Christ. To those holding to faith only teaching, that spiritual circumcision was done when a person came to faith in Christ as Gods son. As noted previously, we have a verse that can be used to legitimate faith only doctrine. However, the next verse makes that problematic. Verse 12 indicates that the place in time of this spiritual circumcision, through an act done by Christ, is when a person is baptized. Note that the infusion of Gods power is not only by our obedience through baptism, but energized by our faith in God. Once again, we see that the putting away and forgiveness of our sin is identified with the act of baptism. It is the removal of our sin that is required for us to be saved. If indeed, the removal of sin and the act of baptism are joined, then a salvation by faith without baptism cannot be supported biblically.

Mark 16:16
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; It is important to note that this section of scripture is viewed as possibly an interpolation, that is, not a part of the original text. There is enough documentary evidence to support its inclusion in the scriptures, but for the purposes of our discussion, should be noted that there are some questions regarding its authenticity. The addition of and is baptized in this verse makes it difficult to hold a faith only position. Salvation is here based upon believing and being baptized. Note that repentance is not included. That does not mean it isnt essential. Rather by inference from the harmonizing of scriptures, we can assume it is required. Those supporting faith only theology would love to rewrite this verse to say, whoever believes is saved, and will be baptized, but whoever But that is not what it says. Baptism is here established as an equal requirement for salvation.

Titus 3:5
Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Though the act of baptism is not specifically addressed, the act of salvation is. It describes the process by which He saved us as through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. What is this washing of rebirth? The term rebirth reminds us of what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3. In verse 3-5, Jesus says, In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Those brethren of the faith only belief believe that Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth that occurs at the point a person believes. They believe that the born of water reference is to physical birth and the amniotic fluid that is broken when a woman goes into labor. This view divorces being born again from the water of baptism. Those who see baptism as the point at which a person is born again view Jesus as saying that being born again occurs via the water of baptism when the Spirit is given to the believer. In Titus 3:5, rebirth is connected to washing. Acts 22:16 refers to baptism as a washing, and the idea of being immersed under water for the removal of sins lends itself to the visual picture of a washing. As we have seen in Romans 6:3,4, this washing of rebirth makes a person new, and this renewal comes by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16
Acts 22:15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' 17 "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance This section of scripture gives the account of Paul the apostles conversion as he relayed it to the crowds of Jews in Jerusalem. Paul relates that he was met on the Damascus road by Jesus. He was blinded and led into Damascus, being instructed to wait. For three days, Saul was involved in prayer and repentance. And then a disciple named Ananias was sent by God to heal his blindness. Following his healing, Ananias told him in verse 16 to get up, be baptized and wash away your sins The sequence cannot be denied. Paul was the get up first. Then he was to be baptized, and the consequence would be that his sins would be washed away. The removal of sin was a consequence of baptism. If it is faith alone that saves us, then Paul had been saved on the road to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him. If that was the case, and Paul was saved, how is it that he still had the responsibility for his sins? Since it is sin which separates us from God and condemns us, it is our sin which keeps us from being saved. Only through Gods intervention can we be saved. The text is clear when it indicates that the removal or washing of Pauls sins did not happen until he had been baptized.

Final Thoughts
Baptism is not a work. It is a physical act that has significant spiritual consequences. The power of baptism begins with Jesus coming to earth and allowing himself to be sacrificed on the cross to pay the cost for our sin. Though Jesus died for all men, his grace will not save all men. The grace of God is applied only when we come into relationship with Christ and have faith that He is Gods son and that He can save us from our sins. Our faith is absolutely essential. And the expression of that faith in repentance and baptism is equally as essential. The verses above speak of various analogies regarding spiritual consequences of baptism. Spiritual circumcision; being united in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; putting on Christ; having our sins washed away; having our sins forgiven are all biblically expressed consequences of baptism. These consequences are concurrent with our salvation. To reject these consequences is to reject scripture. We are not saved solely by the act of baptism. Without the power of the resurrection of Christ, baptism is nothing. Without faith in Christ, baptism is nothing. Baptism is not the reason we are saved, it is simply the place where we are saved.