In this article, Pastor Kim will show you three cases to disprove water baptism for salvation.
There are people who insist that water baptism is not a good work of salvation, but a necessary aspect of salvation. Church of Christ members and other cults and religions will claim that salvation is by grace and faith alone, and not by works. For example, church membership, living a good life and cleaning up all your sins.
One might assume that they are saved like we are. However, when water baptism is included in the list of good works, one would be able to catch them saying that baptism is required for salvation.
Water baptism does not save us
We are going to look at clear cut verses where water baptism cannot save a soul.
1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
The “like figure” is assumed by them, that it “save(s) us”. But the parenthesis actually explains further, it explains that baptism does not save one from the filthy sins of one’s flesh, it saves one from having a good conscience toward God. That’s why we get baptised, we want to have a good conscience toward God, not to wash away one’s sins.
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
The verse tells us here to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit”. It is to perfect holiness. Cleansing one from the filthiness of the flesh does not mean getting a bath. It has nothing to do with hygiene, but to do with sins in perfecting holiness.
Hence, 1 Peter 3:21 does not confirm water baptism for salvation, it actually disproves it. It is simply a good work of salvation.
Verses that prove water baptism are good works
Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
This verse proves that good works of righteousness (like water baptism) cannot save.
Matthew 3:14-15 “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
Notice here that John the Baptist does not want to water baptise Jesus, but Jesus insisted on doing the water baptism. This was because Jesus saw water baptism as a work of righteousness. Hence, water baptism is a definitely a work of righteousness as we can see from these two verses.
Water baptism is not the salvation gospel
1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
This verse tells us that water baptism cannot be the gospel. Have you ever heard people saying that Acts 2:38 about “getting baptised” as being the gospel? Or to “repent, believe, confess, and get baptised” as the gospel? These are not the gospel.
In this verse here, Paul distinguishes the gospel of Jesus Christ from water baptism. Hence, water baptism cannot be part of the gospel.
Why would Paul say that Christ did not send him to baptise people, if his mission was to make sure that souls got saved? That would mean that Paul would be responsible for damning many souls to hell, by not baptising them. But Paul’s goal was to make sure souls got saved and saved by the gospel, not by water baptism.
1 Corinthians 1:14 “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;”
Paul was grateful that he did not baptise many, but these two names here! There is no way that water baptism is included in the salvation gospel in Paul’s mind. These illustrate the point clearly.
What is our salvation?
In the book of Luke, all the thief on the cross did, was realise that he was a repentant sinner, that he confessed to Jesus Christ as His Savior. Did Jesus ask the thief to get down from the cross to get baptised? No! He said that “today thou shalt be with me in paradise”! This matches with Romans 10:9.
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
One is sealed and saved by confessing with one’s mouth and believing in one’s heart!