Please read Part 1 before reading this part; it will make more sense.
Part 2 of 5
In every New Testament example, the moment of salvation came after baptism. Of course, there is no salvation-earning power in baptism, only salvation-accepting power. IN the Bible, when believers decided to repent and give their lives to Jesus, the point at which they were saved was always at baptism.
When Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:38), he didn't say, "Repent sothat your sins may be forgiven and be baptized to show that you've been saved."
(38) And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gisft of the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, every time that baptism and salvation are mentioned together, baptism always comes before salvation.
"But John 3:16 says that whoever believes has eternal life. It doesn't say a thing about baptism."
(16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
And it also says nothing about repentance. Consider the person who says, "Jesus, I accept you now as my personal Savior, but I'll continue to be my personal lord. I like to do things my way." We need to consider all of Jesus' words and not just a single verse.
For example, Acts 3:19 says to repent so that your sins can be wiped away. It doesn't mention baptism.
(19) "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..."
But it also doesn't mention believing or confessing. Does this verse mean we don't have to believe? Does it mean it's okay to deny Jesus? (Mt. 10:32-33)
(32) "Every one therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. (33) But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
We need to consider all of Jesus' words and not just a single verse.
Rom. 10:9-10 says it's with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
(9)...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; (10) for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
It doesn't say anything about baptism. But it also says nothing about repentance. Once again, we need to consider all of the Scripture and not just a single verse.
Does the Bible teach that some repented and had their sins forvien and then later believed, confessed, and were baptized? Or did some confess and get saved, and later on believe, repent, and be baptized? did some believe, have their sins forgiven, and just not get around to repenting, confessing, or being baptized?
The notes on Rom. 6:3-4 in the NIV Study Bible state that in New Testament times, "baptism so closely followed conversion that the two were considered part of one event." In other words, the Apostles and the New Testament writers considered baptism to be the point at which one was saved.
(3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Today, since we're more enlightened that the inspired writers of the New Testament, we teach that "Baptism is an outward sign of what has already taken place on the inside." BUt isn't it possible that baptism is an outward sign of what is taking place inside at the time of the baptism? This is exactly what the NIV study notes say that the 1st Century Christians and inspired men of God believed and taught.
For example, Peter preached that we should repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38) This inspired Apostle considered forgiveness of sins and baptism to be part of one event . The notes in the NIV Study Bible state here that when Peter said "...for the forgiveness of sins," it's "not that baptism effects forgiveness. Rather, forgiveness come through that which is symbolized by baptism."
Baptism does indeed symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And Paul says if we've become united with Jesus in this symbol (the likeness of his death, burial, and resurrection) then we will certainly also beunited with him in his resurrection. (Rom. 6:3-5)
(3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (4) Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, cerainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...
The obvious question is, what if we haven't become united wit him in the likeness of his death? Will we certainly also be united with him in his resurrection anyway? If we're going to be united with him in his resurrection anyway, then Paul's words here are totally meaningless. But if the power of that which is symbolized by baptism is applied to our lives at baptism, then Paul's words here, as well as numerous other Scriptures, no longer need to be explained away. Obviously, the Apsotle Paul considered baptism and salvation to be part of one event.
When Philip the evangelist preached the good news about Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, we know Phili began with Isaiah 53, but we don't know exactly what he said from there.
(7) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So he did not open His mouth. (8) By oppression and judgement He was taken away; And as for His generaltion, who considered That he was cut off out of the land of the living, For the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.
But we do know what the eunuch's response was. He said, "Here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" (Acts 8:26-39)
(36) And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (37) And Philip said, "If you believe with all your hear, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (38) And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as wel as the eunuch; and he baptized him. (39) And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
Philip didn't say, "Oh no, you misundertand. When Paul spoke of baptism in Rom. 6 he wasn't speaking of water baptism.
(4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
"Everybody knows we're not to be born of water and the Spirit. (Jn. 3:5)
(5) Jesus answered, "Truly, truly I say to you, unlesso ne is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
"We're only to be born of the Spirit." New Testament Christians undersood that the Holy Spirit was involved in water pabtism. Baptism simply means immersion. Anyone who dieves into a swimming pool has been immersed (or baptized). Without the Spirit's involvement, baptism is meaningless and Jesus would have never commanded his followers to do it. (Mt. 28:19)
(19) "Go therefore and make deciples of all the nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..."
So Philip and the sunuch both went into the water and Phlip baptized him. We know the eunuch wasn't baptized to show he had been saved becasue he and Philip were the only ones there. If baptism is for howing that a person hed been saved, the eunuch would have waited until he got home. Obviously, Philip and the eunuch considered baptism and salvation to be part of one event.
When the Apostle Peter got in trouble for fellowshipping with Gentiles, (Acts 10)
(27) And as he talked with him, he entered, and found many people assembled. (28) And he said to them, "You yourselves know hos unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him, and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean."
He explained everything to the Jewish Christians "precisely as it had happened." (Acts 11:1-18)
(3....saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." ....(9) "But a voice from heaven answered a second time, 'What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.' ...(12) And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. ... (17) If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
As Peter "began to speak" to the Gentiles, (Acts 11:15) even before the message had been heard, The Holy Spirit came on them just as he had come on the Apostles on Pentecost.
(15) "And as I becan to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning."
After the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, about 3,000 Jewish people were baptized for forgiveness of sins and added to the church. (Acts 2:41, 47)
(41) So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ... (47) ...praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Then, when the Holy Spirit was agains poured out on Cornelius' group - who were Gentiles - Peter realized God was showing that Gentiles could be saved, too. So peter ordered that they also be baptized for forgiveness of sins. (Acts 10:47- 48)
(47) "Surely no one can refuse the water for shese to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" (48) And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
When Paul and Silas were singing and praying in prison about midnight, the jailer took them to his home and asked them what to do to be saved. THey said believe in the Lord Jesus. Of couse, you can't believe in whom you have not heard, so Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and his family. We dont' know exactly what was said but speaking the word of the Lord resulted in the jailer and his family being baptized some time between midnight and daybreak. (Acts 16: 25 - 35)
(30) ...and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (31) And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." (32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. (33) And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
Obviously, when the Apostles were leading the church, baptism and salvation were considered to be part of one event.
When Paul was telling about his conversion to Christianity, he said that Ananias told him to be baptized and wash his sins away. (Acts 22:16)
(16) 'And now why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, caling on His name.'
Ananias taught that baptism was for the forgiveness of sins and Paul believed him. The notes in the NIV Sudy Bible state here that "baptism is the outward sign of an inward work or grace." This is true. But it goes on to day, "The outward rite, however, does not produce the inward grace." The inspired writers knew baptism didn't earn anything but they certainly believed the inward grace occurred during baptism.
For example, Paul said that we are all sons of God through faith, because all of us who were baptized have clothed ourselves with Christ. (Gal. 3:26 - 27)
(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Does it make any sense for Paul to say this if we can be sons of God through faith and clothed with Christ without baptism?
Pual said that we were spirituall circumcised (our sins were removed), having been buried with Jesus in baptism and raised with him by faith in God. (Col. 2:11 - 13)
(11) ...and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; (12) have been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (13) And when you were dead in your trasgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions...
Why would Paul say this if we can have our sins removed without being buried with him? When we deny that baptism washes away sins and claim we can become sons of God through faith without obeying God in baptism, we render Paul's words meaningless.
What did Peter mean when he spoke of the baptism that now saves us? (I Peter 3:21)
(21) And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - though the resurrection of Jesus Christ ....
Some believe that when Peter said, "not the removal of dirt from the body," he meant "not the removal of sin from the body." But even if that tortured explanation is true, Peter still said that baptism saves us. I wonder what it saves us from if not from sin?
It was hundreds of years after the Apostles had died before men decidded that forgiveness of sins occurred before baptism. But doesn't it seem wiser to teach people to become Christians the same way that Paul, Philip, Peter, Ananias, and other New Testament Christians taught people to become Chrstians? The way being taught today is different than the way described in the New Testament. Jesus purchased our salvation with his blood that was hsed for the forgiveness of sins. (Mt. 26:28)
(28) "...for this is My blood of the covenant, which is to be shed on behalf of many for forgiveness of sins."
All we need to do is be cleansed with his blood. How did God choose for us to come in contact with Christ's blood? In Heb. 9:14 we learn that Jesus' blood cleanses our conscience from dead works so that we can serve the living God.
(14) ...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish ot God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
I Peter 3:21 says that baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience. Other Bible versions say baptism is an answer or a pledge for a good conscience.
(21b)...but an appeal to god for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ....
Why should we consider it odd that we would come into contact with Jesus' blood when we are crucified with Christ and buried with him in baptism? (Rm. 6:3-5)
(3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (4) Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of his deat, cerainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection...
Why should we consider it odd that we're born again of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:3-8) at the time we're raised with Christ through baptism to walk in newness of life? (Rom. 6:5 - 11) It would be odd if it weren't so.
(Jn. 3:5) "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
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Thank you for swimming through yet another long section of this study. I hope that it has benifitted you. I'll get part 3 up as soon as I can.