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Answer to: Acts 2:38. Does Baptism Save?
Below is a comment left on my website and my detailed answer below.
Comments:
Wow...I guess without using the whole bible, you would have a argument...But, thank God for verses like Acts 2:38 and others that show a true view and not a opinon...The Church of Christ uses only the Bible and while we are saved by Grace only, you HAVE to be baptized for the remission of your sins. Have a great day...
I hope that he meant the Have a great day part, but somehow I doubt it. Anyway here is my a detailed answer from the Word of God.
First lets look at the contradictory statement about Grace.
He writes, “we are saved by Grace only”. Unfortunately he does not stop there. He adds, “you HAVE to be baptized for the remission of your sins”. Grace means unmerited favor. As soon as you try to add anything to Grace it is no more Grace because you have added merit. You cannot add works to Grace and still have Grace. Paul wrote about this very thing.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
The Bible says if it be of works, then is it no more Grace. That is pretty clear. If you add works, then it is no more Grace. Eph. 2:8-9 are also good verses on this. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. They are like oil and water. They cannot be mixed. You cannot be saved by Grace and also have to do anything else. There is and cannot be any But or And added to Grace. Salvation is by Grace and Grace alone.
Second lets look at his statement, “you HAVE to be baptized for the remission of your sins.”
If that statement is true, then Jesus lied. Jesus was hung between two thieves, both of which were railing on Him. After observing Jesus for a while one of the thieves has a change of heart. With a repentant heart he calls upon Jesus for mercy. And Jesus answers him.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
A few minutes before this the thief was hurling verbal abuse on the Lord. He has a repentant heart and calls out to Jesus. And Jesus promises that he will be with Him in paradise that very day. The thief got saved but he was never baptized. The thief was nailed to the cross. Jesus did not say sorry you have to be baptized for your sins to be taken care of. No! Instead Jesus immediately promised him paradise with Him. The thief got saved and received eternal life with Jesus without Baptism. The thief is not the only one that got saved in the Bible without getting baptized.
If baptism was required for salvation, then Jesus would have said so. But He did not. Never. Lets look at what Jesus taught on how to get saved.
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Jesus clearly taught that salvation is by Grace thru faith.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The verse before this they asked Peter what they should do. He tells them that they should repent. This is salvation. You need to change your mind about your sin and who Jesus is and what He did for you on the cross. He also tells them that they should be baptized. Notice the comma after Repent. This separates Repent and baptism as two different things. A person should do both. You should get saved and after you are saved you should follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. You should not be ashamed to publicly identify with the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ.
The part of the verse that this man is claiming as proof that baptism saves is the little word for. The verse says, “for the remission of sins”. In the English language the word for is used for many different reasons. In Webster’s 1828 dictionary there are listed 31 distinct meanings of the word for. This man is assuming that the word for in verse 38 means to get. But that is not a valid assumption.
The word for can mean because of. For example, “He cried out for anguish.” He cried out because of anguish. He did not anguish to get cried out. You see how silly it is to make for mean to get in every situation.
I can say, “I went to town for my wife.” Now what did I mean? I could mean I went to town to get my wife. That is if I had to pick her up from the airport. Or I could mean I went to town because of my wife. That is if she made me go for her because she could not go. Same exact words but 2 completely different meanings for the little word for. How do you tell which one it is? The answer is simple. Context. You need to know if I went to get my wife or if I went because of my wife. You need more information to know what I meant from my statement, “I went to town for my wife.” You need to know the context.
Now with the Bible you have to take any verse in the context of the rest of the Bible. You cannot take one verse out by itself and ignore things like the thief getting saved without baptism, and Jesus teaching salvation without baptism, and Jesus not baptizing anyone. After all Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. If baptism saved, then Jesus would have been baptizing people. You also have to ignore a long list of verses that teach salvation by faith alone.
If the word for in verse 38 means to get, then it conflicts with volumes of scripture. However, the word for in verse 38 means because of and it is in harmony with the rest of the Bible. Peter was telling them that they should be baptized because of repentance. There were first to get saved, and then after that. Because of their salvation they should be baptized.
Forth here is a detailed list of how to be saved. Notice baptism is not in any of them. This is by NO means an exhaustive list. Just a sampling of verses.
God The Son Died And Shed His Blood So That Men Could Be Saved. It is the shed blood that justifies. Not Baptism
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Our cleansing from sin comes from His shed blood and not from water in a tank.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Jesus Did NOT Die For A Few Select People. He died for everyone. And anyone is saved if they will believe.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Salvation Is Not Of Works. Salvation Is A Free Gift. Works is anything that you do for salvation (Baptism, Church membership, good works, confirmation, ect...)
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It Is Belief That Gives Eternal Life. Justification is free. If you had to do anything for it, then it is no longer free.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
A Head Knowledge Type Of Belief Does Not Save. It is not enough to believe in your head that Jesus lived and died. The devils also believe this and they will be thrown in hell. It is not even enough to call upon the Lord with vain words with only a head knowledge. We are justified by faith, not baptism.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You Must Have A Repentant Faith To Be Saved. Repentance is not works. Repentance is a real change of mind about your sin that will result in a changed life.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The command for conversion is to repent. That is a heart matter and not a baptism matter.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Notice the command is to repent and not to be baptized.
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
How To Get Saved. Put all the above together. Believe in the sinless Jesus who is God the Son with a heart belief with repentance and then call upon Him to save you. No works involved!
Rom 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.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you have never prayed and asked God to save you, will you not do it now?
I put such a long section on the aspects of salvation because many people have salvation wrong today. Many people believe in the wrong Jesus. They believe in a Jesus who was not God manifested in the flesh. Or they believe in a Jesus who was not born of a virgin. Such a Jesus could not pay for your sin because he would be a sinner himself and would need someone to pay for His sin. Many people believe in a different Jesus who did not have to shed His blood. They deny the blood atonement of Jesus. Many people believe in a different Jesus who needs your help by doing works to save you (like baptism). Many people believe in a different Jesus who did not exist before Mary and not the eternal Jesus who was in the beginning with God and was God. Many people believe in Jesus with only a head knowledge that will not save. They believe in a different Jesus who does not require a repentant heart. God can save the ungodly but He cannot save the unrepentant heart. We are saved by Grace, and God gives Grace to the humble. Many people today believe in the different Jesus of the Health and Wealth gospel. They only come to their Jesus so they can get blessings. They do not come to Jesus because they are sinners on their way to hell. I ask you to spend some time considering which Jesus that you believe in. And if it is not the Jesus as outlined above I beg you to believe in the true Jesus, the only Jesus that can save your soul. Trust in Him and Him alone to save you.
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