Are we saved from our sins by faith or by faith and baptism?\u00a0 Though the Bible says that baptism is a very important part of the Christian life, it is not necessary for salvation.\u00a0 The truth is that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at scriptures used for both sides.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Saved by faith<\/p>\n
Rom. 4:5, \u201cBut to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.\u201d
\nRom. 5:1, \u201cTherefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d
\nEph. 2:8-9, \u201cFor by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saved by baptism<\/p>\n
Acts 2:38, \u201cAnd Peter said to them, \u201cRepent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u201d
\nActs 22:16, \u201cAnd now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.\u201d
\n1 Pet. 3:21, \u201cAnd corresponding to that, baptism now saves you \u2013 not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience \u2013 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is much debate within Christianity as to whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation.\u00a0 I cannot here exhaustively examine this issue, but I can affirm that baptism is not necessary for salvation.\u00a0 The scriptures teach that justification is by faith (Rom. 5:1).\u00a0 It also teaches that baptism is a necessary result of becoming a disciple of Christ (Matt. 28:18-19).\u00a0 Even 1 Peter 3:21 above says that the baptism mentioned is not one dealing with water, but an appeal to God.<\/p>\n
God works covenantally. A covenant is a pact or agreement between two or more parties. The New Testament and Old Testaments are New and Old Covenants. The word \u201ctestament\u201d comes from the Latin testamentum which means covenant. So, the Bible is a covenant document. If you don\u2019t understand covenant you cannot understand, in totality, the issue of baptism because baptism is a covenant sign.\u00a0 Covenant signs do not save.\u00a0 The things they represent are what save.<\/p>\n
Regeneration occurs by faith (Rom. 5:1).\u00a0 Afterward, baptism is administered as an outward representation of an inward reality. For example, it represents the reality of the inward washing of Christ\u2019s blood upon the soul. That is why it is used in different ways. It is said to represent the death of the person (Rom. 6:3-5), the union of that person with Christ (Gal. 3:27), the cleansing of that person\u2019s sins (Acts 22:16), the identification with the one \u201cbaptized into\u201d as when the Israelites were baptized into Moses (1 Cor. 10:2), and being united in one church (1 Cor. 12:13). Also, baptism is one of the signs and seals of the Covenant of Grace that was instituted by Jesus.<\/p>\n
Baptism is not a requirement of salvation, but it is so closely tied to it that some people erringly think it is the actual thing that saves.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t.\u00a0 Faith in Christ is what saves.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Are we saved from our sins by faith or by faith and baptism?\u00a0 Though the Bible says that baptism is a very important part of the Christian life, it is not necessary for salvation.\u00a0 The truth is that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at scriptures used forContinue reading →<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22,8,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-errors","category-bible-study","category-bible-teaching","no-thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11289\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pathway2truth.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}