Recently, an issue came up where someone was being persuaded by some folks that teach salvation comes through Jesus + baptism. I was asked where I would go in this interchange.
How might you respond to someone who says you need to be baptized to be saved?
Here is where I would go.
First, here are the two theological issues. 1) Are we saved by baptism? 2) Can someone move in and out our saving relationship with God? I will take the first one in this post and take the second one on in the next.
Re: 1) No, we are not saved by baptism for baptism would be a work. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. I would start here with the true gospel and justification by faith and not works. So, I would go to Ephesians 2, Romans 3-5, Romans 10:9-13. After affirming the gospel of grace, I would only then proceed to address texts that are wrongly used by some to teach salvation through baptism.
[BTW: What does everyone have against 'proof-texting' anyway? Maybe I do not know what this means, but if I prove my doctrine from a single verse, I think that is fair. Now taking texts out of context, I have a big problem with.]
I can think of two verses that are used to, though wrongly, advocate salvation through baptism: Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:20-21.
First, let's address 1 Peter 3:20-21. Verse 21 begins, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." Though this apparently states salvation by baptism, this is obviously not what Peter meant. To even clarify this misunderstanding, Peter continues, “not as the removal from dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Peter expressly states that the water itself is not doing anything. The water is simply a symbol, particularly of our death with Christ (cf. Romans 6). Hence, Peter continues to speak of our salvation through Jesus’ resurrection.
Furthermore, as stated in verse 21, Peter says baptism is like or an “appeal to God for a good conscience.” The word “appeal” (as translated in the ESV) only occurs here in the NT and is debated to its exact meaning (see Schreiner’s commentary). In short, it is something of a profession or confession of faith in and commitment to Christ. I would argue this is what true faith is anyway (cf. James 2). The significance of baptism is not the physical act of water, but the heart action, desire, and change that has already taken place.
In tandem with the issue of heart change, it is important to note that in the early apostolic church new believers were apparently immediately baptized (cf. Acts 8:36, 38). So, one could speak of baptism and conversion in almost synonymous terms. Paul basically does this in Romans 6. Hence, Peter in Acts even relates baptism to conversion (“repentance”) and forgiveness. This leads to the next text.
Second, Acts 2:38 is used in attempt to support salvation through baptism. This verse reads, “Repent and be baptized everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins…” Again, this verse could be taken simply as “be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.” That phrase then can be, even more simply, taken, to mean that dipping in water gives people forgiveness with God.
Now, this verse should not be taken this way because of the testimony of Scripture concerning salvation by grace through faith (see above) and even the way the gospel is preached throughout Acts. First, the next time Peter calls the crowds to respond he says nothing about baptism: “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Second, if baptism, as simply the dipping in water, was so central to forgiveness with God, one would expect it to be fundamental to the call to respond to Christ in the gospel. The imperative form for “to baptize” is used only one other time in Bible. In Acts 22:16, Paul recounts his conversion to the Jewish council and retells Ananias’ final charge to convert Paul, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sin, calling on his name.” Note two things. 1) Baptize is separated from cleansing from sin, in some sense. 2) The participle “calling” likely means and so describes the very way one is cleansed. Hence, the CHSB translates the verse this way (emphasis added): “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins
by calling on His name.” The way you are cleansed is specifically by calling on Jesus, not by being dipped in water.
Here is one last point about Peter’s call in Acts 2:38: “Repent and each of you be baptized…” Peter begins with a second person plural imperative (“repent”) to then switch to a third person singular imperative with the verb baptize. Perhaps, Peter is setting up the follow up and consequence to repentance. Peter’s thought appears to run like this: “Repent. And each one of you who repent, be baptized. You will receive forgiveness of sins [which is tied to true repentance which would most easily and immediately manifest itself in baptism] and the Holy Spirit.” Those who repent are baptized. Those who truly repent would reap the fruits of repentance, like forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. At the same time, those who truly repent would demonstrate their repentance in baptism. Baptism is not the cause or mode (see above) for forgiveness. Faith is. But, true faith will manifest itself in obedience, like baptism (cf. Matthew 28:19).
