While there are many doctrinal issues that divide the evangelical from those who mix faith and works, one major difference is the Bible's view of baptism..
The Evangelical believes that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Human works such as baptism, good works, church membership, tithing, etc... are not necessary for salvation. While obedience to God's Law has a role to play in assurance of salvation, it has no role to play in salvation. Baptism like circumcision is a outward rite which symbolizes an inner state. While both ceremonies symbolize regeneration, they do not accomplish it.
In opposition to evangelical doctrine, Church of Christ
theology, for example, teaches "baptismal regeneration" (as do other non-Christian groups). It is claimed that water baptism
by immersion of adults only unto remission of sins does not merely symbolize
regeneration but it actually accomplishes it. Faith is not enough. Obedience
to God's Law must also take place or salvation is not possible. Unless
you are baptized in the exact way they dictate (immersion, adults only),
for the exact purpose they have in mind (unto remission of sins), and by
the right person (a Church of Christ preacher) not only is your baptism invalid
but you are not yet saved no matter how sincerely you believe in Jesus
Christ as your Savior! To add baptism to faith is nothing more than adding
works to grace which is impossible according to Rom. 11:6. The attempt
to evade this by claiming that baptism is part of faith is not linguistically
or grammatically possible. If obedience to God's commands such as baptism
is what "faith" is, then why stop with baptism? What about all the other
commands of God such as "love your wife?" A works-salvation can never say
when enough works have been done!
The Reasons Why Baptism Is Not Essential For Salvation
1. If the Church of Christ doctrine is true, then its founders were not saved men! Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Walter
Scott and Barton Stone were never baptized "unto the remission of sins."
While they repudiated their infant baptism where they were baptized by
the Baptists, they never repudiated their Baptist baptism and rebaptized
according to Church of Christ baptism.
2. Jesus never baptized anyone. If baptism is
essential for salvation, then Jesus never saved anyone.
3. Paul did not view baptism as part of the Gospel
(I Cor. 1:14-17).
4. John's baptism did not save anyone even though
it was "unto remission of sins" (Mk. 1:4 cf. Acts 19:1-5).
5. Since there is only one God, there is only
one way of salvation (Rom 3:28-30). This means that whatever is necessary
for salvation today was also necessary during O.T. times.
6. The Gospel of justification by faith alone
apart from obedience to God's commands is taught in both O.T. and the N.T.
(Rom 1:1-2).
| Abraham : before the Law (Rom. 4:1-5)
David : after the Law (Rom. 4:6-8) Habakkuk: in the Prophets (Rom. 1:17) |
7. Baptism is the N.T. parallel of circumcision just as the Lord's Supper is the parallel of the Passover (Col. 2:11-12). Since circumcision was not essential for salvation, then neither is baptism.
8. Abraham was saved BEFORE he was circumcised
in order to emphasize that salvation was by faith alone apart from obedience
to God's commands and that the Gentiles would be saved by faith alone apart
from obedience to any command such as baptism (Rom. 4:9-11, 16, 23-5:2).
9. Cornelius was saved and baptized by the Holy
Spirit before he was baptized (Acts 10:44-48). This passage clearly refutes
baptismal regeneration.
10. Baptismal regeneration:
| a.) makes salvation depend on the availability
of water
b.) makes salvation depend on the availability of a Church of Christ preacher c.) confuses the symbol with the reality d.) makes faith and obedience and the same thing e.) is based on a superstitious and magical view of baptism. |
11. The thief on the cross was saved without baptism.
The Church of Christ argument that he was saved under the O.T. way of salvation
is not possible seeing that Christ had already died on the cross and finished
the atonement before the thief died. The thief belongs on the N.T. side
of the cross and not on the O.T. side.
12. Church of Christ leaders claim that the word "unto" in
Acts 2:38 (eis in the Greek) always means "in order to obtain" and is always
"forward looking." In this way they make remission of sins follow the act
of baptism in a cause and effect relationship. Baptism causes forgiveness
of sins. The problem with this idea is that Greek scholars do not see this
as the meaning of "eis." Liddell and Scott, Thayer, A.T. Robertson, Dana
and Manty, Vine, etc... state that "eis" is often used in the sense of
"in reference to something already previously existing or accomplished."
In this sense, baptism is done AFTER and BECAUSE of remission of sins.
Once our sins are forgiven, then you should be baptized. That the Greek
scholars are correct is seen from the way "eis" is used in the N.T.:
| a. Matt. 3:11 "baptism unto (eis) repentance."
You get baptized because you have repented. You do not get baptized so
you can obtain repentance. The order is, "repent and be baptized."
b. Matt 12:41: "they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonah" Obviously, the preaching came first and then the people repented in response to that preaching. c. Matt. 28:19: "Baptizing them in (eis) the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Ghost" The Triune God exists before one is baptized. d. Mk. 1:9: "baptized of John in (eis) Jordon." Jesus did not come into possession of the Jordon River as He was baptized. The Jordon existed long before baptism was invented. e. I Cor. 10:2: "baptized unto (eis) Moses." Moses existed before the "baptism" in the Red Sea. The people were not "baptized" in order to obtain Moses. Their "baptism" was in response to his leadership. |
Conclusion
As long as the Church of Christ leaders (and Mormons, for example) teach that baptism
is essential for salvation, they will be viewed as a cult by evangelical
Christians. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from
obedience to any of God's commands. Works are the evidence of salvation
instead of the basis of it.
[This
article is taken from the late Robert Morey's writings. He was the founder of the ministry
Faith Defenders.]
