Baptism: Justified Text: Rom. 6:3-5, 17-18 Scripture Reading: I Pet By Nathan L Morrison All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated For further study or if questions, Call: 907-252-3708, or Visit: www.frr-churchofchrist-ak.org Some points from an article by Larry Hafley

Intro Baptism in the N.T. was immediate following belief (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:17), repentance of sins (Acts 2:38), and confession of faith (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10) All are necessary in order for one to be saved (One of those alone will not do it!) When the question arose as to what one could do to be saved, baptism was commanded! Mk. 16:16: Jesus said it was essential to salvation: Belief AND baptism! Baptism: Justified

Intro Baptism is not a “work,” but an act of obedient faith (commanded to have sins washed away in Christ’s blood – Rev. 1:5; Acts 22:16) like: The bronze serpent on the pole – people had to look at it! The Jordan River – Naaman had to dip in it 7 times! The Pool of Siloam – The man born blind had to wash in it! Baptism: Justified

Intro Some people question the role of baptism in being justified before God and don’t understand that baptism is the commanded mode to be washed in the blood of Christ “Are we forgiven and saved by the blood of Jesus, or is it the physical act of baptism that does it?” Water baptism is the act of obedient faith that justifies one before God! Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? The Romans… “Justified…by His grace” (Rom. 3:24) “Justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1) “Justified by His (Christ’s – 5:8) blood” (Rom. 5:9) “Are we forgiven and saved by the blood of Jesus, or is it the mental act of faith that does it?” No! One is justified and saved by faith when he obeys the Savior (Heb. 5:8, 9) Js. 2:17, 23-24: “Abraham believed God…” His belief caused obedience! We are saved by the blood of Christ when we obey the will and word of Christ (Mk. 16:16; Rom. 6:3-6, 17, 18) and thus, are believers in God! Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? Romans 6 settles this issue…The Romans were: “Justified…by His grace” (Rom. 3:24) “Justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1) “Justified by His blood” (Rom. 5:8-9) “When? When are we justified by grace, by faith and by the blood of Christ?” 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, so 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, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Rom. 6:17-18 17. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? Romans 6:3-5, 17-18 To those who were “baptized into Jesus Christ” and were “baptized into his death,” could it be said that they were not “justified by grace”? No! (Rom. 3:29; 5:2: God’s grace is for Jews and Gentiles!) 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, so 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, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Rom. 6:17-18 17. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? Romans 6:3-5, 17-18 To those who were “baptized into Christ,” could it be said that they were not “justified by faith”? No! (Rom. 5:1-2: By faith we obey Christ!) 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, so 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, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Rom. 6:17-18 17. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? Romans 6:3-5, 17-18 To those who were “baptized into Jesus Christ” and were “baptized into his death,” could it be said they were not “justified by His blood”? No! (Rom. 5:9) His blood washes away sin--Rev. 1:5; Acts 22:16: Baptism 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, so 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, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Rom. 6:17-18 17. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? Romans 6:3-5, 17-18 When did those saved go from being “the slaves of sin” to “Being made free from sin”? It was a “doctrine which (they had) “learned” and which they had “obeyed” (Rom. 6:17; 16:17) 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, so 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, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Rom. 6:17-18 17. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18. and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? The Ephesians… Redeemed through “the blood of Christ” (Eph. 1:7) Saved “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:5, 8) Were the Ephesians saved “by grace through faith” or by the “blood of Christ?” The Ephesians were saved by the blood of Christ, “by grace through faith,” when they were “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5) “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38) Baptism “in the name of the Lord” is immersion in water (Acts 10:47- 48: “commanded”). Baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” is “for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7). Baptism: Justified

Saved By Grace, or Faith, or by the Blood of Christ? The Ephesians… Having been “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,” had received the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; 19:5) & were saved (Mk. 16:16). Were sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). Baptism commanded by the word of God! Eph. 5:26 26. so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, Acts 19:5 (Ephesus – 19:1) 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Obedience to the gospel in baptism justifies us by grace, by faith, and by the blood of Christ! Baptism: Justified

Is Salvation Conditional or Unconditional? Is Salvation By The Blood of Christ Unconditional? Consider: Jesus shed his blood and tasted death “for every man” (Heb. 2:9; Lk. 2:10; Jn. 6:51; Col. 1:21, 22; I Tim. 2:6). “Is everyone who ever lived redeemed and saved from sins?” They were not saved because redemption, salvation from sin, is conditional One must “obey the gospel,” one must obey the truth, before his soul can be purified (I Pet. 1:18-19, 22; 3:21; Rom. 1:5; 6:3, 4, 17, 18; 10:9-17; Heb. 5:9; II Thess. 1:8; Mt. 7:21; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). Salvation is conditional! (Mk. 16:15, 16; Mt. 26:28; Acts 2:38) Baptism: Justified

Is Salvation Conditional or Unconditional? Is Salvation By The Grace of God Unconditional? Consider: All are saved by grace– “by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:5; Titus 2:11) “Are all men saved automatically and unconditionally by the grace of God? (I Cor. 6:9-10) Absolutely not! (Jn. 8:24; Acts 10:34, 35; II Thess. 1:7-8; Heb. 5:9; 11:6; I Jn. 2:29; 5:10-12) Paul preached “the gospel of the grace of God” to the Ephesians (Acts 20:24). Were the Ephesians saved unconditionally; that is, without faith and obedience? Certainly not (Eph. 1:13; 2:8-9)! Baptism: Justified

Is Salvation Conditional or Unconditional? The Ephesians… Heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation (Eph. 1:13) Believed in the Lord (Eph. 1:13; 2:8) Repented of their sins (Acts 19:17-20) Confessed (Acts 19:17-20; cf. Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10) Were baptized in water, “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5) “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38; 19:5; Eph. 1:7) After (not before) the Ephesians had heard, believed, repented, confessed and been baptized, they were told they had “redemption” through (Christ’s) blood, (and) “the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7; cf. Col. 1:14) After (not before) the Ephesians had heard, believed, repented, confessed and been baptized, they were told they were “saved” “by grace...through faith” (Eph. 2:5, 8-9) Baptism: Justified

Is Salvation Conditional or Unconditional? Salvation by grace is conditional! I Cor. 6:9-11: People who practiced things that would cost them Heaven changed and were “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 1:7; Acts 2:38; Rev. 1:5; Acts 22:16) There are things that one “must do,” in order to be saved by grace (Acts 2:37-38; 16:30, 31-34). The Ephesians acted in obedient faith just like the examples of the snake bitten Israelites, Naaman, and the blind man we looked at previously! Baptism is the act of obedient faith that accepts God’s grace and by which we have forgiveness of our sins in Christ’s blood! Baptism: Justified

Conclusion I Peter 1:18-19, 22: Not redeemed by perishable things like silver or gold What redeemed man from sin? When did that redemption occur? “The precious blood of Christ”! It happened when they purified (their) souls in obeying the truth (Rom. 6:3-4, 17-18) Jesus Himself said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16) Baptism: Justified

Conclusion Over and over it is taught that the grace of God is conditional! Like those Israelites bitten by snakes, like Naaman, and like the man born blind, to receive the grace of God they had to obey His instructions We are saved, justified by grace, by faith, and by the blood of Christ when we obey the word of Christ and are baptized in His name in obedient faith! (Mk. 16:16; Heb. 5:9) Baptism: Justified

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)