Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation

Objection No. 1 TRUE, But When Does Faith Save Us? Question: What Does It Mean To Respond To Christ “BY FAITH”? “In Many Places Where Baptism is Not Mentioned, The Bible Reveals That We Are Saved ‘By Faith.’” Gal. 3:26-27, “For ye are ALL the children of God BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 27 For AS MANY OF YOU as HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have PUT ON CHRIST.” Cf. Mk. 16:15-16 (Mt. 28:19-20) Cf. Gal. 5:6, “For IN JESUS CHRIST neither circumcision AVAILETH ANY THING, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.” NOTE: The Faith That Saves Is The Faith That Obeys (Lk. 6:46; Heb. 5:9)!

Cf. Gal. 5:6, “For IN JESUS CHRIST neither circumcision AVAILETH ANY THING, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.” Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 1 TRUE, But When Does Faith Save Us? Question: What Does It Mean To Respond To Christ “BY FAITH”? “In Many Places Where Baptism is Not Mentioned, The Bible Reveals That We Are Saved ‘By Faith.’” Gal. 3:26-27, “For ye are ALL the children of God BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 27 For AS MANY OF YOU as HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have PUT ON CHRIST.” Cf. Mk. 16:15-16 (Mt. 28:19-20) NOTE: The Faith That Saves Is The Faith That Obeys (Lk. 6:46; Heb. 5:9)! Jas. 2:24, “YE SEE then how that BY WORKS a man IS JUSTIFIED, and NOT BY FAITH ONLY.” Cf. vv. 17, 26 (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) I Thess. 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, WHEN YE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD WHICH YE HEARD OF US, ye received it NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, but AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which EFFECTUALLY WORKETH ALSO IN YOU THAT BELIEVE.” Cf. I Pet. 1:22-23

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 1 TRUE, But When Does Faith Save Us? Question: What Does It Mean To Respond To Christ “BY FAITH”? “In Many Places Where Baptism is Not Mentioned, The Bible Reveals That We Are Saved ‘By Faith.’” Col. 2:11-13, “IN WHOM also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.” Cf. II Cor. 5:17

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 1 TRUE, But When Does Faith Save Us? Question: What Does It Mean To Respond To Christ “BY FAITH”? “In Many Places Where Baptism is Not Mentioned, The Bible Reveals That We Are Saved ‘By Faith.’” Col. 2:11-13, “IN WHOM also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.” Cf. II Cor. 5:17 NKJV, “through FAITH in the working of God” RSV, “through FAITH in the working of God” NRSV, “through FAITH in the power of God” ASV, “through FAITH in the working of God” NASV, “through FAITH in the working of God” NIV, “through your FAITH in the power of God” WHEN We Are Baptized For The Right Reason, WHO Quickens US?

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! WHEN NAAMAN DIPPED SEVEN TIMES IN THE JORDAN, Was That “Water Healing?” II K. 5 (Cf. Rom. 15:4) Naaman Said In II K. 5:15, “Now I Know That There Is No GOD In All The Earth, But In Israel.” WHEN THE BLIND MAN WASHED IN THE POOL OF SILOAM, Was That “Water Healing?” Jn. 9 The Blind Man Recognized In Jn. 9:30, “HE (JESUS; jhb) Hath Opened Mine Eyes.”

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! How Were Eight Saved IN THE ARK From Destruction IN THE FLOOD? I Pet. 3:20-21, “…when once the longsuffering of GOD waited in the days of Noah, while THE ARK was a preparing, WHEREIN FEW, that is, EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER. 21 The like figure whereunto EVEN BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD,) BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.” Cf. Gen. 6:8, 14

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! How Were Eight Saved IN THE ARK From Destruction IN THE FLOOD? I Pet. 3:20-21, “…when once the longsuffering of GOD waited in the days of Noah, while THE ARK was a preparing, WHEREIN FEW, that is, EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER. 21 The like figure whereunto EVEN BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD,) BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.” Cf. Gen. 6:8, 14 Heb. 11:7, “BY FAITH Noah, being warned of God of things NOT SEEN as yet, MOVED WITH FEAR, prepared AN ARK to THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE; by the which he condemned the world, and became HEIR of the righteousness which is BY FAITH.” Cf. Gen. 6:8 What If Noah Did Not Move (BY FAITH) And Obey The Lord’s Command (Gen. 6:14; Cf. v. 22; 7:5)?

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! How Were The Israelites Saved From Their Enemies, The Egyptians? When GOD Saved Israel In The Red Sea (Ex. 14:16-31), Was That “Water Salvation?” The Bible Says In Ex. 14:31, “And ISRAEL SAW THAT GREAT WORK WHICH THE LORD DID UPON THE EGYPTIANS: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.”

When GOD Saved Israel In The Red Sea (Ex. 14:16-31), Was That “Water Salvation?” The Bible Says In Ex. 14:31, “And ISRAEL SAW THAT GREAT WORK WHICH THE LORD DID UPON THE EGYPTIANS: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! How Were The Israelites Saved From Their Enemies, The Egyptians? Cf. I Cor. 10:1-2, “Moreover, brethren, I WOULD NOT THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT, how that ALL OUR FATHERS WERE UNDER THE CLOUD, and ALL PASSED THROUGH THE SEA; 2 And were ALL BAPTIZED unto Moses IN THE CLOUD and IN THE SEA.” What If Israel Had Not Obeyed (BY FAITH) The Lord’s Command? Heb. 11:29, “BY FAITH THEY PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” Cf. Acts 22:16

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 2 TRUE – God Is Who Cleanses Us – But When? Question: Has GOD Ever Cleansed / Healed People IN WATER? “Water Cannot Cleanse The Soul” (I.E. “Water Salvation” Is Absurd)! How Were The Israelites Saved From Their Enemies, The Egyptians? When GOD Saved Israel In The Red Sea (Ex. 14:16-31), Was That “Water Salvation?” The Bible Says In Ex. 14:31, “And ISRAEL SAW THAT GREAT WORK WHICH THE LORD DID UPON THE EGYPTIANS: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” Eph. 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, even as CHRIST also loved the church, and GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT; 26 That HE might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE IT with THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, 27 That HE might present it to himself A GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having SPOT, or WRINKLE, or ANY SUCH THING; but that IT should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH.” Cf. Acts 19:4-5, “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that THEY should BELIEVE on HIM which should come after him, that is, on CHRIST JESUS. 5 WHEN they heard this, THEY WERE BAPTIZED in the name of the Lord JESUS.”

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 3 TRUE (I.E. He Was Not Baptized Into The Lord’s Death)! Cf. Mk. 1:4 Question: Was The Thief Saved BEFORE Or AFTER The Death, Burial And Resurrection Of Christ (Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 15:1-4)? “THE THIEF ON THE CROSS Was Saved Without Being Baptized!” Mk. 2:10-11, “But THAT YE MAY KNOW that THE SON OF MAN HATH POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed...” Cf. Rom. 10:9-10 Cf. Heb. 9:16-17, “For WHERE A TESTAMENT IS, there MUST ALSO OF NECESSITY BE THE DEATH OF THE TESTATOR. 17 For A TESTAMENT IS OF FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD: otherwise IT IS OF NO STRENGTH AT ALL WHILE THE TESTATOR LIVETH.”

TRUE (I.E. He Was Not Baptized Into The Lord’s Death)! Cf. Mk. 1:4 Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 3 Question: Was The Thief Saved BEFORE Or AFTER The Death, Burial And Resurrection Of Christ (Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 15:1-4)? “THE THIEF ON THE CROSS Was Saved Without Being Baptized!” Mk. 2:10-11, “But THAT YE MAY KNOW that THE SON OF MAN HATH POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed...” Cf. Rom. 10:9-10 Cf. Heb. 9:16-17, “For WHERE A TESTAMENT IS, there MUST ALSO OF NECESSITY BE THE DEATH OF THE TESTATOR. 17 For A TESTAMENT IS OF FORCE AFTER MEN ARE DEAD: otherwise IT IS OF NO STRENGTH AT ALL WHILE THE TESTATOR LIVETH.” If One Desires To Be Saved “LIKE” The Thief On The Cross, They Must: Repent Of Their Sins (Lk. 23:39-40), Confess Jesus As Lord (Lk. 23:42), And BE CRUCIFIED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST! Rom. 6:4-6, “Therefore we are buried with him BY BAPTISM into DEATH: that LIKE as Christ was RAISED up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so We also should walk in newness of life. 5 For IF we have been planted together in THE LIKENESS of HIS DEATH, we shall be also in THE LIKENESS of his RESURRECTION: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Cf. vv. 3, 16-18

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 4 FALSE! Question: Was Jesus’ Blood Shed “BECAUSE OF” The Remission Of Sins? “The Word ‘FOR’ In Acts 2:38 Means ‘BECAUSE OF’.” Mt. 26:28, “For this is MY BLOOD of the new testament, which IS SHED for many FOR (EIS, Gk. No. 1519) THE REMISSION OF SINS.” Acts 2:37-38, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, MEN AND BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO? 38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ FOR (EIS, Gk. No. 1519) THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Cf. “Save Yourselves” VV , 47

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 4 FALSE! Question: Was Jesus’ Blood Shed “BECAUSE OF” The Remission Of Sins? “The Word ‘FOR’ In Acts 2:38 Means ‘BECAUSE OF’.” Mt. 26:28, “For this is MY BLOOD of the new testament, which IS SHED for many FOR (EIS, Gk. No. 1519) THE REMISSION OF SINS.” Acts 2:37-38, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, MEN AND BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO? 38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ FOR (EIS, Gk. No. 1519) THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Cf. “Save Yourselves” VV , 47 The Word “FOR” (EPI, Gk. No. 1909) In Mt. 19:9 Means “BECAUSE OF,” Cf. Mt. 19:9, “…Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be FOR fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery…” Strong (p. 30), “…(BECAUSE) OF, (up-)on (behalf of)..” But The Word “FOR” (EIS, Gk. No. 1519) In Acts 2:38 Means “INTO.” Strong (p. 26), “a primary preposition; to or INTO (indicating the point reached or entered), of PLACE, TIME…” Cf. BAPTISM Is The PLACE / TIME When GOD Forgives Us!

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 5 TRUE (Eph. 2:8-10)! Question(s): Does UNMERITED Salvation Mean It Is UNCONDITIONAL? Do We Have To Believe (Jn. 8:24), Repent (Lk. 13:3), Or Confess Christ? “Salvation From Sin Is A Free ‘Gift,’ We Cannot Earn It”! Acts 2:38-39, “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. 39 For THE PROMISE is UNTO YOU, and TO YOUR CHILDREN, and TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Cf. VV , 47 What Was “THE PROMISE” (Gen. 22:18; Cf. Gal. 3:16, 26-29; Heb. 10:36)? How Do We Scripturally Get “Into Christ”? Cf. Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27; Etc.

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 6 TRUE! Question: When Are Men / Women Washed By His Blood? “We Are Washed ‘By’ The Blood of Christ, Not Water”! I Pet. 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, UNTO OBEDIENCE and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: GRACE unto you, and PEACE, be multiplied.” Cf. VV (I Jn. 1:7); Heb. 13:20-21 (Mt. 26:28) Heb. 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, and OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER.” Cf. Eph. 5:25-26

Answering Objections To The Necessity Of Water Baptism For Salvation Objection No. 6 TRUE! Question: When Are Men / Women Washed By His Blood? “We Are Washed ‘By’ The Blood of Christ, Not Water”! I Pet. 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, UNTO OBEDIENCE and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: GRACE unto you, and PEACE, be multiplied.” Cf. VV (I Jn. 1:7); Heb. 13:20-21 (Mt. 26:28) I Pet. 3:21, “The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but THE ANSWER of A GOOD CONSCIENCE toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Cf. “In Full Assurance Of Faith” (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 2:8) Heb. 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, and OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER.” Cf. Eph. 5:25-26