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Baptism and Salvation – 2

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: 1 Peter 3:20-21

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What God Has Joined Together (5)

Baptism and Salvation (2)

We are continuing our 2026 theme.  Last week we began a discussion of how God has joined together baptism and salvation.   We noted a number of scriptures that teach the importance and purpose of baptism.  We also looked through several examples in the book of Acts and noted how many of them include baptism as a response to teaching.  Today, I want to address some questions related to this subject.

1. What about examples that do not mention baptism?
   1. Some will appeal to passages, especially in Acts that only mention belief or faith. They might quote:
      1. Acts 4:4 – many who heard the word believed – about 5000. Also 5:14 – believers were increasingly added to the Lord.
      2. Acts 6:7 – meany of the priests were obedient to the faith.
      3. Acts 9:42-43 – Peter in Joppa – many believed on the Lord.
      4. Acts 11:21-22 in Antioch, a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
      5. Acts 13:12 – the proconsul on Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, believed when he was the works Paul did and being astonished at his teachings of the Lord.
      6. Acts 13:48 – as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Paul in Antioch).
      7. Acts 14:1 – in a synagogue in Iconium, both Jews and Greek believed.
      8. Acts 16:1, in Derbe, the mother of Timothy (Eunice – 2 Tim. 1:5) is described as a certain Jewish woman who believed.
      9. Acts 17:12 – Paul in Berea, “Many of them believed, including Greeks, prominent women and men.
      10. Acts 17:34 – Paul in Athens after preaching some men joined him and believed, by name Dionysius the Areopagite, Demaris and others.
      11. Because these do not mention baptism, and they “believed” is emphasized without mentioning baptism so often in the New Testament, then it is not necessary.
   2. Answer: The point with the word “believe” or “faith” is that be an inclusive term. And it is the MOST LIKELY inclusive term, because it is the foundation of man’s part.  Without belief, confession, prayer, repentance or baptism is meaningless.
      1. Consider Corinth as an example – Acts 18:8, esp. Crispus.
         1. Notice how Acts 18 only mentions of Crispus that he believed on the Lord with all his household.
         2. We THEN read of many in Corinth hearing, believed and were baptized.
         3. WAS Crispus baptized? Notice 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 – Paul specifically mentions that he only (himself) baptized Crispus and Gaius and the household of Stephanas. This is a clear example that “believe” (or “faith”) can be an inclusive term.
         4. What about 1 Corinthians 1:14, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except…” Also in vs. 17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”?
            1. Put it in context! Paul’s whole point is to address the division based upon whom taught (and likely baptized) whom (see vs. 12).
            2. Note that in vs. 13 he mentions that you were not baptized in Paul’s name, nor was he crucified for us. He is emphasizing Christ in our salvation – He is the one who was crucified for our salvation.  It is into Him that we are baptized.
            3. 15, he was thankful that he was not the one administering the act of baptism to most “lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.”
            4. 17, his point – he came to preach the gospel, not just to immerse people. Here he declaring the importance is not in the act of baptism but the belief that leads to it.  Clearly Paul taught baptism (e.g. the jailer, Lydia, the Corinthians, etc.  Paul’s letters emphasize the purpose of baptism – Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:27-28, Colossians 2:11-13, etc.
            5. Paul is not negating the importance of baptism. He is deemphasizing the one who administers it.
            6. As to his purpose – it falls in line with the work of an apostle – to open the gospel to the world.
      2. We have noted Acts 16:30-31ff where Paul told the jailer, “Believe on the Lord and you will be saved, you and your household.” This is followed up by teaching what that included and NECESSARILY IMPLIED, Paul taught baptism as part of that belief.
      3. The truth is every example does not have to specify every thing one did. You KNOW they obeyed whatever they were commanded.  Which is the point of Acts 6:7.
      4. What I do find remarkable is the number of times baptism IS mentioned. If it were not necessary, I contend it would not have been mentioned as much. Furthermore, the urgency associated with these examples cannot be ignored.
         1. Acts 2:41 – that day about 3000 souls were added to them.
         2. Acts 8:35-36 – the eunuch said, “See here is water, what hinders me from being baptized.”
         3. Acts 9:18 – immediately… Saul’s (Paul) sight was restored and he was baptized. 22:16 – “Why are you waiting?”
         4. Acts 16:33 – The jailer was baptized “the same hour of the night …and immediately he and all his family were baptized.”
      5. There are examples in Acts that do not mention belief.
         1. On the day of Pentecost – Acts 2:37-38 – they were told to repent and be baptized. Faith or believe are not mentioned in what they were told to do.  NOR is it mentioned anywhere in Acts 2, until 2:44 AFTER they were baptized.
         2. Acts 9:17-18 – Saul (Paul) was struck blind on his way to Damascus by the Lord. He was told to go to Damascus where he would be told what he must do (9:6).  He goes and for 3 days prays and fasts.  Then Ananias comes and our texts notes that he was baptized.  Faith and belief are not mentioned.
         3. Lydia in Acts 16:14-15 while it mentions that “the Lord opened her heart” it says she and her household were baptized. Belief is NOT mentioned in the text.
         4. Does that mean that they did not have to believe or have faith? These do not specifically mention it!  Based on the logic that a text includes EVERYTHING one must do or he did not do it, all Paul did was be baptized (Of course we know better and have at least 13 of his letters that state otherwise – he certainly DID believe).  It IS implied and that would be admitted by advocates of “faith only”.
      6. Finally, let it be understood that no passage dealing with believe or faith mentions that it is the ONLY thing one needs to do or have.
2. Does baptism negate salvation by faith?
   1. No! Baptism is an act OF faith!  We demonstrated that as we discussed faith and obedience.
   2. Consider again 1 Peter 3:20-21 – it is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
   3. Baptism alone does NOT save any more than belief alone. In fact, it is merely the culminating act that puts us into Christ.
   4. Being baptized for the remission of your sins is simply obeying God through your faith.
3. Does it matter WHY you are baptized?
   1. It matters a great deal. Just as advocates of “faith only” believe you cannot be baptized to be saved BECAUSE… (fill in the reasons), so being baptized for the wrong reason does not make it valid.
   2. God calls for proper motives in all that we do:
      1. Romans 6:17-18 – they obeyed from the heart “that form of doctrine” (likely baptism).
      2. 1 Corinthians 14:15 – our singing and praying is to be done with the spirit and understanding.
      3. 1 Corinthians 11:26-29 – Lord’s supper was to be taken in a worthy manner.
      4. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – love without proper motives is meaningless.
      5. Patterns matter to God and always have. That is why when God specifies how to do something or what to do, we must follow His instructions.
   3. Scripture makes statements that demonstrate purpose and results
      1. Acts 2:38 – FOR the remission of sins. Cf. Matthew 26:28.
      2. Acts 22:16 – wash away your sins
      3. Mark 16:16 – shall be saved
      4. 1 Peter 3:21 – now saves us
      5. Galatians 3:27 – we put on Christ
      6. Romans 6:3-4 – buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life.
   4. It was AFTER baptism that many examples in Acts note that they were rejoicing –
      1. Consider Acts 19:1-5 – Paul is discussing with 12 men about whether or not they had received the Holy Spirit (given by the laying on of the apostle’s hands after one obeyed the gospel – Acts 8:17). What they had been taught was inaccurate for their time.  They had only been baptized into John’s baptism.  When Paul explained the way to them more accurately, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  This shows that the PURPOSE of baptism is important.
      2. Babies cannot believe when being baptized (based on wrong assumptions concerning inherited sin, etc.) which is why infant baptism is invalid. This is another example of WHY one is baptized is important.
4. Does the mode of baptism matter?
5. 1. The short answer is, “Yes”. We have discussed the reasons why. Let us reemphasize why it matters.
   2. This is a discussion because some advocate that sprinkling water or pouring water on one is sufficient. And if you look up the definition of baptism in an English dictionary it may include all 3 modes.  For example, the American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as, A religious rite considered a sacrament by most Christian groups, marked by the symbolic application of water to the head or immersion of the body into water and resulting in admission of the recipient into the community of Christians.  Other dictionaries do not specify it as immersion.
   3. The word “baptize” is actually a transliterated word from the Greek (βαπτίζω, baptize) and means to immerse or submerge, overwhelm.
   4. Romans 6:3-4 – describes the act as a burial and associates it with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
   5. Colossians 2:12 notes that we were buried with Him in baptism”
   6. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 speaks of the Israelites being “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” The emphasis is they were surrounded above (by cloud), below (by ground) and on either side by water (Exodus 14:21-22).  It was a physical act leading to salvation from Egypt of the Israelites (Exodus 14:13, 30).
   7. The way we are baptized and who is baptized does matter.

And thus we address some of the questions associated with baptism that leads to our salvation.  As Christians, we are called to give a defense for the hope within us.  It is my hope that if you have not been baptized that these lessons will convince you of its importance.  And if you have been baptized, that you better prepared to answer why.  Think about it!