Email on Water Baptism For Salvation Answered

 

I received an email from a dear saint with questions about water baptism for salvation. We agreed it would be wise to answer it here to edify all the saints. See my words below in blue with **** by them. 

To be clear; I do teach water baptism as an obedient act when you come to faith in Christ. But; it is NOT what regenerates us! In a similar fashion, I teach the Lords Supper (bread and wine) but it is not mystical or saving us but a symbol God gave us.  

Also; at the end of this post is an article on why water baptism for regeneration is not scriptural and it gives much evidence why water does NOT regenerate us. In it; you will see some had the spirit without water baptism and men went to heaven without water baptism. Read on and be edified! 

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I know some people claim that water baptism 'saves' you. I don't care what anyone/denominations say but I would like to share some verse and you can give me your teachings and thoughts on. 

**** Very wise saint. Lets see what scripture says on this topic via the scriptures you post and what other scriptures say as well.


Is this verse not referring to literal water do you think?
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.
Hebrews 10:22

******** It is referencing literal water but; not for regeneration.
Some foundation will help here and knowing the audience it makes things more clear. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews (Hebrews) who were leaving the faith in Christ. They knew all about the sprinkling of blood to cleanse as it was all over Torah law that they kept. The priests often sprinkled blood in their offerings to God after sacrificing (Lev 1:11) and the Jews knew about Mikvah's or water cleansing as a symbol of purity. (Lev 17:15)  Notice in the verse it says by faith "our hearts" are sprinkled of evil. (Acts 15:9 says we are purified by faith) We need to have by faith a changed/new heart and mind to enter God's kingdom (John 3:3) Then he says our bodies washed by pure water. It is clearly only symbolic as we do not need "clean bodies" to go to heaven amen? The water/baptism is a symbol of what faith and Christ has done in us.    


*And is this one even referring to water baptism or something else? 


This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. [7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. [8] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:6-8

******* The water here clearly denotes water of baptism as Jesus was baptized and then He commanded we go and baptize in Matt 28:19. Jesus came as our model / example and we are to follow His example into water baptism as a symbol of our faith in Him. This is NO way water is a re-generational tool that some claim no more then the bread or wine or head covering or any other obedient act we do is regerational. We know that shedding of blood is required for sin forgiveness (Heb 9:22) and we must be in the spirit to please God (Romans 8:1) but we find no such verse for H20 water. This tells us it is a symbolic meaning not a re-gerational one. Again; they key is when we read all of scripture; we see people regenerated without water baptism so scripture cannot ever counter dict scripture.       


I was looking up all the uses of the word water and baptism and do you think there are any times where it doesn't even mean water baptism (because baptize means immerse right)? In that I mean we could use the word immerse in it's place and we wouldn't have the idea the church has distorted?

*** The word in Greek is Baptizo ... it means to be immersed and that is what we must be in Christ, immersed in Him. He cleanses us and washes us at conversion. Think of this thought. If water is what does it, wouldn't we need to be baptized often after we sin? No, we can repent and be cleansed by His blood per 1 John 1:7 / His blood cleanses us over and over  NOT the water.... over and over. Like His sacrifice (once for all / Heb 10:10) water baptism is a one time act of obedience not regeneration. 


*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:
1 Peter 3:21

And how would you explain that verse? 

****** Since we know from other verses, it is NOT the H20 water that cleanses or regenerates us, the baptism Peter speaks of can only be immersed into Christ by faith and new life in the spirit. (baptism of the Holy Spirit) Notice Peter explains then; it is by Christ's resurrection! This is by which we get made new by  the spirit; NOT H20 water. Again, water baptism is a symbol of being washed clean to us; but it is NOT re-generational!  

What this verse means is made more clear if we look at verse 20 with it. 
 Which sometime were disobedient, 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.

Peter is saying that by water God floated them to safety and by baptism (the people knew water baptism as a powerful symbol) our faith good conscience via Christ's work) we are saved. It is NOT by H20 water dipping but by faith and God's spirit we are made new!


*And what would your thoughts on this verse be... 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:5

What does 'born of water' mean? I've been thinking about it and think I know what it may mean but wanted to hear your thoughts. 

***** This has been wrestled over for centuries and it has many so called meaning but 3 main ones:
Basically 3 MAIN possible meanings. 
1) you must be water baptized for salvation. (again this does not fit the rest of God's Word as others were made new without water like in Acts 10/ the thief on the cross) 
2) we come by faith / obedience and we are water baptized into Christ after faith (God has grace so some who cant be water baptized get in the kingdom... like the thief on the cross) 
3) it is referring to a natural birth (we all come to earth by water birth) then need we need to be born of the spirit of God. 
I think 2 makes the best sense (though 3 is true we are born of water at physical birth) But 2 matches all of scripture.  
If we read Acts 2:42 it says GOD added to the body as He saw fit. Water baptism for new life puts man in charge of regeneration, so I must reject it outright and state it is just a symbol as God always used symbols to relate to man spiritually. 


*And the physical aspect of water baptism is a sign of being baptised/immersed into Christ right? 

**** Yes if we read all of scripture and form our theology; that is the ONLY feasible conclusion. When you go in and use faulty Eisegesis it (make it what I want it to say by ignoring verses) only then do you get to H20 water regenerates you. 

*Also we see people repenting and being baptised on the same day in Acts etc. I guess we can't really compare such things for today because we don't often have a group of gathered believers to do such things but should there be a greater urgency to obey in this area? 

*** Great point and I agree. We see the Chariot driver get baptized asap in Acts 8:26-40 / We see Paul get baptized asap as well. Acts 9:10-21 / Today man made religion does baptism classes / waiting times and such. I believe in the baptism upon confession, as we see it in scripture.  

So I mean should we put more emphasis on it as a work of obedience (and not one that saves us itself) ahead of/equal with other works? It has quite a place in the Word so should it come (at least in a body of believers) immediately upon repentance and not like many who wait and wait to do it? 

**** Indeed it is a work of obedience as a symbol of our faith just like the Lords supper. John the baptist says it well in Matt 3;11 / The water alone did not do it; but Christ came to do it by the Spirit. We need to be made new in the spirit as H20 water cannot ever do that. The sad fact is if water saves, Jesus NEVER SAVED ANYONE as we have no record of Him water baptizing. Our Savior indeed saves and it is by His spirit.  
The real battle on this topic is NOT should we be water baptized in obedience as that answer is yes, we should. 
But; water does NOT regenerate us! Water Regeneration is the key here and NO verses support that concept.


Thank you for your time and thoughts brother! 

*** My pleasure dear saint... may it edify us all and glorify the Father!

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Go here to see a COC church exposed for many sins like worldliness:

Go here and see a article that has more evidence showing water baptism is NOT regeneration:

God be praised

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