PREACHED:OL 7-25-04,PM

 

“IS BAPTISM ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION?”

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

   In Wichita Falls, a large denomination broadcasted on television and radio their weekly Sunday morning worship services.

 

A.      The minister of that church preached a series of lessons entitled, “The Ordinances of the Church.”

 

1.       One sermon that I heard, was on the subject of “Baptism.”

                        a.  He made a startling statement:

 

1)       He said that if you were baptized for the forgiveness of sins, or with a view of obtaining salvation, and wanted to join their denomination, you would have to be baptized again!!

 

a)       His argument was that a person so baptized was trusting in something other than Jesus and the grace of God for salvation.

 

 

b.       He also quoted Eph 4:5 (“There is…one baptism…”) and said “matter-of-factly,” “Of course, that is Holy Spirit baptism.”

 

1)       He failed to grasp that Holy Spirit Baptism and Water Baptism make two baptisms, not one baptism, that is applicable to all.

 

a)       Since there are only two Biblical accounts of H.S. baptism (Acts 2 & 10) is seems clear that the one baptism to which all are accountable, and which was commanded in the Great Comission and practiced on Pentecost could not be H.S. baptism, but water baptism.

 

b)       It is also evident from N.T. teaching that H.S. baptism was a promise, not a command!

 

‚   VITAL QUESTION: ”Does the New Testament teach that one can one be saved without water baptism?”

 

A.      Sometimes the best way to answer a question is with other questions:

 

DISCUSSION:

 

Œ   DOES THE N.T. TEACH THAT ONE CAN BE SAVED OUTSIDE OF JESUS?

 

A.      John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 8:1; John 3:3; II Cor 5:17

 

1.       The N.T. teaches only one way to get into Christ—Baptism!!

 

                             a.       Gal 3:26, 27

 

   DOES THE N.T. TEACH THAT ONE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS?

 

A.      Eph 1:7, 8; Col 1:19, 20. “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”  John 1:29; I Pet 1:18, 19. “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”  

 

                   1.       Passover & the blood!

 

                             a.       Lamb…

 

1)       Ex 12:5. “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteen day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.”

 

a)       “Two doorposts and the lintel of the houses…”

 

b.       KEY: v 13. “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

 

                   2.       John 19:31-34

                             Rom 6:3

 

Ž   DOES THE N.T. TEACH THAT ONE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT THE GOSPEL?

 

A.      Rom 1:16, 17; I Cor 15:1-4; II Ths 1:7-9;

                   Rom 6:3,4

 

   DOES THE N.T. TEACH THAT ONE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS?

 

          A.      Salvation is salvation from sins! Matt 1:18

 

                   1.       In Christ, By the blood - Eph 1:7

                  

                             a.       Baptized into Christ!

 

1)       That is why baptism is for  not because of  the remission of our sins!

 

a)       Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16

 

   DOES THE N.T. THAT ONE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT PLACING HIS FULL FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD’S POWER TO DELIVER US FROM DEATH?

 

A.      Col 2:12, 13. “having been buried with him (Christ) in baptism, in which you were also raised with him, through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead…”

 

‘     IF WE CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM, WHAT ABOUT THE CLEAR STATEMENTS OF JESUS AND PETER?

 

A.      Mark 16:16; I Pet 3:20, 21. “…God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection from the dead.”

 

CONCLUSION:

 

   We live in a day and age of stifling “Political Correctness…”

 

A.      So many people are afraid to speak up, even if they know that others may be living in violation of the truth!

 

1.       John 12:42, 43. “Nevertheless, many even among the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”