“Watered-Down Baptism”

Friday, April 26, 2019

     I was told by someone from the church of Christ that I was not saved because I was not baptized in the church of Christ.  When I was baptized, I was doing it for Jesus and then for the body to show my faith.  Am I not saved?

Sincerely,
Steamed

Dear Steamed,

The word ‘baptism’ simply means ‘immersion’ – it is the reason for your immersion that makes baptism a soul-saving act.  When we understand that baptism saves us from our sins (1 Pet. 3:21) and are baptized by the authority of Christ (Acts 2:38) and believe in His Name (Mk. 16:16), then that baptism saves us.  Many people are baptized without understanding these things… in which case, they just get wet.  Baptism isn’t merely an “outward showing of an inward faith” or “for membership”.  Baptism is what saves us (1 Pet 3:21).  Baptism is the point when someone goes from being lost to being saved because they are buried and resurrected with Christ (Rom 6:4-5).  Baptism is the final requirement to become a christian (Acts 2:37-38, Mk 16:16, Acts 2:41).  There is not a single example of someone becoming a christian without baptism.  You will have to evaluate for yourself whether or not you understood what you were doing when you were baptized (Php 2:12).  Ask yourself the question, “When I was baptized, did I believe baptism was when I became saved, or did I think I was saved before I was baptized?”  If you believed you were saved before you were baptized, then you didn’t do it for the right reasons.

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