How Can You Say That Baptism Is Essential For Salvation When The Bible Says We Are God's Children "By Faith" In Such Passages As Galatians 3:26 And Romans 5:1?

Garland M. Robinson

        Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). No one can be a child of God and not have faith! However, "faith alone" does not make one a child of God. If so, the Pharisees (John 12:42-43) and even the devil would be saved (James 2:19).
        When one "obeys the gospel" (which you cannot go to heaven without; 2 Thessalonians 2:8), you are simply doing the "work" God would have you to do. When one performs or works the works of God, he has not earned his salvation. Jesus said, "When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). If one claims that "baptism" is a work of man, then he must also of necessity accept that "faith" is a work of man. The truth is, neither of them are the works of man. They both are the works of God! On one occasion Jesus was asked, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" His answer was, "...this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:28-29). Even "believing" is a work, but it is not man's work, it is God's work. It is the work God has commanded we do! The same is true of water baptism. It is all a part of the plan of God's salvation which has been preached from the time Peter uttered it (Acts 2:38) until today and will continue to the end of the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
        It is odd that many fight so hard against God's Word when it is so plain. Jesus himself gave the command for all time what people must do to be saved, but so few believe it. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). What would he have had to say to make people believe baptism is essential to salvation? This is precisely what Saul was told in Acts 22:16. "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins." There's no forgiveness without the blood of Christ and one only contacts the blood in water baptism (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Rom. 6:3-6,17-18).
        Galatians 3:27 tells HOW we are children of God by faith, "FOR as many of you as were BAPTIZED...." Baptism is the point at which faith justifies, not before (James 2:17-26). The plan of God fits so perfectly together! Won't you believe?





Is It True That All One Has To Do To Be Saved Is "Believe And Be Baptized Into Christ?"

Garland M. Robinson

        No, it is not true. Though salvation does not and can not come without obedience to these two essential commands, it must be understood that obedience to these two commands alone does not secure salvation. There is more that one must do to be saved.
        Jesus did indeed say, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Denominational preachers preach anything and everything but the commands of this verse! Jesus here speaks of at least two things that are essential to be saved: belief in him and water baptism. However, there are other things Jesus commanded one must do in order to be saved that are not stated in this verse.
        The Lord made repentance of sins an essential element for salvation. In Luke 13:3 he said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Repentance means to change the mind, to think differently. Such a change in mind leads to a change in action or manner of living. A liar no longer lies. A thief no longer steals. An adulterer no longer commits adultery. Without repentance, no one will or can be saved (Acts 17:30; 2:38)!
        The Lord made confession of faith in him a requirement for salvation. In Matthew 10:32-33 he said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." No one will be saved that does not confess that Jesus is the Christ the divine Son of God. It was necessary that the man from Ethiopia make this confession. When he asked if he could be baptized "Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37).
        Living faithful to the Lord's commands after faith, repentance, confession and baptism is also essential to salvation. "...Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). Without continuing to live according to the Lord's Word, no one will be saved regardless of how much they believe or how many times they are baptized.
        Belief and baptism are essential to salvation but certainly not ALL one must do to be saved. Obey all, not just a part!
        It is not only misleading, but also incorrect to so teach.