What Must I Do?

Mark Dunagan
08/23/15 - Sunday Morning

What Must I Do?

One would think that there would be no debate or disagreement over what God says in scripture that a person must do to have their sins forgiven and be saved. Jesus gave a very clear plan of salvation that included hearing the gospel (Mark 16:15), faith in Him as our Savior (John 8:24; Mark 16:15), repentance of sin (Luke 24:47), confession of Him as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32) and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19). Then in the Book of Acts, which is a book of conversions, we find people from all backgrounds repeatedly following that exact God given plan.

• Hearing the Gospel: Acts 8:35; 18:8
• Faith: Acts 8:12; 16:30
• Repentance: Acts 2:38
• Confession: Acts 8:37
• Baptism: Acts 2:38; 8:12; 36-38; 16:33; 18:8; 22:16.

Yet there are many professed believers and churches in the world that deny the above plan of salvation.

Saved By Faith Alone?

Many argue that one is saved at the point of mentally believing in Christ and that nothing additional is required of us by God. Yet His very words clearly deny such teaching. James is very empathic, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). James is writing to Christians and yet is appealing to the example of Abraham and Rahab, to show that no one, whether in the Old or New Testament, was ever saved by faith alone.  This has absolutely never happened – period. In fact, the only time in scripture in which the phrase "faith alone" is used, is this one. In Hebrews chapter 11, an entire chapter dealing with faith, we are never told that any individual was saved at the moment they mentally believed in God. We are told instead of a many souls that found favor with God through their actions. For example:

• Abel offered.
• Enoch walked with God.
• Noah moved and built an ark.
• Abraham left his homeland – offered up his son.

There is Nothing You Can Do?

In the denominational world, people are often told there is nothing one can do when it comes to being saved. Yet I don’t find Jesus or the apostles teaching such:

• Jesus gave clear conditions for salvation, including repentance and baptism: Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47
• The apostles were actually asked this question. “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37; 16:30). In both examples, the apostles never replied, “There is nothing you can do”. Instead, they commanded the audience to do something, that is, to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).
• Not even those who preach "faith only" consistently practices or teaches that there is “nothing one can do”, for even hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17) and believing in Jesus is absolutely something a person does (John 3:16).  Even groups that reject the necessity of baptism still have a substitute for baptism, that is, they command the sinner to do something God never did – such as say the sinners’ prayer, raise their hand, ask Jesus into their hearts or something similar.

Paul and Peter Preached Different Gospels?

Some claim that while Peter preached a gospel that included the necessity to be baptized, this only applied to the Jewish people or only applied to a period of transition after the resurrection of Jesus. But the gospel Paul preached also clearly included baptism, and it is this gospel that applies to us today. When Paul preached the gospel, good an honest hearts were baptized!  (Acts 16:15; 33; 18:8). This is obviously because Paul’s gospel message was the same as Peter's gospel message, which was the same as Jesus' gospel message:

Peter clearly commanded people to be baptized to be saved (Acts 2:38; 10:47-48), and clearly stated that the same plan of salvation applied to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15:7-9).

• Repeatedly Paul talks about not two, but only one gospel (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-9).
• The gospel that Jesus commanded the apostles to preach was a gospel to all nations and included the condition of baptism before salvation (Mark 16:16).

Baptism is Not Necessary for Salvation? Then explain this:

• Jesus placed baptism before being saved (Mark 16:16).
• Peter placed it before the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
• It was preached to the Eunuch as being absolutely necessary (Acts 8:36).
• Paul was told that baptism stood between him and the removal of his sins (Acts 22:16).
• Peter says that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21).
• Paul put baptism into the same category as there being one God, one Lord, one faith, one Spirit and one hope (Ephesians 4:4-6) – all essentials.

Baptism is a Work and We are Not Saved By Works?

After reading the above passages, it is clear that the person who makes such a statement is confused regarding both “works” and “baptism”. Jesus and the apostles never put baptism into the category of a “work” that does not save, rather they always connected baptism with salvation. Even in contexts and passages that speak of us not being saved by “works” – baptism is always included in the category of that which saves. Always.

• In Ephesians 2:8-9 which speaks of salvation linked with faith and grace, included in the context are the symbols of baptism (a rebirth involving a burial and resurrection that have “made us alive together with Christ” Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:12-13).
• In Titus 3:5 we are told that we are not saved by our own mere human efforts, and yet we are saved by a process that includes the washing of regeneration – an obvious reference to baptism.
• In Colossians 2:12 faith and baptism are described as being the working of God. 

Paul Denied that Baptism was Necessary?

The passage used to defend such an idea is 1 Corinthians 1:17 in which Paul says, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel”. Yet such a statement never was intended to teach that baptism is not necessary for salvation.

• In the immediate context the only way that one can wear the name of Christ (Christian) is to have been baptized into his name (1 Corinthians 1:13).  
• If Paul did not include baptism in the plan of salvation he preached, then why do we have people consistently being baptized when Paul preaches? (Acts 16:15; 33) including the Corinthians (18:8).
• To argue that Paul denied the necessity of baptism, means that Paul did not preach what he practiced. For Paul himself was specifically told to be baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16) – and he obeyed that very clear teaching.
• In his letters, Paul repeatedly stresses the importance of baptism (Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:11-12). 
• Clearly, the point Paul is making in 1 Corinthians 1:17 to the Corinthians taking pride in what human had actually baptized them, is that he was relieved that he had not personally baptized everyone who responded to his preaching, so that no one would use such as a man-made badge of honor.
• Of course, Paul did baptize people, but men like Timothy, Silas, Luke and other co-workers did most of the baptizing. Seeing how the Corinthians had tended to worship the person who had personally baptized them, and by doing so gloried men instead of the God to whom all glory is due – Paul was thankful he had not personally baptized a lot of them – although all of them had been baptized (1:12-15). If you've not, you should too. We all need this fresh start that God's grace offers.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net