|
_________________________________________________ Heritage Baptist Bible Church Dr. Max D. Younce, Pastor Walnut Grove, MN - USA Bible Questions and Answers _____________________________________________________ |
|
|
Bible Questions & Answers Archive
Is Baptism Required for Salvation? By: Dr. Max D. Younce
0060
Question In John 3:5 Christ told Nicodemus that "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Is this referring to water baptism for salvation? Answer
"Water", here, is referring to the Word of God. Peter,
in his first epistle, clarifies "born again" in 1:23. "Being born
again, NOT of corruptible seed, (All the good we do, including water
baptism, church membership, etc., will never produce the new birth)
BUT of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD, which liveth and
abideth for ever." In John 15:3 we are told, "...Ye are
clean through the word which I have spoken to you". We are cleansed
by believing the word of God, not by baptism. Again, in Ephesians 5:26, "water’ is referring to the
word of God. "That he (Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word." Let us return to John, Chapter 3, where synonymous
terms such as: "everlasting life", "not being condemned", "eternal life"
and "being saved" are all used in reference to entering the kingdom of
God. (3:15) "...whosoever BELIEVETH in him (Christ)
should not perish, but have eternal life". (3:16) "...whosoever BELIEVETH in him (Christ)
should not perish but have everlasting life". (3:17) "...but that the world
through him (Christ) might be saved". (3:18) "He that BELIEVETH on
him (Christ) is not condemned...". (3:36) "He that BELIEVETH on
the Son hath everlasting life...". (5:24) "He that heareth my
WORD and BELIEVETH on Him (Christ) that sent me, hath everlasting life." (6:47) "He that BELIEVETH on
me hath everlasting life Christ told the Samaritan woman at the well, in John
4:14, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in
him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." This
spiritual water is the word Christ gave her when He told her He was the
Messiah (v.25,26), and He was the Christ, the Savior of the world
(v.42). She believed Him. Ephesians 1:7 makes it perfectly clear we are saved by
the blood, not the water! "In whom we have
redemption through his (Christ’s) blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace." |
|
Home
| Q
& A | Archive
| Books
| Radio
| _______________________________________________________________________ Copyright
© 2000-2001 Heritage Baptist Bible Church and its licensors. All rights
reserved |
