Is Water Baptism God's Salvation Line?
Watchman Nee (1903-1972), who was a well-known 20th century
Christian leader and author in his native China, made the following insightful
observation about the act of being baptized in water, "Baptism is an
outward expression of an inward faith." He also stated, "Baptism is
faith in action." I agree completely with both
statements.
Immersion of one's body in water and circumcision of the
flesh (for men under the old covenant) are NOT salvific in
themselves; indeed, they were never intended to be. They are both reflective in
nature, rather than redemptive. They are both the response of
genuine faith.
It is one's faith that receives the free
gift of God's grace, the reality of which one then demonstrates visibly an outward manifestation of a
marvelous newfound spiritual reality.
William Tyndale (1494-1536) expressed it perfectly:
"As the circumcised in the flesh, and not in the heart, have no part in
God's good promises; even so they that be baptized in the flesh, and not in
heart, have no part in Christ's blood."
Yes, both circumcision and baptism have an important place
and purpose in the life of a believer, but neither are sacraments.
Neither are the "line in the sand" between divine acceptance and
rejection.
The apostle Paul made this principle quite clear in Romans
4, where he pointed out that Abraham was accepted by God and declared
righteous before he was circumcised, with God’s acceptance being based upon faith.
This is a truth just as applicable to those under the present covenant as it
was to those under the previous one.
The phrase "drawing a line in the sand" simply
means "to set a boundary or limit, beyond which one must not go." One
crosses such "lines in the sand" at one's own peril.
In religious circles, these lines show the demarcation
between those who are saved
and those who are lost,
between those fellowshipped or those
shunned.
The "lines in the sand" vary greatly depending on our various
sectarian, factional, and denominational dogmas, doctrines, and practices, most
of which have more to do with tradition than Truth.
For some, the line between saved and lost is tied to one's
position on the use of musical instruments in a worship assembly. Others draw
the line at Fellowship Halls, or eating in a building, or how many cups one
uses in the Communion. There are "lines in the sand" drawn over how
one understands the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and over one's
view of the End Times, and over "the name on the sign" of a Christian
group and how they "conduct the worship service."
One of
the more familiar "lines in the sand," at least within the Churches
of Christ, [which is
the most conservative of the three branches coming out of the Stone-Campbell
Movement]
is baptism.
For a good many in "my tribe [Al Maxey]," this is
THE "line in the sand" between the saved and the lost. I was brought
up in this denomination
and accepted this
view. But it is absolutely false: it is “a line drawn in the sand by
men,” NOT by God.
By drawing such a line, we in reality "invalidate the word of God for the sake of
our tradition" (Matthew 15:6), which was a serious charge Jesus
leveled against the Pharisees of his day.
That too many still embrace this "line in the
sand" was evidenced just recently in the March 28, 2023 edition of "Hugh's
News & Views" (a publication sent out by Hugh Fulford) by an
article titled "The Salvation Line." While making it clear that he
believed faith was important, nevertheless Hugh declared that "baptism is
the salvation line that one must cross before he/she enters the state of
salvation." [so much for
the thief who Jesus promised would one day be with him in paradise. Hard to be baptized
when your being crudified]
He then made seven assertions (each of which were
accompanied by a few comments). He asserted:
(1) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and salvation."
(2) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and the remission of sins."
(3) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and having sins washed away."
(4) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and the benefits of the death of Christ."
(5) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and the new life in Christ."
(6) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and being in Christ."
(7) "Baptism
stands between the sinner and being saved and having a good conscience toward
God."
Hugh concludes his article with this affirmation of his
belief about the place and purpose of baptism in water: "It is the lord's designated dividing line between
the lost state and the saved state."
I have nothing against Hugh personally (he and I have
written back and forth for many years), and I believe he is sincere in his
convictions and that he loves the lord Jesus just
as much as I do. Nor do I
believe that he is outside the parameter of God's gracious
acceptance. However, I do believe he has drawn a "line in
the sand" that the lord Jesus never drew, and which the
inspired Scriptures do not support, and such a major misunderstanding should
not be ignored by serious students of God's word and will.
I very much agree with Hugh that baptism
in water is very important to us and that it most definitely has a divinely
appointed place and purpose for believers, but I differ with
this brother on the nature of that place and purpose.
Hugh sees baptism as THE point of demarcation between those who are lost and those who are saved. I do not.
I do believe God -
Yehovah has drawn such a line for mankind (dividing
between those saved
and those lost; between the sheep and the goats), but I do not believe that "line in
the sand" is baptism (any more than it was circumcision for those living
under the old covenant).
"So, Al Maxey, just where do you believe God draws the 'line in the sand' between those who are saved and those who are lost?"
Well, after years of study of God's – Yehovah’s revelation of Himself and His eternal purpose for us, I am convinced He draws that line of demarcation at faith/belief. Believing faith is a total commitment to loving God - Yehovah with all one’s heart, mind, being, and strength and walking in obedient faith before Him in love toward all men/women. A faith that accepts the one whom He sent. obeying all the words He gave His sent one, His son to give to those who believe, and have become new creations in him!
From the very beginning, the Creator has desired for His creation to acknowledge that HE IS. In that great chapter on faith (Hebrews 11), the writer states: "Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God - Yehovah must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him" (vs. 6).
Indeed,
the chapter begins: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. For
by it - faith the
men of old gained approval" (vs. 1) ---"And all these gained approvals through their faith" (vs.
39).
Paul
insisted that we "are justified – declared not guilty by faith apart from
works of the law" (Romans 3:28). "For this reason, it is by faith,
in order that it may be in accordance with grace" (Romans 4:16).
"Therefore, having been justified – declared not guilty by faith, we have peace with
God through our lord Jesus the
Messiah, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this
grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:1-2).
"But God which is rich in mercy, through His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead by sins, has quickened us together in the Messiah, by whose grace you are saved, and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in the Messiah Jesus, that He might show in the ages to come to the exceeding riches of His grace through His kindness toward us in the Messiah Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God - Yehovah, Not of works, lest any man should boast himself. For we are His workmanship created in the Messiah Jesus unto good works, which God - Yehovah has ordained, that we should walk in them." [Ephesians 2:4-10]
God - Yehovah is able to make all grace come in abundance to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you can have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Note: God – Yehovah always provides the enabling power of His spirit to carry out all He requires of us to do.
God's "line of salvation" is FAITH - it is clearly drawn in the sands of time! He sent His Son to take care of the SIN problem once and for all by becoming a sin-offering sacrifice for all, so that "whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Jesus said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word [to hear is to obey], and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life and does not
come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).
When
Peter reported on the conversion of Cornelius and his household to the Council
at Jerusalem, he declared that: “God made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith"
(Acts 15:9), ... "And we believe that we are saved through the grace of
the lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are" (vs. 11).
How were they saved? By God's
grace, first and foremost (that's HIS end of the stick), which we receive BY
FAITH. We believe and act upon that belief.
God
expects us to SHOW our faith in our daily living, walking with faith-obedience before him, obeying the words He gave to
the lord Messiah Jesus to give to the world!
We
don't show it exclusively through any specific "one time" act, but
through countless acts of kindness and compassion and mercy in keeping with the
nature of our God, reflecting His image. Anyone,
said James, can say they have
faith. That's why James says we are to evidence that faith visibly - i.e., to show it in our lives (James 2:18f).
God
takes this "line in the sand" (FAITH) very seriously, so seriously,
in fact, that He wants us to actively and visibly demonstrate and manifest this
faith over and over in our daily lives. God - Yehovah is love (1 John 4), that is who He
is; it's His nature. Thus, we
who believe in
Him will be a reflection
of that same nature.
"Beloved,
let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born
of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is
love" (1 John 4:7-8).
I
would not describe LOVE as a separate "line in the sand," but rather
the visible evidence in our lives of FAITH which is the line of
demarcation drawn by our God and
Father Yehovah.
Paul
nailed it when he wrote: "For
in the Messiah Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that
counts is faith
expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6, NIV).
It
is not about one's performance of various religious acts (no matter how good
those acts and rituals may be). It is not about baptism, the lord's Supper, how we sing, how we pray, or who passes a Communion tray. It is not about our views on the End Times, what we do in a church building, which version of the Bible we read, or if a
woman speaks in a "worship service."
It
is about FAITH Expressing
Itself In LOVE every single day of our
lives!! This is God's "line in the sand;" it always has been, and it
is clearly center-stage in the judgment scene of Matthew 25:31f.
Let
me close this article by quoting from a man named Joe Battaglia:
"If
we draw a line in the sand, our love ought
to be more evident to the world than our doctrine”
Or,
to phrase it in the words of Jesus himself:
"By this, all men will know
that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another" (John 13:35, NKJV).
God
has indeed drawn a "line in the sand" It is FAITH. He then hands us a
"line of action" to show that faith daily
in countless acts of LOVE. Now this is
a "line in the sand" that "will
preach," as the old country parson would say.
Written by Al Maxey and edited by Bruce
Lyon
The references
below are a door to Al Maxey’s tremendous contribution to helping people
understand the scriptures. I have found his reflections a treasure chest filled
with lots of gold and silver. I note that Al Maxey is a trinitarian. I remind
him often that of the two founders of the Church of Christ, Barton W. Stone was
not a trinitarian and Alexander Campbell had reservations about it.
A topical index for Al Maxey’s reflections:
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/topic.htm
Textual Index:
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