Baptism of Believers
Baptism in Water
Acts 10:47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”
The believer has the Holy Spirit before water baptism. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit and only children of God have the Holy Spirit. Believers always receive the Holy Spirit before they are baptized in water because the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ at the very same moment that they believe.
John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The believer has eternal life before water baptism. Eternal life is the result of believing in Jesus Christ and it is ours at the very same moment that we believe because we are saved through faith, not works.
Acts 10:43-47 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”
The believer has forgiveness of sins before water baptism. The moment a person believes in Jesus Christ that person receives forgiveness of sins and we see the proof of that fact in this passage where the believers received the Holy Spirit as a testimony from God that they had been accepted and forgiven. Water baptism followed full and complete salvation.
Acts 13:38-39 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is set free from sin at the very same moment that they believe. That is a person is made right with God at the moment of faith in Jesus Christ. The believer is justified without receiving water baptism.
Luke 23:42-43 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
The believer receives salvation without receiving water baptism. Baptism is works and works always follow salvation, works never precede salvation. We are never baptized in order to be saved, but we are baptized because we are saved.
Matt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus Christ commanded His followers to make disciples and then to baptize them. The believer becomes a disciple of Christ before receiving water baptism. Baptism follows faith and salvation; it does not precede it.
Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
On the Day of Pentecost, three thousand people were saved when they received the word of God concerning faith in Jesus Christ. Notice, they received the word and then they were baptized. Faith and salvation always precede water baptism.
Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized;
Saul of Tarsus first believed and then he was baptized in water.
Acts 8:36-38 And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The Ethiopian eunuch believed in Jesus Christ and then he was baptized in water. Baptism is meant for true believers only.
Acts 16:14-15 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Lydia responded to the word of God in faith and then she was baptized. Baptism always follows salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. A person who does not believe in Jesus Christ can be baptized and still go to hell because baptism does not save anyone.
Grace Alone Saves
Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We are saved by grace through faith, if baptism was necessary for salvation, then salvation would be as a result of works, not faith.. Salvation is a gift of God, we cannot earn it, we do not deserve it in any way. God has planned for us to do good works after salvation, and even then, we will never be able to do enough in order to deserve the salvation God has given us. We cannot repay God for all He has done for us, and we should not try. Anyone who tries to repay God for His grace is only insulting Him.
Gal 1:6-8 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
The teaching that baptism is necessary to salvation is a different gospel and anyone who preaches it is accursed. They are condemned, they are still dead in their sins, because they do not trust in Jesus Christ, but they trust in a law of their own making.
Gal 2:15-16 “We are Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
No one can ever be justified by the works of the Law. Justification can only come by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the Law. No one can ever be saved by keeping any kind of law. Anyone who believes that baptism is necessary for salvation, is believing in a works salvation.
Gal 2:20-21 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness {comes} through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Jesus Christ was crucified in our place; therefore, we now have new life by faith in Christ. If there was any way for anyone to be justified apart from faith in Jesus Christ, then Christ died for nothing.
1 Cor 1:14-17 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, that no man should say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void.
Jesus Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel, not to baptize. If baptism was necessary for salvation, Paul would have been very busy baptizing many people because many people were saved by the preaching of his message. The cross of Christ is that which brings salvation, washing in water never saved anyone.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24