One of the most hotly debated topics in the religious world is whether or
not a person must be immersed in order to be saved. Many private and public
discussions have been conducted on this topic. The question cannot be
answered by human emotions, tradition, or appealing to non-biblical
sources. We must appeal to the word of the living God as the rule of faith and
practice. It holds the answer to the question. (Jas. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3)
In my judgment, one of the simplest and most unassailable agruments in
sacred scripture that proves the absolute necessity of being immersed in order
to be saved is a statement by Paul in his letter to the brothers and sisters
in Rome.
"Do you not know that all of us who have been immersed into Christ Jesus
were immersed into his death? We were buried therefore with him by immersion
into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:3-4)
A couple of important questions are in order: Can a person be saved from
sin without being "in Christ?" No. The scriptures teach us that salvation is in
Christ. (Acts 4:12; 1 Thess. 5:9; 2 Tim. 2:10) Can a person be saved from sin
without receiving the benefits of the blood of Christ? No. The scriptures teach
us that we receive forgiveness through his blood. (Mat. 26:28; Rom. 3:25;
Eph. 1:7)
In view of the answers to the foregoing questions, it is therefore conclusively
proven that immersion is essential to salvation. Why? Because Paul said so!
How? He says we are "immersed into Christ Jesus" and we are "immersed
into his death." Paul uses "immersed" in both phrases and in both phrases the
act of immersion is followed by the preposition "into" (eis) in Greek. This is very
significant because the preposition "into" (eis) informs us that a transition takes
place when one is immersed. When a person is immersed he goes from one place
or relationship "into" another place or relationship! He goes from being "out of"
Christ Jesus where there is no salvation, to being in Christ where there is salvation.
He goes from being without the benefits of Christ's death to being in his death
where there is deliverance through his blood! According to Paul, one enters both
states "through" immersion. (v.4) Paul also says, "we were buried therefore with
him through immersion!" There is no "newness of life" prior to immersion because
there is no new life out of Christ, and a person is not in Christ until he is
immersed.
So, in the mind of Paul the Lord's apostle, there is a direct correlation between
immersion and salvation from past sins. His argument is simple and indisputable.
Friends, those of you who have not been immersed should act today. It is God's
will that you receive the benefit of divine grace and mercy by being immersed
into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mat. 28:19)
RD
Copyright 2011
not a person must be immersed in order to be saved. Many private and public
discussions have been conducted on this topic. The question cannot be
answered by human emotions, tradition, or appealing to non-biblical
sources. We must appeal to the word of the living God as the rule of faith and
practice. It holds the answer to the question. (Jas. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3)
In my judgment, one of the simplest and most unassailable agruments in
sacred scripture that proves the absolute necessity of being immersed in order
to be saved is a statement by Paul in his letter to the brothers and sisters
in Rome.
"Do you not know that all of us who have been immersed into Christ Jesus
were immersed into his death? We were buried therefore with him by immersion
into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:3-4)
A couple of important questions are in order: Can a person be saved from
sin without being "in Christ?" No. The scriptures teach us that salvation is in
Christ. (Acts 4:12; 1 Thess. 5:9; 2 Tim. 2:10) Can a person be saved from sin
without receiving the benefits of the blood of Christ? No. The scriptures teach
us that we receive forgiveness through his blood. (Mat. 26:28; Rom. 3:25;
Eph. 1:7)
In view of the answers to the foregoing questions, it is therefore conclusively
proven that immersion is essential to salvation. Why? Because Paul said so!
How? He says we are "immersed into Christ Jesus" and we are "immersed
into his death." Paul uses "immersed" in both phrases and in both phrases the
act of immersion is followed by the preposition "into" (eis) in Greek. This is very
significant because the preposition "into" (eis) informs us that a transition takes
place when one is immersed. When a person is immersed he goes from one place
or relationship "into" another place or relationship! He goes from being "out of"
Christ Jesus where there is no salvation, to being in Christ where there is salvation.
He goes from being without the benefits of Christ's death to being in his death
where there is deliverance through his blood! According to Paul, one enters both
states "through" immersion. (v.4) Paul also says, "we were buried therefore with
him through immersion!" There is no "newness of life" prior to immersion because
there is no new life out of Christ, and a person is not in Christ until he is
immersed.
So, in the mind of Paul the Lord's apostle, there is a direct correlation between
immersion and salvation from past sins. His argument is simple and indisputable.
Friends, those of you who have not been immersed should act today. It is God's
will that you receive the benefit of divine grace and mercy by being immersed
into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mat. 28:19)
RD
Copyright 2011
Thank you brother for this clear, concise article. Just this past week Dr. Charles Stanley had a sermon on the TV on baptism and his first point was that "baptism follows salvation." It is so sad that he is leading millions of people astray just because he will not teach the whole word of God. Thank you for teaching the truth!
ReplyDeleteMichele,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. Much time and
effort is spent by denominational preachers
to explain away the teaching of God's word
about the necessity of immersion. The sacred scriptures are decisive and clear as to the essentiality and purpose of immersion. As stated, Romans 6:3-4 shows the essentiality
of immersion and the implication of Paul's argument is unanswerable.
RD