If Baptism Was a Work

by Terry Wane Benton

The claim is made that baptism cannot be part of the salvation process (the process from lost sinner to saved and justified in Christ) because it is claimed that “baptism is a work” and “we are saved through faith and not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this claim is very faulty and puts one in conflict with clear scriptures. If baptism is a work whereby you could boast, then,

1.  Jesus said, in essence, “He that believes and works will be saved” (Mark 16:16). In this case, Jesus put works before salvation. Jesus did not think of baptism as a “work” of which one could boast.
2. Peter, by the Spirit, said in essence, “Repent, and work in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). In this case, the Spirit put works before remission of sins. The Spirit did not think repentance and baptism were works whereby you could boast. You are humbly appealing for the remission of sin, which is an open confession that you have not worked so as to have grounds for boasting. It is evident that baptism is an open admission of failure to work the law and is hereby appealing to God in the name of Jesus Christ to have sins remitted or forgiven. Baptism is not a work whereby men can boast.
3. Ananias said in essence to Saul, “Arise, and work, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). If baptism is a work whereby one could boast, why is one appealing to God to wash away our sins if in baptism we are working to earn and boast? It was clear to Ananias and Saul (Paul) that baptism is an open admission of not having worked to earn anything but is an open appeal for God to wash away our sins. It is an appeal for mercy, not a ground for boasting. Baptism is a lost sinner’s appeal to be forgiven in the name of Jesus, not a ground for boasting in our own perfect law-keeping. It is an open confession that “I have failed” to work what I should, and I need the mercy offered in the name of Jesus on His terms.
4. Philip would have congratulated the Ethiopian Eunuch for his “work” of earning a right standing with God. Instead, when the eunuch was baptized (Acts 8:33ff), he would have merely added it to the works ledger of his many accomplishments, and there would have been no need to associate Isaiah 53's healing of sin with his baptism. He went on his way rejoicing because, in baptism in the name of Jesus, he knew Isaiah 53's healing of sin had now been given to him. He could not have looked at baptism as a work whereby he could boast of his own deserving. Baptism cannot be “for the remission of sins” and at the same time be a “work whereby one can boast” in his own deserving. Modern preachers do not often believe like Jesus, Peter, the 3000 of Pentecost, Paul and Ananias, Philip, and the Eunuch. Modern preachers have associated baptism with works, while the Bible shows it associated with an appeal for mercy and forgiveness for failure to work.
5. Paul would not have associated baptism with rising to walk in “newness of life” (Romans 6:1-6). How could baptism be a boast of accomplishment, needing no newness of life since I have worked and earned my way and baptism is just one more proof of my working to earn my own way? Paul clearly taught that baptism is an action of faith whereby one is seeking a new life, not that one is expressing pride in having earned his own way.

No, the Bible shows that baptism is an appeal to God for mercy, and the only “work” involved is God’s work, His “operation” where He cuts away our sins (Colossians 2:12). God does the only work in baptism. Man is very passive as he allows another to assist in immersing him in water “in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:47-48; 8:33ff). It is by faith in Jesus that we allow our immersion, and it is the appeal for forgiveness and a determination to start over (born of the water and Spirit), rising to walk in “newness of life.” Baptism is not a work whereby one can boast before God. It is faith in Jesus from start to finish, and lack of baptism is a lack of faith in Jesus, pure and simple.

Do you believe Jesus enough to submit to His terms of pardon?