Where is God’s love, mercy, and compassion if baptism is necessary for salvation?
Question:
My question concerns the role of baptism and whether it is necessary for salvation. I have heard explanations of how it is necessary to get baptized to be saved, yet they both make sense and don’t make sense to me. I have heard some people from the Church of Christ preach about water baptism so much that it has me wondering—where is the message of Jesus? What of God’s love, mercy, and compassion?
Please note that I’m not trying to attack the church of Christ; I’m just trying to find out more about it, and I am willing to accept this as the biblical truth if it truly is that.
Answer:
Where is a person's love when they deny what God said?
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (I John 5:2-3).
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:46-49).
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15).
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him" (John 14:21).
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me" (John 14:23-24).
The keeping of God's commands is not optional. It isn't up to men to decide which commands they like or whether God is really serious about some of His commands. "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil" (I Corinthians 7:13-14).
Regarding whether baptism is necessary for salvation and whether baptism washes away sins, see:
- Baptism: Necessary for Salvation
- What Saves a Person?
- What Saves Us from Sin?
- Notes on Things that Accompany Salvation
God showed His love by offering everyone a way out of sin—something that no man is able to accomplish on his own. He did it by His own effort and by His own sorrow (John 3:16). While that offer of salvation is open to everyone, God asked that it be accepted, and His terms of acceptance are light, things that anyone can do.
His mercy and compassion are shown because, despite our continued sin, God hasn't wiped out the world yet (II Peter 3:9). God doesn't have to be patient with us, but chooses to do so. He allows men opportunities to turn around and accept His astounding offer.
And what do people do? They demand that the terms God set be changed. It isn't the way they would do it. It isn't what they want. The defendant in court is demanding that the judge be merciful and change the law, even though mercy has already been granted -- just not in the way the defendant wants. God said I must be baptized to have my sins washed away and to receive eternal life. He tells me I must enter the covenant by immersion in water to symbolize His Son's death, burial, and resurrection, and to symbolize my death to sin and my resurrection to a new life. His command is sufficient, and those who love Him will comply.
Question:
I'm not denying what God said. Currently, I'm simply seeking the truth. In fact, I want to find the truth. I want to be saved and follow Jesus even if I have to get baptized. To be honest, I even look forward to getting baptized! It's just that I learned of the Church of Christ very recently and am seeking to understand what you are preaching.
Also, I'm wondering about this: I did not grow up in a family of faithful believers. I believed in Jesus after learning of Him and repenting of my sins. After that repentance, it really felt like a huge weight had been lifted off me! I pray, read, and study the Bible. I try to follow Jesus and obey Him by loving others. My faith and trust in God have grown stronger since my repentance.
But I'm not baptized yet, although as mentioned previously, I want to get baptized someday.
So I wonder if it all counts if I'm not yet baptized. My prayers, reading the Bible, seeking the truth, growing in faith, repentance, learning about Jesus, etc.
Answer:
I am glad you are taking an interest in God and want to improve your life. However, you ask if it counts for something. My question in return is: "Counts for what?" Are you asking if partial obedience, where you select what you want to obey, is good enough for God?
In I Samuel 15, Saul was sent out to punish the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:1-3). He was told to utterly destroy the nation, but he returned with best of the Amalekite flocks and he even has spared the king. (I Samuel 15:7-9). When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul insisted that he had carried out God's command (I Samuel 15:13), but Samuel pointed out that it was obvious that he had not. Saul was told, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king" (I Samuel 15:22-23).
When a person chooses which commands he sees as important and which he thinks God won't mind being changed or delayed, then he has put himself above God. The servant of the Lord does ask if incomplete work is good enough for the Master. Instead, Jesus said, "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done'" (Luke 17:10). Can you say that you've done what you ought to have done?
As Ananias told Saul, "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 16:20).
Question:
No, I’m asking if God already sees me and hears my prayers even if I’m not yet baptized, if my improvement and growth in faith are real, and if God will still show me His truth if I'm not baptized, or does He only hear people after they are baptized?
As for obedience, I know we are to obey God fully and not partially, but I’m still figuring out what it means to obey Him. I have not even read the full book of Acts yet - out of the New Testament I have only fully read the Gospels; and even out of the Old Testament I have not fully read any book (except maybe some books with few pages). I have been a believer for a relatively short while (not even three years) and was not even taught by any Christian, other than one friend that I talk to online. There are no believers in Christ around me. It is only recently, less than 2 months ago, that I learned of the churches of Christ and the importance of baptism. So I’m currently stuck between this new information of the church of Christ and my past views and beliefs, and I am figuring out which side is biblical.
I have another question: if I find the church of Christ to be a true biblical church, and if we truly need to be baptized to be saved, will I be allowed to tell this to my friends or not? According to Scripture, women are not allowed to teach men, but I have male friends that I would really like for them to know the biblical truth, so if I see that baptism is necessary for our salvation, am I allowed to share all this with them?
Answer:
Regarding whether God hears the prayers of people who are not yet Christians, see: "Does God hear the prayers of those who are not yet saved?"
Regarding God showing you the truth, that is what the Bible is there to do. "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Regarding learning the Bible, it sounds like you are learning well on your own, and you are always welcome to ask questions. If you would like to locate a church in your area, send me the name of a town near you, and I will try to locate one for you.
Regarding teaching, women are restricted from publicly teaching men. Women can teach men privately. See "Can a woman teach a man in private?"
Question:
Thank you!
I have read the article and now understand, and am encouraged to keep praying to God!
Also, I'm learning more about the importance of baptism, although I still have a few doubts because it is not very easy to change what I believed previously. But I can see how necessary being baptized in water is. I wonder how people who say that baptism is not necessary came to their conclusion.
Answer:
The denial of baptism has its roots in the 1700s when "street preachers" found it inconvenient to baptize people. It was faster to have them recite a "sinner's prayer." Besides, more people would respond if little was expected of them. See The Origin of the Sinner's Prayer.
