Why Resist Baptism?
by Marvin Rickett
Nearly all denominations resist the Bible’s doctrine of baptism in one manner or another. Some resist it by saying it is not essential to salvation. One can be saved without ever being baptized. Others resist it by teaching that one is saved before one is baptized. He is saved at the point of belief, then he is baptized as the first “good work” as a Christian. One hears the proponents of this view speak of “believers’ baptism” (as if there were such a thing as unbelievers’ baptism!). Another religious group resists baptism by substituting sprinkling and pouring for baptism (which is immersion). Why do they not simply follow the Bible’s teaching on baptism, as it states?
What does the Bible say? It says baptism is essential to salvation: One must be baptized to be saved. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). “Baptism doth also now save us” (I Peter 3:21). It says one must be baptized before one can receive salvation. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). It shows that baptism is a burial in water, not a sprinkling or pouring on of water. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12). “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). Why resist baptism? It is simple to understand what the Bible says about it. It is easy to do.
Why are there so many who have perverted this essential doctrine? There are several reasons. Perhaps the most prominent one is based on a basic misunderstanding of God’s grace, saving faith, and man’s works. They contend, and rightly so, that we are saved by grace. But they are mistaken when they say grace excludes any response on man’s part. They aver, and rightly so, that we are saved through faith. They are mistaken, though, when they say man is saved by faith only. They assert, and rightly so, that works do not save us. However, they are mistaken when they say these works exclude any response or action on man’s part to appropriate the free gift of salvation (see Ephesians 2:8-10). In a word, most of those who resist baptism reason that baptism is a work; works do not save us; therefore, baptism can have nothing to do with one’s being saved. Yet, it is mentioned so prominently in Scripture that they try to fit it in some way. In fitting it in, they belittle its significance and pervert its place in God’s scheme of redemption.
Where in the Bible does it classify baptism as a work? Sure, it is man’s activity, the preacher actively immerses the penitent believer, who is passive in the act. Does that make baptism a work of merit? What can one possibly be “earning” by submitting to baptism (Titus 3:5)? Furthermore, baptism is not a work of the Law of Moses (Romans 3:20). It is a part of the new covenant of Jesus Christ. It is works of merit and works of the Law of Moses that are excluded. Salvation by grace through faith does not exclude works of obedience (Romans 6:16-18; 10:13-16). Baptism is an action of obedience which the Lord placed between believing and salvation (Mark 16:16). Why resist it? Why not simply submit?
