Brethren have long pointed out that \u201cpreaching Jesus\u201d means preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 8:35-36). Paul warned the Corinthians that when \u201cwe preach Christ crucified\u201d some would stumble and others would consider it foolishness (I Corinthians 1:22-23). While many in the denominational world agree that belief (John 8:24), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), and confession (Romans10:9) are necessary for the forgiveness of sins, they still stumble and consider it foolishness when baptism is preached.<\/p>\n
Much time, energy, and imagination have gone into making the Bible not say what it clearly does. Men have twisted scripture and sound reasoning to defend human tradition. We will consider some common arguments made against baptism, and how we might respond to them. These are in no particular order.<\/p>\n
There are many ways to respond to this. First, consider the context of Ephesians 2. Most will stop reading at verse 9, but consider what verse 10 says: \u201cFor we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.<\/em>\u201d To the sectarian mind, this poses a contradiction. Verse 9 says that salvation is \u201cnot of works,\u201d while verse 10 says that we were \u201ccreated . . . for good works.\u201d Obviously, there are two different kinds of works under discussion. Verse 9 is referring to meritorious works while verse 10 has in mind the works of God. All \u201cworks\u201d are not the same.<\/p>\n Second, most believe that salvation is by faith only. But the only place where the phrase \u201cfaith only\u201d is found in James 2:24: \u201cYou see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.<\/em>\u201d Does James contradict Paul? No, each is dealing with an opposite extreme. The fact is that both teach the same thing from different views.<\/p>\n Third, the view that we\u2019re saved by faith and not by works is contradicted by Jesus in John 6:28-29: \u201cThen they said to Him, \u2018What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?\u2019 Jesus answered and said to them, \u2018This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.\u2019<\/em>\u201d Logically, if we are not saved by works, then we cannot be saved by faith, for Jesus says that faith (belief) is a work.<\/p>\n This is actually not an argument since it does not deal with any points of Scripture. A good response might be to ask a series of questions.<\/p>\n This is a false dichotomy. The assumptions are that we are saved by one or the other, but not by both. Calvinism teaches that salvation is solely a work of God, and that man has no part. That presupposition is reflected in this argument. In fact, the blood of Christ is what God has provided, but God expects us to choose salvation and meet His righteous conditions. \u201cThere is also an antitype which now saves us\u2014baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ<\/em>\u201d (I Peter 3:21). We are saved by the blood of Christ, but access to His blood is through obedience to the gospel.<\/p>\n First, there is a logical progression to the order given by Jesus. One will not (and cannot) be baptized if is there is no belief. \u201cBaptism\u201d without belief is simply dipping in water and is of no religious significance (Romans 10:10; I Peter 3:21).<\/p>\n Second, the fallacy of this argument can be easily shown with an illustration like this: \u201cHe who boards the plane and takes the flight will be in Phoenix, but he who does not board the plane will be left behind.\u201d Does it need to be said, \u201cand does not take the flight\u201d for the message to be clear? If one does not board the plane, then one cannot take the flight. Likewise, if one does not believe, then one cannot be scripturally baptized. Further, if we follow our objector\u2019s reasoning to its logical conclusion, then the moment we have boarded the plane we are in Phoenix (whether we\u2019ve taken the flight or not).<\/p>\n Third, we must focus on what Jesus is saying. Is He saying, \u201cHe who believes and is saved will be baptized,\u201d or \u201cHe who is baptized and saved will believe,\u201d or \u201cHe who believes and is baptized will be saved\u201d? Let\u2019s let the text speak for itself.<\/p>\n The key to properly understanding I Corinthians 1:17 is to recognize that this is a \u201cnot . . . but\u201d passage. In this kind of passage, the \u201cnot\u201d part of the verse is de-emphasized in order to emphasize the \u201cbut\u201d portion. However, we shouldn\u2019t necessarily come to the conclusion that the \u201cnot\u201d statement is a prohibition. Consider John 6:27, which has the same \u201cnot . . . but\u201d construction: \u201cDo not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life. . .<\/em>\u201d Jesus is not telling His disciples not to work, as this would contradict passages such as Ephesians 4:28; I Thessalonians 4:11; II Thessalonians 3:10; etc. He is emphasizing \u201cthe food which endures to everlasting life<\/em>\u201d as being far more important than \u201cthe food which perishes.<\/em>\u201d The same thing is found in Matthew 10:20 when Jesus gave instructions to His disciples as they preached to Israel: \u201cfor it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.<\/em>\u201d The disciples did do the physical speaking, but they were simply the instrument of the Spirit who was speaking through them. The Spirit is emphasized as the source of their words. When Paul says that \u201cChrist did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,<\/em>\u201d he is neither prohibiting nor undervaluing the importance of baptism. He is simply pointing out that his primary duty was to preach. Those who were converted and baptized were part of the \u201cincrease\u201d given by God (I Corinthians 3:7).<\/p>\n Baptism for the remission of sins did not begin until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38), so the thief (and Jesus) lived under the law of Moses. Paul is very clear on when the law of Moses came to an end, \u201chaving wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross<\/em>\u201d (Colossians 2:14). Since baptism was not a requirement for salvation under Moses, it was not necessary for the thief.<\/p>\n This is another way of saying we should be baptized because our sins are already forgiven. But the Bible nowhere teaches salvation before baptism.<\/p>\n Many have attempted to twist Acts 2:38 (\u201cRepent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . .<\/em>\u201d) by saying that \u201cfor\u201d (eis<\/em>, in Greek) means \u201cbecause of\u201d rather than \u201cin order to.\u201d While a study of the original language is very profitable in this instance, most Christians are not prepared to argue from Greek. A better response might be to note that Matthew 26:28 has the same grammatical construction as Acts 2:38. Jesus said, \u201cFor this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 26:28). If\u00a0eis<\/em> means \u201cbecause of\u201d in Acts, then it also means \u201cbecause of\u201d in Matthew. And, if that\u2019s the case, Jesus is saying that His blood would be shed because man\u2019s sins have already been forgiven (i.e. the blood of Christ is not necessary for forgiveness). Of course, those who make this argument are not willing to follow it to its logical conclusion.<\/p>\n That baptism is the point at which salvation comes is made clear in many passages.<\/p>\n While there are many different baptisms mentioned in the New Testament, there is only one (Ephesians 4:5) that is required today, and it is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. First, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise, not a command. Notice the words of Jesus: \u201cBehold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high<\/em>\u201d (Luke 24:49). The parallel to this is found in Acts 1:4-5, \u201cAnd being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, \u2018which,\u2019 He said, \u2018you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\u2019<\/em>\u201d One obeys a command, not a promise.<\/p>\n Second, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is recorded only twice, in Acts 2 and 10. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he recounted the conversion of Cornelius to the rest of the church. In Acts 11:15, he said, \u201cAnd as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.<\/em>\u201d Many would like to change the phrase \u201cat the beginning\u201d to \u201cfrom the beginning.\u201d That small change would indicate that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred continually throughout the entire period. But, alas, the text says what it says.<\/p>\n At the end, when all of man\u2019s arguments are put forth the New Testament still teaches that we must be baptized to be saved. And, many still stumble at the preaching of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Dan Gatlin Brethren have long pointed out that \u201cpreaching Jesus\u201d means preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 8:35-36). Paul warned the Corinthians that when \u201cwe preach Christ crucified\u201d some would stumble and others would consider it foolishness (I Corinthians 1:22-23). While many in the denominational world agree that belief (John 8:24), repentance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-14655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-baptism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29030,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-did-baptism-for-the-remission-of-sins-start\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":0},"title":"When did baptism for the remission of sins start?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 19, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In the \"Articles\" section, under Baptism, \"Answering Arguments Against Baptism\".\u00a0 You state that \"Baptism for the remission of sins did not begin until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38), so the thief (and Jesus) lived under the law of Moses.\" Please read Mark 1:4: \"John came baptizing in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15798,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/infant-baptism\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":1},"title":"Infant Baptism (Shouse)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 19, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Roger Shouse published in\u00a0Biblical Insight, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2005. Advocates of infant baptism wrongly assume that the term \"household\" includes infants. Baptizing a baby is often viewed as a very special event in the lives of young parents. Grandparents come to witness the special occasion. A white\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/InfantBaptism.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59920,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/taught-wrong-and-baptized-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":2},"title":"Taught Wrong and Baptized Right?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 14, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Adapted from an article by Wayne Jones via\u00a0The Jackson Drive News & Notes, No. 14, April 10, 2005. Under the banners of acceptance and \"unity,\" many in the Lord's church have developed an open-door policy with members of the denominational world. Many, by their own admission, have chosen not to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88547,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-the-apostle-paul-baptize\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":3},"title":"Did the Apostle Paul Baptize?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Louis Rushmore Plainly, the apostle Paul acknowledged that he personally baptized some individuals. \"Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,'\u00a0or 'I am of Apollos,'\u00a0or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.\"\u00a0Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":84235,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-falling-back-into-sin-make-a-baptism-invalid\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":4},"title":"Does falling back into sin make a baptism invalid?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: This idea has come up many times in Bible studies. It concerns sin before baptism and the process of repentance. The Scriptures teach that one must repent before baptism and that Christians will sin after baptism. I don't know of anyone who would think that a Christian can live\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82513,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/justified-then-sanctified\/","url_meta":{"origin":14655,"position":5},"title":"Justified then Sanctified?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Perry Hall For those who don't consider baptism the point at which God grants us His grace but rather an outward sign of inward grace, some propose moving baptism from the justification column to the sanctification column. Here are two problems with that. First, the scriptural problem considering Scripture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\u201cIf what you are saying about baptism is true, then my dear, departed grandmother is lost.\u201d<\/h2>\n
\n
\u201cThe Bible says that we\u2019re saved by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 9:13-14; I Peter 1:18-19), not by water\u201d<\/h2>\n
\u201cMark 16:16 doesn\u2019t say, \u2018but he who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned.\u2019 Therefore, belief is the only thing necessary for salvation.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cPaul said that Christ didn\u2019t send him to baptize (I Corinthians 1:17), therefore, baptism is not essential to salvation.\u201d<\/h2>\n
\u201cThe thief on the cross wasn\u2019t baptized, and he was saved.\u201d<\/h2>\n
\u201cBaptism is an outward sign of an inward grace.\u201d<\/h2>\n
“The ‘for’ in Acts 2:38 means ‘because of'”<\/h2>\n
\n
\u201cNew Testament baptism (Acts 2:38) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) are the same.\u201d<\/h2>\n