Sinners Prayer vs Baptism

Defending the faith is never easy, but it is my prayer that as we confront false or incomplete teaching, we confront it with gentle firmness and inform as many as possible. We (a few others and I) have been honored to have the ability to converse with many across the web, this particular post was a response to a thesis discussing the question “Is Baptism Required, for Entry into the New Covenant.” I have found most disagreements are fall into similar category’s and I believe the answer below gives a very fruitful firm but gentle response to the Salvation by Sinners Prayer argument.

Objection:

Salvation: You must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. As it says in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

There have been many people who have confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior on the death beds, on the battle field........They are saved and will have eternal life with Jesus, but not baptized. Salvation and Baptism are not one in the same.

Baptism is a rite: If you accepted Jesus Christ you should be bapitized. It symbolizes getting rid of the old nature and putting on the new

Answer:

Greetings

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I can tell you love the Lord and seek to do his will. I believe so much in context, so please if you think I am taking something out of context please feel free to bring it to my attention. I must respectfully disagree with your salvation summation. First John 3:16 says nothing about confession, but speaks of belief only. Judging for your response you believe the confession is required which I think you are eluding to Romans 10.

Most disagreements with Baptism are based on the thought that Baptism is a work and we are not saved by works. We agree that we are not saved by works. Ephesians 2:8-9For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9Not of works, lest any man should boast.(KJV)

Would you agree with me that BELIEF is an important part of the Salvation Process? Yet the Bible calls BELIEF a WORK. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Baptism is among the last verbal orders given to his apostles and is not considered a work in any biblical context. Look at Mark 16:15-16 here Jesus himself gave his last instructions before leaving the ascension ordering them to Preach and Baptize. Mark 16: 15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Jesus told his apostles to go and preach the Gospel and right behind that he talks about baptism. Jesus said Belief + Baptism = Saved but what I understand you to say is Belief - Baptism = Saved. Consider Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen Here once again Jesus giving his last face to face instructions tells his Apostles to go teach the Gospel, saying nothing about belief, but instructs them to baptize. Now does that mean that Belief is not important? No, it’s a given that baptism is for believers. If baptism was not necessary he would not have mentioned it.

I am sure you would agree that REPENTANCE is a requirement of the salvation process. One must have a change of mind or heart turning away from the world and moving closer to the Cross. But yet on the day of Pentecost when Peter was asked what must we do to be saved his answer said nothing about belief. Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Here Peter never mentions Belief, he tells them to repent and be baptized. Does that mean Belief is not important? On the contrary it's inferred that they believed the Gospel message that was being preached and they were asking how to respond that Gospel message. Peter’s response was Repentance and Baptism. If baptism was not necessary he would not have mentioned it.

Would you agree with me that one must confess Jesus Christ is the Son of God? When Phillip was teaching the Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus the Eunuch asked a very odd question. Acts 8:35-39 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Here the Eunuch BELIEVED the gospel, CONFESSES and is BAPTISED; Repentance is never mentioned; so does that mean its not important? We know Repentance is important just as Peter taught earlier (ACTS 2:38). Interestingly you must ask how would the Eunuch know to ask to be baptized if it were not taught to him by Phillip? When the scripture says Phillip at that point taught unto him Jesus, it must have been part of the gospel message. The same question could be asked about how he knew he needed to confess if it were not taught to him by Phillip? If baptism was not necessary Philip would not have baptized him.

In conclusion it is obvious Jesus could have said in Mark 16:15-16 He that Believeth and prays the sinners pray shall be saved, but he didn’t. Brother no where in the bible will you find the sinners prayer but you will find where we are asked by the Lord and his apostles that once we have heard the gospel and believed it; that we repent of our sins; confess that Jesus is the Son of God and finally to be baptized for the remission of sins. In my chart below shows all of the examples the bible mentions of people becoming Christians. Baptism is in every one of the stories. Please Study it. I hope I have approached this in a gentle way. I know you love the Lord as I do and my desire is that we honor him by following his teachings as close as we can.

Thanks and Have a Blessed day

Randy

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