Objections to Necessity of Water Baptism

1
Objections to Necessity of Water Baptism

• Galatians 16-9
• 2 Corinthians 114
• Jude 3

2

• Mark 1615-16
• 15 And He said to them, Go into all the world
  and preach the gospel to every creature.
• 16 He who believes and is baptized will be
  saved but he who does not believe will be
  condemned.

3

• Acts 238
• Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every
  one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
  Christ for the remission of sins and you shall
  receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

4
You believe in baptismal regeneration.
5
Billy Graham on Baptism

• Q Is baptism necessary for salvation?
• A Mr. Graham has stated I believe baptism is
  important, and I have been baptized. But I think
  we violate the Scriptures when we make baptism
  the prime requirement for salvation.
• If baptism were a requirement for salvation, we
  would certainly say that. But you couldnt
  support that knowing, for example, that the thief
  on the cross had no opportunity for baptism or
  church membership (www.billygraham.org)

6
Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc.

• Letter dated 3Dec1990 from Dr. Victor B. Nelson,
  Exec. Assistant, to Mr. Wilton Black
• baptism is an outward sign and symbol of what
  the cleansing power of the blood of Christ has
  done in washing away our sins, indicating that
  they have been atoned for on the cross of
  Calvary.
• Ephesians 28-9 and Titus 35-6 make very clear
  the fact that we can do nothing to attain our
  salvation except believe.

7
Titus 35
-Ferrell Jenkins, GOT, 20Dec90
8
Washing of Regeneration

• Church cleansed with the washing of water by
  the word, Eph. 526
• Born of water the Spirit to enter the kingdom
  of God, John 35
• Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins
  Acts 2216

9
Titus 35
-Ferrell Jenkins, GOT, 20Dec90
10
Washing of Regeneration

• Baptism is the means by which Gods mercy saves,
  Eph. 526 (Rom. 63)
• Obedient faith does not equal earning salvation
• Eph. 28-9 Saved by grace through faith
• Lk. 1710 Obedient yet unprofitable
• Acts 1035 Work righteousness
• Jas. 224 Justified by works (of faith,
  obedience), not by faith only

11
Paul was sent not to baptize, but to preach.

• 1 Corinthians 117

12
Preaching and Baptizing

• Point of emphasis is the message, not the
  messenger
• Jesus commanded Teach, baptize teach, Matt.
  2819-20
• Was Paul disobedient since he baptized some? 1
  Cor. 114-16
• Point Lest someone use his name is a divisive
  way, 1 Cor. 111-13

13
Notbut

• Emphasis is placed on second part without
  negating the first
• He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in
  Him who sent Me. John 1244
• Let not yours be the outward adorning but let
  it be the hidden person 1 Pet.
  33-4 (RSV)
• did not send me to baptize, but to preach 1
  Cor. 117

14
In Acts 238, baptism is because of remission
of sins.
15
Because of or in order to

• Translations (30 versions)
• KJV for the remission of sins
• ASV unto the remission of your sins
• NIV so that your sins may be forgiven
• TEV for the forgiveness of your sins
• French in order to obtain the remission
• Spanish for the purpose of the remission

16
Context Rejects because of

• Object of question What must be done to remove
  the guilt of sin? (Acts 237)
• Object of answer To remove their guilt and
  save them from their sin (Acts 238-40)
• Action About 3,000 accepted his word and were
  baptized (Acts 241)
• Result Saved (Acts 240-41, 47)
• Added together after (not before) baptism

17
The Definition of eis Rejects because of

• Preposition governing the accusative denoting
  entrance into, or direction limit into, to,
  towards, for, among (Thayer, 183)
• Coordinate conjunction that connects two verbs of
  equal rank (repent be baptized)

18
eis as Used in Other Verses

• Matt. 2628 unto remission of sins
• Acts 319 that your sins may be blotted out
• Acts 1118 God has also granted to the
  Gentiles repentance to life
• Rom. 1010 Believe confess unto salvation
• Heb. 1039 believe to the saving of the soul
• 2 Cor. 710 Godly sorrow produces
  repentance leading to salvation

19
Requiring baptism restricts opportunities to be
saved.
20
Unable to be Baptized?

• The man in the desert (North Pole, etc.)
• Ethiopian was in a desert, Acts 826, 36
• He was obligated able to be baptized
• What about rejected opportunities? (2 Cor.
  62 Acts 2216)
• We are to obey Gods commands, not negate them
  for our convenience

21
Mark 169-20 is not a part of inspired
Scripture.
22
Is Mark 169-20 Genuine?

• Believers turn skeptic attempting to discredit
  water baptism
• External evidence
• Not in Vatican Sinaitic MSS (4th cent.)
• But, quoted in 2nd 3rd centuries
• Also in all ancient translations that pre-date
  Vatican Sinaitic MSS
• Last leaf may have been destroyed
• Acts 238 2216 1 Pet. 321

23
but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow
itlest you even be found to fight against God.
-Acts 539

• Do not fight against God!
• Believe, be baptized, be saved!