Some Questions about Baptism Answered
by Bobby Liddell
Baptism is a biblical subject, but one about which many have questions. As with most biblical subjects, there are those whose beliefs argue against the beliefs of others, and there are those who, honestly, have real concerns, and serious questions. Let us see if we can find the answers from the Word of God.
Paul wrote: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel’ (1 Cor. 1:17).” Does this not show baptism is not important?
First, note the same Greek syntactic construction (not…but) in the following verses. “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Mat. 10:20). Jesus told His disciples they would be inspired by the Holy Spirit; thus, “it is not ye that speak.” The disciples DID speak physically, verbally, audibly, but the point is that the Holy Spirit spoke through them. So, unstated, but understood, are the words captitalized: “It is not ye ONLY that speak, but ALSO (and especially) the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
Another “not…but” verse has: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). Obviously, Jesus did not mean that one should not work, for the Bible condemns those who will not (2 The. 3:10). Rather, He taught man must not labor for physical food ONLY, but ALSO (and especially) for the spiritual food that brings eternal life.
Peter told Ananias, who had lied about his giving, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:4). Ananias HAD lied unto men, so Peter was not saying he had not done so. Peter pointed out Ananias had not lied unto men ONLY, but ALSO (and especially) unto God. These other “not…but” verses help us to understand 1 Corinthians 1:17.
The answer to the question is this: Paul had been sent to preach the Gospel, and that was his primary work. He did not dismiss the need for believers to be baptized, for he was baptized (Acts 9:18; 22:16), he taught others to be baptized (Acts 18:8), and he, personally, had baptized several, in Corinth, whom he listed in the same context (1 Cor. 1:14-16). While he busied himself with preaching, others could do the baptizing of those who heard and believed the Gospel Paul preached, but Paul did not want any to be able to say that he had baptized in his own name (1 Cor. 1:15).
Another question is this: “Doesn’t the Bible teach we are saved by faith, and not by works, and isn’t baptism a work?”
The Bible teaches: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10). The “faith,” in this passage, that is the “gift of God,” is NOT a reference to man’s faith, but to “the faith”; that is, the Gospel system of faith. Both the Byzantine Majority Text, and the Textus Receptus support the inclusion of the definite article, “the,” reading, ”through (by
means of—BL) the faith,” in Ephesians 2:8: “διὰ τῆς πίστεως.” God delivered “the faith” to man, as Jude 3 shows: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
This “faith”—“the faith”—is, “not of yourselves,” for it is not a work of man, that man might boast. The meaning is that man did not, by his own wisdom, and because of his intellectual insight into his own need, originate (work out) the Gospel system of faith, for it came from God, to man. Rather, we are His workmanship, and should walk in good works—as taught by “the faith.” As well, man IS saved by works (works of obedience, but not by works of merit, or by works of the Old Law). Contrary to those who argue for salvation by “faith only,” man
is NOT saved by faith only. James plainly declares so: “Ye see then how that by works a
man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jam. 2:24).
The answer to the question is this: Man IS saved by works of obedience—but NOT by “faith only.” However, in fact, baptism is NOT a “work” done BY the believer, but it is something done TO him (see the passive voice, as shown by “be baptized,” in Acts 2:38, and “were baptized,” in Acts 2:41). Note, also, the eunuch wanted to “be baptized” (passive), and Philip “baptized him” (active) (Acts 8:36-38).
Having questions about baptism is not wrong. Failing to seek biblical answers, when our souls depend upon such answers, is wrong. So, before we dismiss the need to be baptized (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 10:48), let us seriously consider what the Bible teaches. Let us not be content to listen to the doctrines of men (Mat. 15:9), but seek the truth from God (John 8:32).