IS BAPTISM AN OUTWARD SIGN? YES! BY STEVE FINNELL
Is water baptism an outward sign of
an inward grace? Yes, in order to accept God's free gift of salvation
men must be immersed in water.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent
and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
The outward sign is the immersion in
water. The inward grace is the forgiveness of sins we receive by
following the command of Jesus to be baptized in water. There is no
inward grace granted until men are immersed in water. Baptism is not a
sign that we have already been saved. Baptism is a sign that believers
in Christ are being saved.
1 Peter 3:20-21 ....safely through
the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good
conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
The outward sign is water baptism.
The inward grace is that baptism saves through an appeal to God, through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If men do not confess Jesus as Lord
and Savior, believe that He is the Son of God and believe that God
raised Him from the dead, and make the commitment to turn from sin and
turn to God, then, of course your baptism will not save you. Baptism is
the final step before receiving forgiveness of sins. Water baptism is
the point that the blood of Jesus washes away your sins.
Colossians 2:12-13 having been buried
with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through
faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you
were dead in your transgression and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He
made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our
transgressions,
The outward sign is being buried with
Jesus in the watery grave of baptism. The inward grace is being made
spiritually alive with Christ, having our transgressions forgiven. We
are dead in our transgression before we are buried with Christ in water
baptism. We are made alive and have our transgressions forgiven after
baptism, not before.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
The outward sign is water baptism.
The inward grace is being clothed with Christ. You are not baptized into
Christ because you have already been clothed with Christ. The clothing
does not precede, being baptized into Christ.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
The outward sign is water baptism. The inward grace of salvation follows believing and being baptized in water.
THERE ARE TWO OUTWARD SIGNS
1. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus
as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in
righteousness, and with the with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
The outward sign is confession. The inward grace is salvation.
2. WATER IMMERSION: Mark 16:16....has been baptized shall be saved...
The outward sign is baptism. The inward grace is salvation.
IS WATER BAPTISM AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD GRACE? YES, BUT WITHOUT THE OUTWARD SIGN OF BAPTISM NO INWARD GRACE OCCURS.
What must I do to be saved? FAITH John 3:16 REPENTANCE Acts 2:38 CONFESSION Romans 10:9-10 BAPTISM Mark 16:16
(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
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