Exposing errors of Church of Christ.

Is Water Baptism necessary for salvation?

By Nick Bibile

Church of Christ denies Inherited sin/Original Sin

“The scriptures do speak to the pervasive and far-reaching consequences of Adam's original sin. But there is no Biblical basis for teaching that we share in the guilt of that sin, or any sin other than our own.”

(SouthSide Church of Christ)

This is absolute heresy. Heresy of Pelagianism, the false doctrine of the fifth-century monk Pelagius, who denied that humans are sinful by nature and, instead, are basically good, possessing the power to choose God and do good without his grace.

Only Church of Christ members are saved, all other Christian denominations are lost. The Mormons believe the same

According to Church of Christ, all the other Christian denominations are lost, they are not saved, meaning they will end up in hell. Only Church of Christ members are saved, because only the name Church of Christ is found in the Bible not other denominations.

The Church of Christ was the original name of the Mormons, Joseph Smith the founder of Mormonism believed that all the denominations are corrupt, they are the only true church. Church of Christ believes the same. Here we see there is something common between Mormons and Church of Christ.

When it comes to Baptism Mormonism says, “ Blessed are they who shall be baptized, for they shall receive a remission of their sins. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling of the commandments unto the remission of sins” (3 Nephi 12:2; Moroni 8:11).

    “As baptism is the birth of water, so confirmation is the birth or baptism of the Spirit. Both are necessary to entrance into the Kingdom of God. (Charles Penrose’s book Mormon Doctrine Salt Lake City, 1888)

That's exactly what Church of Christ believe,

Iglesia ni Cristo which means in Tagalog Church of Christ, this cult denies the deity of Christ and the Trinity, they too go to the same scriptures as Church of Christ to show they are the only true Church.

A person is saved not through a Church name but on the person of Jesus Christ.

They failed to understand that a church name cannot save anyone, but only the finished work of Christ can save, there is no other name where a man can be saved only by Christ alone.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

It is Jesus that saves not a church.  There are many true Christian denominations today, denominations are there because of separations of non essential doctrines (non salvational) but when it comes to salvation all true denominations believe the same essential salvational doctrines.  

In non essentials we separate but in essentials we unite as one body of Christ.

The Church of Christ denies all Christian Creeds. They say no creeds but the Bible.

They do not understand that the church formulated Creeds and Confessions to defend against heresies, in order to protect the believers a summary of scriptures were formulated, where the creeds and confessions benefited the church, as creeds and confessions were an orderly account using scriptures.

Luke 1:3-4 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Is Water Baptism the means for salvation?

Water Baptism is a commandment by the Lord Jesus Christ and every Christian should obey by being baptized (Immersed) in water. When you look at church history, the early church baptized believers and added to the body of Christ. We are not against water baptism. However if a believer dies before being water baptized, is that believer saved or not?

This is where the Church of Christ is wrong as they say, unless you are water baptized you are not saved. That’s going beyond scripture. What about a person who will accept the Lord on their deathbed? According to the Church of Christ that person who is lost will end up in hell.

 According to the Church of Christ, “Baptism is the time and place that God forgives and saves.’ Thus, when it comes to salvation, baptism is not the what but the when. The moment when you receive God’s saving grace is the moment you emerge from the watery tomb of baptism. That is why baptism is essential to salvation.”

So the believing sinner is justified when water is baptized. This is theologically incorrect, again we go to the Bible.

Romans 4:1-3 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.

Again, water baptism becomes a work, if you believe a person has to undergo an action of being water baptized  in order to be saved.  This is the doctrine of Church of Christ, which they are wrong. Water Baptism is the RESULT of your salvation in obedience to Christ’s command but not the Way To salvation.

Below is a quote by Church of Christ

It is intellectually dishonest to argue that anyone is saved by grace alone. Apart from grace, no man can be saved but there is a component of obedience too.

Let’s see what the Bible says on this subject.

Ephesians 1:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Greek word for works is ἔργων (ergōn) means an act, to do something physically.  The word of God says very clearly above we are saved by grace not of physically doing something, a works, and we are God’s workmanship. The way to salvation is by grace and the result of salvation is work, your fruits and works are the result of salvation.

According to the Church of Christ, works are works of merit. See below

So, is baptism a work? Those who argue that baptism is a work fail to understand the Biblical difference between works of merit (Church of Christ)

But what does the final authority of the Bible say?

Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

The Biblical answer is we are saved by grace alone apart from any works or merit

Apostle Paul said, in Romans 4:2 Abraham was justified by faith alone. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

1 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Paul and James both used Abraham on justification

Paul in Romans 4:2 used Abraham’s faith without works being justified. James on the other hand, shows Abraham’s works, which is the result of his salvation. Paul sees justification before God and James sees justification before men. There is no contradiction but a confirmation.

 James 2:23-24 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by work and not by faith alone.

Priority is preaching the gospel  

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Apostle Paul who wrote about 70% of the New Testament, his goal was to preach the gospel, not baptism, Paul could baptize only a handful, which he cannot even remember, which means Baptism was not his priority but the gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel

Church of Christ quote 1 Peter 3:20-21 to show that it is Baptism that saves.  

1 Peter 3:20 because  they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

First, when was Noah saved? Noah was saved before the flood.

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Once Noah found grace from the Lord, he obeyed by faith building the ark.  Then the flood is a picture of baptism, which happened after. Water never touched Noah and family, also Baptism cannot remove your sins (not as a removal of dirt)

We need to see the big picture here, it was not the water that saved Noah and family but the ark, the ark, which points to Christ, water was the judgment of God. Baptism is used in 1 Peter 3:20-21 as a picture, like in Romans 6:3-4

Romans 6:3-4  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

This shows in figurative sense the picture of Baptism. Believer is buried in water like how Christ was buried and raised from dead, how Christ was raised. Peter is showing the figurative type of the baptism.

Note carefully Baptism cannot remove dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21) but only the blood of Jesus can remove our sins. Also Peter said, “an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Christ”

 It’s not the water baptism that gives the believer a good conscience but the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible also says one is saved by the fire.

1 Corinthians 3:15

If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Answering Mark 16

The Church of Christ loves to use Mark 16 to prove their point. But Mark 16:9-20 IS NOT IN THE EARLIEST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS.  So why go to a doubtful area?

Anyway let’s go to Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

According to the above, first comes beliefs, meaning first the person believes in Christ and is saved.  (John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.)

According to Mark 16:16 Baptism comes after believing.

Whoever will not believe will not be baptized, will be condemned.

The Church of Christ fails to read the rest of the scriptures to get the context. Verse 17 begins with And, meaning continuation of Mark 16:16 Talking about the signs of the person who was saved.

Mark 16:17-18 And (continuation from verse 16) these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Who will drink deadly poison and live? That is why Mark 16:9-20 is not found in the manuscripts as it’s doubtful.

Does water Baptism provide forgiveness of sins?

Here is one of the Church of Christ’s favorite scriptures.

Acts 2:37-28 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

First the people who heard Peter’s message and were cut to the heart in conviction. Meaning they believed in Jesus first before baptism.  How can you repent unless you believe in Christ first?  After belief, comes baptism.

Peter did not say, baptized first, no baptism is not the way for salvation but a result of your salvation.

The following scriptures are a clear example to show that only once a person is believed, then that person gets baptized.

Acts 16:30-33 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Forgiveness not through water baptism but by the blood of Christ.

We are forgiven not through water, as water cannot remove our sins, only the blood of Christ can forgive our sins.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The believing thief who got saved on the cross without being water baptized.

The church of Christ believes that the thief belonged to the Old Testament era and got saved without water baptism.  They are not telling the truth because,  the thief on the cross got saved by believing Jesus,  he got saved the same way as any sinner got saved by believing even though under the Mosaic time period, even though the thief died after Jesus. All Old Testament believers got saved by faith, looking forward to the Messiah, hearing the same gospel.

Abraham was saved by believing the gospel

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

Old Testament Israelites were saved by the gospel

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

The  church of Christ believes the church began after the pentecost, this is dispensational theology, not historical Christianity.  Historic Christianity believes the New Covenant went into effect with the death of Christ, not after the pentecost.

Luke 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

A person is saved only through Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross, not through a church,  only the blood of Jesus forgives sin, not of a Church name

https://www.sounddoctrine.net/