Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/2/2008

Question
I just read an answer posted in 2006 by a reader named Chris. I am having the same trouble. I'm not sure who is right. I find myself at a crossroad. I do believe that you must be baptized for the remission on sins. The versus that you gave for Chris were Acts 16:30-31. But if you read further Acts 16:32-33 it states that And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes away; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Answer
Hi Sunshine,

Thanks for this great question.  There is no doubt that for the New Testament Christian, Baptism comes immediatly after salvation.  It is a deadly mistake to think that baptism is part of meriting salvation.  Salvation comes by grace ALONE.  That is why the answer to the jailer's question was believe and thou shalt be saved.  Once one believes, then he is to be baptized, not in order to merit salvation, but because he is already saved.  

The Gospel is the good news of salvation.  THe Apostle Paul draws a distinction between the Gospel and baptism, proving that the two are different.

1 Corinthians 1:17
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

If you could get baptized in order to merit heaven, then Jesus died for nothing.

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The one passage that is often offered as a proof of baptismal regeneration is this:

Acts 2:38
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.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The greek word "for" here is not in order to but rather "on the basis of".  For example

Arrested FOR speeding - you are not arrested in order to speed... you are arrested because you were speeding.

In the same cane baptised for the remission of sin, the Greek would force us to understand this as baptized on the basis of the fact of your remission of sin.  Because your sins are paid for, you should be baptized, demonstrating to all who watch what has already happened in your heart.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don